The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent -agent- during the 2007-2008 League.
A Biblical Study of God's Mercy
God has shown mankind both incredible mercy and grace. Grace can be defined as "giving something that is not deserved." In my mind, the definition of mercy is this: Not giving something that is deserved. Mercy then is the withholding of something, often punishment, even when this punishment is deserved. Why would anyone do this?
The answer is to be found in love. Only love could motivate anyone to show mercy to someone undeservedly. Certainly the greatest example of this love is God's love for all mankind.
John 3:16 puts it this way, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him will not perish but will have everlasting life." God's love is so great that He sent his only Son to be a sacrifice for all of mankind. This great love is the reason for the great mercy that God has shown us.
What is this great mercy? It is the foremost event in all of human history: The death of Jesus on the cross, His burial, and His glorious resurrection. This instance marks the intersection of infinite love, infinite grace, and infinite mercy.
This one act saved all of mankind. According to Romans 3:23, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." We have all sinned, and Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is life through Jesus Christ our Lord." All have sinned, therefore all deserve punishment.
This is where God's mercy comes in. God sent His only Son Jesus to die on a cross to redeem mankind and cast away our sin. Romans 5:8 states "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Christ's death on the cross is the greatest act of mercy, and it purchased a pardon for all who would have it. All that is needed is a simple prayer, described in Romans 10:9,"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Ultimately, only an infinite love could motivate anyone to show mercy to someone deserving of infinite punishment. God is the one and only being who can possess infinite love, grace, and mercy. Let us all be grateful for this wonderful, merciful gift that He has given to us.
