I. INT.
A. One of the essential characteristics of Christianity is developing right attitudes
1. Right attitudes toward God-His Word-His church-One’s fellowman & the world
2. Before one can truly act right one must 1st learn to think right
B. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus sets forth the basic attitudes of His followers
1. This is clearly seen in the “Beatitudes”
2. The 1st four beatitudes look toward God
3. The next three toward man
C. The “merciful” are, of course, the same persons as those referred to in the previous beatitudes
II. THE BIBLE HAS MUCH TO SAY ON THE SUBJECT OF MERCY
A. IN THE O.T.-Prov. 3:3; 11:17; 21:21; Micah 6:8
B. IN THE NT.-Matt. 5:7; Lk. 6:36; Col. 3:12
III. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE MERCIFUL?
A. 1st, IT DOES NOT MEAN
1. To be permissive; or carefree-I TH. 5:22; RM. 12:1-2
2. To be “easy going”
a. Jesus is the perfect example of what it means to be “Merciful” but he was NOT permissive, He was NOT carefree. He was not easy going-MATT. 23:1-30
3. Refusing to see the obvious, or seeing but ignoring them, pretending not to see
a. This is contrary to the teaching of Scripture-I Tim. 5:20; Tit. 1:13; 2:15
B. 2nd, MERCY HAS TWO ASPECTS
1. 1st, It means “to pity, to be compassionate”
2. 2nd, It includes action
3. COMPASSION PLUS ACTION-LK. 10:30-35
IV. GOD IS A GOD OF MERCY (COMPASSION)-Ex. 34:6-7
A. DAVID PROCLAIMED-Psa. 103:8-IS THERE ANY DOUBT?
B. EPH. 2:4-5 SAYS
C. UPON WHOM DOES GOD HAVE MERCY?
1. Upon those who continue in Sin?-absolutely not-Rm. 6:1-2
2. In the O.T.-Deut. 6:6-10; Ezek. 18:20-22, 24, 26-27
3. In the N.T.-Acts 10:34-35; 3:19
V. IT IS MERCY THAT SHOWS COMPASSION
A. TO THE LOST-Mt. 9:35-38; Lk. 19:l0-this is seen in Acts 2
B. TO THE HELPLESS-Mt. 15:32; 25:34-40
C. TO ONES ENEMIES-Matt. 5:44-45
D. IN FORGIVING THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US-LK. 17:3
V. HOW MAY I KNOW IF I AM MERCIFUL?-LOOK AT SOME BIBLE EXAMPLES
A. JOSEPH-Gen. 45:4-5; 50:15-21
B. STEPHEN-Acts 7:59
C. JESUS-Lk. 9:54-55; Jn. 8:3-11; Lk. 23:34
D. NO QUALITY IS MORE EXALTED THAN MERCY-Micah 6:8; Prov. 3:3; Lk. 6:36
VII. THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY
A. ONLY THE MERCIFUL RECEIVE GOD’S MERCY-Matt. 18:23-37
B. FORGIVENESS IS CONDITIONAL
VIII. CONCLUSION: