God’s Mercy

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.” Rom. 12:1. Many exhortations follow this verse. It was by God’s mercy that Paul could give such exhortations. Generally speaking, exhortations do not feel as if one has God’s mercy over one’s life. As far as most people are concerned, it feels as if they have been given more burdens to bear by being exhorted. However, if we followed all the exhortations that are given to us in the Bible, there would be a wonderful life and a wonderful fellowship among believers.

No one can follow these exhortations in his own strength. But if one receives mercy from God, he can follow them, for “it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” This means that it is not of him who is capable or strong or talented. So God has put everyone on the same level. It depends on God’s mercy alone, and therefore God receives all the glory. Israel sought to establish their own righteousness, relying on what they were according to the flesh. As a result, they were not successful, for the just shall live by faith. Then all boasting is excluded. Rom. 3:27.

God proves this by choosing what is foolish in this world in order to put to shame the wise—also the base things of the world and that which is despised, as well as the things which are not, in order to bring to nothing the things that are. And if there is someone who seems to be wise in this age, “let him become a fool that he may become wise.” 1 Cor. 3:18-21.

God worked in Israel to leave Egypt. It was impossible for them, but by God’s mercy it became possible. Afterwards, He led them to the Red Sea and hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he pursued them. Then they were once more faced with the impossible, and again they received mercy over their lives. Through God’s mercy they experienced a tremendous salvation. This is how God continued to lead them through the desert, in order to teach them to live by faith and not by their own strength. They constantly murmured against God’s leading when they were faced with the impossible, but then they rejoiced when God made the impossible possible. However, when it came to the point of entering the Promised Land and they murmured again because it was impossible, instead of putting their trust in God’s mercy, their time of grace was over. God withdrew His mercy, and they had to go out into the desert again. But then they were filled with regret and wanted to go to war, and so they went without having God’s mercy over their lives, and they experienced the following: “It is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” Num. 14:36-45.

Why did they not believe in God’s mercy? It was because they did not want to suffer! They looked at the visible things—that which was impossible—and did not believe in God’s mercy. 2 Cor. 4:17-18; Heb. 3:18-19. It would be a wonderful life if believers would follow the exhortations in Romans 12. However, following them involves denying yourself and suffering in the flesh. 1 Pet. 4:1-2. Therefore only a few people experience anything more than the forgiveness of sins; the rest of their life is a journey in the desert. Num. 14:20-25. They never come to a life of overcoming evil with good. They do not experience that “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for God is working. Phil. 2:12-15. As long as God is working, we have His mercy over us. Then it is possible. Then it will succeed. “Do all things without murmuring and complaining, that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation . . . .” This is an exceedingly great calling. It is possible by God’s mercy.

“Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.” Rom. 11:23.

What does it mean to continue in God’s goodness? It means to continue in His laws and commandments. John 14:21-24. Paul exhorted by the mercies of God, and it is by God’s mercy that we can live by all of God’s laws and commandments, putting all the exhortations in the Bible into practice and partaking of divine nature.

Sigurd Bratlie