"The Good Life" - Merciful

"And forgive us our debts as we have also forgiven our debtors.” - (Matt. 6:12)

“For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses. - (Matt. 6:14-15)

“Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” - (Matt. 9:13)

“21 Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?”22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.(Matthew 18:21-22)

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mind, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have done without neglecting the others.” - (Matt. 23:23)

The act of mercy is easy for people to ask for but just as difficult to extend.

Modern believers struggle with the gift of mercy more than any other beatitude.

READ (Matthew 5:7)

Today, we are going discuss God’s plan for Christians to extend mercy in His kingdom.

Jesus Christ is not merciful; he is mercy. Everything that Jesus is and does in this world is the example for every Christian to follow.

Christ shows mercy to the undeserving. Mercy is “being spared from what you deserve.”

Jesus talks about 2 different ways that mercy is extended.

1. Helping the Needy

Almsgiving “The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy.” - (Prov. 14:21)

A broad umbrella term for all kinds of material and spiritual help to those in need.

Food, shelter, friendship.

Martin Luther claimed that mercy is “righteousness in action”.

Mark Sprinkle & his family. A perfect example of mercy towards others.

When Jesus saw the poor, broken, and needy, there was never contempt but only compassion. He cared for the sick and hungry.

Mercy is expressed in the way we live and treat those who are in need.

2. Forgiving the Offendor.

Forgiving those who have wronged us, but forgiving all people in general.

Towards one’s enemies.

Welcoming sinners and outsiders.

Mercy entails the welcome and embrace of the outsider.

inviting the homeless man to church.

If we want to be a church of mercy, we must be willing to forgive those who offend our society.

Why is that? Jesus did.

Jesus made it clear that he expected his disciples and the church to bestow mercy throughout the world.

We show mercy because Christ showed mercy to us.