“BECAUSE HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY”
Micah
7:18
In Christ and for his sake,
the God of glory delights in mercy. It is his glory and pleasure to be
merciful. Mercy is never a mere wish or dormant desire in God to do something
for miserable sinners. Oh, no! God’s mercy in Christ is ever active, operative,
and effectual. God’s mercy in Christ is gloriously effectual. Look at what
Micah says God will do for sinners, because “he
delighteth in mercy.”
Iniquity Pardoned
He will pardons iniquity,
because “he delighteth in mercy.” He who is our God is the holy Lord
God “that pardoneth iniquity.” The
word “pardoneth” means that he lifts up sin and takes it away. He lifts sin up
off of us and lays it upon Christ, the true scapegoat who takes it away. That
is exactly what happened at Calvary (Isa. 53:6). This is the good news of the
gospel. God says to every believing sinner, “Behold,
I have caused thine iniquity to pass away from thee” (Zech. 3:4).
Transgression Passed By
The Lord God passes by the
transgression of his remnant, because “he
delighteth in mercy.” There is
an elect remnant among the fallen sons and daughters of Adam, chosen of God
unto eternal life, whose sins were put away by the sacrifice of Christ, “a remnant according to the election of
grace.” Having put away their transgression by the sacrifice of his Son,
God passes by it, taking no notice of it, as if he did not see it, because he
does not see it (Num. 23:21). Therefore, he will never impute sin to his people
nor call them into account for it (Rom. 4:8). Through the blood of Christ it is
covered, atoned, blotted out, and washed away.
As C. H. Spurgeon put it,
“Our sins are so effectually removed that we shall not ultimately suffer any
loss or damage through having sinned.”
He who is our God forgives
sin. His very name is forgiveness (Ex. 34:5-7) God forgives sin completely,
absolutely, irreversibly, and forever, because he forgives it justly! God
forgives sin upon the basis of justice satisfied. He forgives the sins of those
for whom Christ died, because justice satisfied demands it (Rom. 3:24-26).
Anger Not Retained
God will not retain his just
anger against his people, because “he
delighteth in mercy” (Isa.
12:1-2). God’s anger, wrath, and justice, being fully satisfied in the
sufferings and death of Christ, are turned away from his people. Where there is
no offense, there is no cause for anger. Since God has put away our sins by the
sacrifice of his dear Son, he has no reason to be angry with his people; and he
never is!
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #667
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net