HOW TO OBTAIN GOD’S MERCY

 

Our first question should be, what is mercy? Mercy is defined as a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion; withholding punishment or judgment. So, in short, God’s mercy is His act of withholding the punishment our sins deserve.

What is sin, and why does God have to punish sins? Sin is an offense against God or a transgression or rebellion against His laws. He punishes sins because He is holy and just, and cannot let sin go unpunished. All of mankind needs God’s mercy because every last one of us is a sinner. We are sinners because “When Adam {our ancestor}, sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned” (Romans 5:12).

It’s clear now that we inherited our sinful nature from Adam and Eve, and the judgment they experienced - separation from God - was also passed on to us. God threw them out of the beautiful Garden of Eden. From that time on, they had to fend for themselves (see Genesis 3). The judgment for our sin is also separation from God: both here and now and, after we leave this world, in hell. Hell is a big problem because what goes on there -- torment -- never ends!

God, out of His love and mercy made the way of escape for us; He put His Only Son, Jesus, through what we should justly go through, so that we won’t have to. Jesus, the Son of God, who had no sin, paid for our sins, thus freeing us from God’s wrath. God’s provision of a substitute is the demonstration of His mercy.

How do we experience this mercy and forgiveness? Jesus’ sacrifice doesn’t cover anyone’s sins automatically; we each have to individually ask for forgiveness. There are no family or group tickets; each person is on his own. We each have to admit to God in prayer that we’re sinners, confess our sins, and turn away from them. Once we do, we will receive mercy. “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).  

Anyone who makes a sincere confession is forgiven, and God’s Holy Spirit comes to indwell that individual, guiding and directing his relationship with God from that point forward. This process is called the new birth; God has adopted us into His family and Jesus our Savior is our big brother. The Scriptures tell us that “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Now that you have taken this step, you’ll need to grow in faith by feeding on the Word of God, the Bible: “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness” (1 Peter 2:3). The Scriptures say you are a new person, so of course, your life will be much different from what it used to be if you allow the Word of God to guide and lead you. “Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them” (2 Corinthians 5:14).

Just as a newborn gradually learns to communicate, you need to get into the habit of communicating with your heavenly Father daily and often. Eloquence is not a requirement for praying; God knows your heart and what you want to say. How you say it is not a concern, instead, He wants you to pray in faith, not doubting: “When you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6).

Do you have siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles? Do you ever get together with them and share life’s experiences? Well, guess what? God has placed you in His family of believers—the Church. Relate to them, get together, share experiences, and encourage each other. “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17). And pray with and for each other.

Understand that God’s mercy goes beyond His forgiveness; it makes us citizens of His heaven! “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again because God raised Jesus from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see” (1 Peter 1:3-5). God is good!