Ⅲ
In His sovereignty God as our Potter has the authority to make the ones whom He has selected and called to be vessels of mercy unto honor and glory—Rom. 9:11, 18, 21-24:
Ａ
We were chosen by God according to His sovereign mercy; God’s mercy is the most far-reaching of God’s attributes, saving us out of our wretched position into a condition that is suitable for His grace and love—Eph. 2:1-4; Heb. 4:16; Matt. 5:7; 7:1; 9:13:
１
According to our natural condition, we were far removed from God, totally unworthy of His grace; we were eligible only to receive His mercy—Eph. 2:4.
２
Man’s disobedience affords God’s mercy an opportunity, and God’s mercy brings man to salvation—Rom. 11:32.
３
We were created to be vessels of mercy to contain Christ as the God of mercy—9:11-13, 16, 20-21, 23; Lam. 3:21-24; Luke 1:78-79.
４
Because of God’s mercy, we responded to the gospel when others did not respond, we received a word about Christ as life when others refused to receive it, and we took the way of the Lord’s recovery when others drew back from taking this way—Hymns, #296, stanza 3.
Ｂ
“‘I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy’... So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy”—Rom. 9:15a, 16:
１
Our concept is that the one who wills gains what he wills to obtain and that the one who runs gains what he runs after—v. 16:
ａ
If this were the case, God’s selection would be according to our effort and labor.
ｂ
On the contrary, God’s selection is of God who shows mercy; we do not need to will or to run, for God has mercy on us.
ｃ
If we know God’s mercy, we will neither trust in our effort nor be disappointed by our failures; the hope for our wretched condition is in God’s mercy—Eph. 2:4.
２
If we would serve God in His New Testament economy, we need to know that it is wholly a matter of God’s sovereign mercy—Rom. 9:15-16; Heb. 4:16:
ａ
If we know God’s sovereignty, we will thank Him for His mercy, realizing that we are under His sovereign mercy—Rom. 9:15.
ｂ
The expression sovereign mercy means that God’s mercy is absolutely a matter of God’s sovereignty; being a vessel of mercy is not the result of our choice; it originates with God’s sovereignty—v. 18.
ｃ
The only thing we can say to explain God’s mercy to us is that in His sovereignty He has chosen to be merciful to us—vv. 15-16, 23.
３
In God’s sovereign mercy our hearts are inclined toward Him; because of His mercy to us, we seek Him day by day—Jer. 29:12-13; Deut. 4:29; Isa. 55:6; Psa. 27:8; 105:4; 119:2; Heb. 11:6.
４
The more we see that everything related to us is a matter of God’s mercy, the more we will bear our responsibility before the Lord; however, even our willingness to bear responsibility is of God’s mercy.
５
Regarding His recovery, God has mercy on whom He will have mercy.
Ｃ
Romans 9 reveals the principle that everything depends on God’s mercy—vv. 15-16:
１
The apostle Paul applies this principle to the Israelites, showing us that everything that happened to them was of God’s mercy—vv. 16, 23.
２
There must be at least one time when we see God’s mercy and definitely touch His mercy—Eph. 2:4; Matt. 9:13:
ａ
Concerning this matter, our eyes need to be opened at least once; there must be at least one time when we see that everything depends on God’s mercy.
ｂ
Whether we see this all at once or we realize it through a process, the minute we touch this matter, we touch not a feeling but a fact; this fact is that everything depends on God’s mercy.
Morning Nourishment
Eph. 2:1 And you, though dead in your offenses and sins. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us.Heb. 4:16 Let us therefore come forward with boldness to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace for timely help.
Mercy is the most far reaching of God’s attributes. Mercy goes further than grace. God’s love does not reach as far as His grace, and His grace does not reach as far as His mercy. If I am in a good condition and my standing matches yours, and you give me a gift, that is grace….If I come to you as your dear friend, and you give me a gift, that is grace. However, if I am a poor, unclean beggar, unable to do anything for myself, and you give me a gift, that is mercy. This illustrates the fact that God’s mercy is more far reaching than His grace….According to our natural condition, we were far removed from God, totally unworthy of His grace. We were eligible only to receive His mercy. (The Conclusion of the New Testament, p. 98)
Today’s Reading
It is God’s mercy that has reached us. None of us was in a condition that corresponded to His grace….God’s mercy has brought us into His grace. How we need to realize this and worship God for His mercy! Even now, after being saved and having shared in the riches of God’s life, we still, in some ways, are in a condition that needs God’s mercy to reach us. This is the reason Hebrews 4:16 says that first we need to receive mercy, and then we can find grace for timely help. Oh, how much we need God’s mercy! We should treasure His mercy as much as we appreciate His grace. It is always God’s mercy that qualifies us to participate in His grace.In Romans 9:16 Paul says that “it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” Our concept is that the one who wills will gain what he wills to obtain and that the one who runs will gain what he runs after. If this were the case, then God’s selection would be according to our effort and labor. But it is not so. On the contrary, God’s selection is of God who shows mercy. We do not need to will or to run, for God has mercy on us. If we know God’s mercy, we shall not put our trust in our effort. Neither shall we be disappointed by our failures. The hope for our wretched condition is in God’s mercy.
Romans 11:32 says, “For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all.” Man’s disobedience affords God’s mercy an opportunity, and God’s mercy brings man salvation. How marvelous is God’s mercy!
God’s mercy and His grace are both the expression of His love. When we are in a pitiful condition, His mercy reaches us and brings us into a state where He is able to favor us with His grace. Luke 15:20-24 says that when the father saw the prodigal son returning, he had compassion on him. This is the deeper mercy, an expression of the father’s affectionate love. Then the father clothed his son with the best robe and fed him with the fatted calf. This is grace, which also manifests the father’s love. God’s mercy reaches further than His grace, bridging the gap between us and God’s grace.
Often, because of our pitiful condition, we need to receive mercy before we can find grace. We come to the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16) like beggars, in somewhat the same condition as was the prodigal son when he came to his father. A beggar, like the prodigal, needs mercy. When we come to the throne of grace, we may have the sense that we are pitiful and say, “Father, I am not worthy of anything.” But the Father may say, “You are unworthy, but I am merciful. My mercy reaches you and qualifies you to receive my favor. My mercy brings Me to you that I may clothe you with the best robe.” God’s mercy is always available to us. (The Conclusion of the New Testament, pp. 98-99)
Further Reading: Life-study of Exodus, msgs. 21-22