Mercy On All

“Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” (Ro 11:31-32 AV)

Paul is playing referee with the Jews and Gentiles of Rome.  The contention between them is understandable.  For several thousand years, Israel existed as God’s chosen people.  The first two thousand years, there was no Jewish nation.  Everyone was a Gentile.  When Abraham was called, the Israeli nation began.  Through his grandson Jacob, the twelve tribes were established.  Upon exodus from Egypt, the LORD brought judgment on the Gentiles and gave Israel the law.  They were to be that nation through whom the LORD would reveal Himself.  This caused bias to grow between Jew and Gentile.  Jesus Christ died for all.  He extended the offer of grace to the Gentiles in part because of Israel’s rejection.  It was this rejection that caused the Gentiles to believe they were superior in the Jews.  They had forgotten that for the first two thousand years of human history, they also had rejected God, bringing about the Jewish nation.  Paul is trying to teach them the complexities of God’s dispensational plan.  As the Jews were supposed to reach the world being God’s chosen people, the Gentiles are not to have mercy on them and seek their salvation.  It is that mercy that presses the heart this morning.

The healthcare and emergency response personnel amaze me.  If a believer wants to learn how to treat every single person with compassion and respect, he or she should go on a few ride-a-longs.  Live police shows are common.  I like watching them every once in a while.  The professionalism that is shown is astounding.  At one particular stop, the passenger of a car was asked to exit.  He initially refused.  He reached for something the police officer assumed was a firearm.  The police sprang into action.  Once out of the vehicle, the police instructed the individual to keep his hands out of his pockets.  Instinctively, the individual reached into his pocket for what would turn out to be his cell phone.  The police tackled him, and they struggled a bit.  When they had the individual on his feet, I thought to myself, “Man, would I be so angry!  That person never followed one instruction, and I almost shot him.”  Not these officers.  They were smiling and chuckling when both the officers and the individuals agreed he had acted foolishly.  They were talking with him as though none of the drama ever happened.  True professionalism.  They did not allow their emotions to dictate how they responded to the person.  They did not allow any preconceived opinion shape how they treated him.  It was astounding.

Contrary to Calvinistic thinking, God did not, and does not, chose to create some to eternal damnation and others to eternal life.  The mercy of God is extended to all.  That is what Paul made clear.  This means it does not matter what the station of life a human soul is, God desires to show mercy.  It is that mercy that should be part of every believer’s heart.  This mercy sees the lost situation of the human soul.  He empathizes with their condition.  He can see the suffering soul in eternal hell-fire and will be moved to attempt to do something about it.  Paul is challenging the Gentiles to show some compassion.  It didn’t matter if the Jewish nation failed.  It didn’t matter of the Jewish nation when after Gentile pagan gods.  Their actions in the past do not dictate the mercy that should be shown in the present.  What the Spirit revealed clearly is that without mercy, we will not be faithful to share the gospel of Christ.  If our intent is to build churches or satisfy our egos, our motive is superficial and will not last long.  Having mercy is lasting and effective.  If the church does not have mercy toward those who are without, we will never reach them.