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Chapter
110 [Home] [Accept Jesus] [More] [Previous] [Next]
110.000.000 Torrey: p53
THE MERCY, OR LOVING
KINDNESS, OF GOD
In the 17th Edition Torrey stated:
Preliminary Note: The same Hebrew
word is sometimes translated "mercy" and other times translated "loving-kindness".
These two words, therefore, mean precisely the same thing. The Hebrew word should
have been translated uniformly one way or the other. The word "mercy"
in our English translation of the Old Testament is in a few instances a translation
of another Hebrew word. This latter word corresponds to the Greek word always
translated "compassion" in the New Testament. It covers essentially
the same thought as the other word. In fact, in the quotation in Romans 9:15 it is translated by the
Greek word for mercy. The primary meaning of the word most frequently used is
"kindness", especially kindness exercised toward the suffering or
sinning. It is so translated thirty-nine times in the Authorized Version. In
thirty-one of these instances it is used of the kindness of man toward man,
in the remaining eight of the kindness of God toward man.
Reviser's Note: Unlike Torrey, I am
not trained in either Hebrew or Greek. The excerpts in this New International
Edition are mainly taken from the New International Standard Bible, not the
1885 Revised King James Version Torrey refers to. In any given context, the
New International translators probably used whichever word sounded better in
English; however, I do not know that for certain. The important point is: do
not draw inferences from the use of one word rather than the other -- the difference
does not exist in the original language.
110.010.010
Torrey: p53, T:I
Topic 10: The
fact that God is Merciful.
110.010.010
Torrey: p53, T:I, P:1
POINT 10: God is
Merciful, full of mercy.
Psalms
103:8 The LORD is compassionate
and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
Deuteronomy
4:31 For the LORD your
God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant
with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.
Psalms
62:11-12 [11] One thing
God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, [12] and
that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to
what he has done.
Psalms
145:8-9 [8] The LORD is
gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. [9] The LORD is
good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Psalms
86:15 But you, O Lord,
are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
110.020.000
Torrey: p54, T:II
Topic 20: Toward
whom is the mercy of God manifested?
110.020.010
Torrey: p54, T:II, P:1
POINT 10: God shows
mercy as He sees fit. He is absolutely sovereign in the exercise of His mercy.
Romans
9:15, 18 [15] For he says
to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion
on whom I have compassion." [18] Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants
to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
But it should be remembered that while God
is absolutely sovereign in the exercise of His mercy, while no one can dictate
upon whom He shall have mercy, in point of fact He wills to have mercy on all
upon whom He can have mercy.
2
Peter 3:9 The Lord is not
slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with
you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
110.020.012
Torrey: no
POINT 12: No man
can order, command, or demand God's mercy or blessings, as some New Age practitioners
claim.
Some New Age preachers, including some Christian
clergy who do not recognize disguised New Age practices, proclaim what is being
called 'blab and grab' theology: that 'true believers' can call God up at will
and demand whatever they want -- riches, power, etc., and He will
provide it, indeed He must provide it.
These people may be calling up spirits,
perhaps even spirits who can influence the affairs of men, but as the preceding
Point indicates, the 'demanders' have no power over God. Certainly,
God's faithful angels are not going to betray Him by influencing
men in opposition to His will. For those who succeed in calling up spirits,
there is only one other source, and it is not divine:
1
John 4:1-3 [1] Dear friends,
do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from
God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. [2] This is how
you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus
Christ has come in the flesh is from God, [3] but every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which
you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
110.020.020
Torrey: p54, T:II, P:2
POINT 20: God's
mercy is manifested toward those who fear or love Him: His servants, who walk
before Him with all their hearts.
Deuteronomy
7:9 Know therefore that
the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love
to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.
Exodus
20:6 but showing love to
a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Psalms
103:11, 17-18 [11] For
as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who
fear him; [17] But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those
who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children -- [18] with
those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
2
Chronicles 6:14 He said:
"O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth
-- you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue whole-
heartedly in your way.
110.020.022
Torrey: p54, T:II, P:2
POINT 22: "Fear
of the LORD" does not mean stark terror. In the Bible it is nearly synonymous
with "love of God".
"The fear of the LORD" does not
mean mortal dread of being brutally stricken at any moment for the smallest
error. It means a healthy respect for His authority and power and righteousness.
It is the "fear" any child ought to have for the good parent: respect
for the parent's authority and fear of just and reasonable punishment for wrongful
acts.
As used in the Bible, "fear of the LORD"
is almost synonymous with a "love of God". God wants men to be filled
with joy. Jesus came so that man may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10 Compare the
following three excerpts; they look at the same practical attitude toward God
from different points of view.
Proverbs
8:13 To fear the
LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and
perverse speech.
Proverbs
16:6 Through love and faithfulness
sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
1
John 5:3 This is love for
God: to obey his commands. ...
110.020.030
Torrey: p55, T:II, P:3
POINT 30: God has
mercy on every man who confesses and forsakes his sins.
Proverbs
28:13 He who conceals his
sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
110.020.040
Torrey: p55, T:II, P:4
POINT 40: God has
mercy on those who trust in the Lord. "The LORD's unfailing love surrounds
the man."
Psalms
32:10 Many are the woes
of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in
him.
110.020.050
Torrey: p55, T:II, P:5
POINT 50: God has
mercy on those who call upon Him in faith.
Psalms
86:5 You are forgiving
and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.
Romans
10:12-13 [12] For there
is no difference between Jew and Gentile -- the same Lord is Lord of all and
richly blesses all who call on him, [13] for, "Everyone who calls on the
name of the Lord will be saved."
God isn't a voice-operated appliance that
fulfills every request on demand. He requires true acceptance, not mere empty
words. In the following excerpt, the demon ignored the exorcists not because
they were Jews, but because they lacked faith -- after all, Paul remained a
Jew, even after he accepted Christ.
Acts
19:13, 15 [13] Some Jews
who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord
Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name
of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." [15] One day
the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but
who are you?"
Faith is an essential part of calling on
God successfully.
Acts
3:16 By faith in
the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It
is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete
healing to him, as you can all see.
Acts
3:16 Revised Version reads: And
his name [Jesus], by faith in his name, has made this man strong
whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man
this perfect health in the presence of you all.
110.020.060
Torrey: p55, T:II, P:6
POINT 60: God has
mercy on His afflicted people.
Isaiah
49:13 Shout for joy, O
heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts
his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
110.030.000
Torrey: p55, T:III
Topic 30: How
is the mercy of God manifested?
110.030.010
Torrey: p56, T:III, P:1
POINT 10: The mercy
of God is manifested in his pardoning sin when confessed and forsaken.
Isaiah
55:7 Let the wicked forsake
his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will
have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Jonah
4:2 He prayed to the LORD,
"O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why
I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate
God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
Jeremiah
3:12-13 Go, proclaim this
message toward the north: "'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the LORD,
'I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,' declares the LORD, 'I will
not be angry forever. [13] Only acknowledge your guilt -- you have rebelled
against the LORD your God, ... and have not obeyed me,'" declares the LORD.
Micah
7:18 Who is a God like
you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
Psalms
51:1 Have mercy on me,
O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Numbers
14:18-20 [18] 'The LORD
is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he
does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of
the fathers to the third and fourth generation.' [19] In accordance with your
great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them
from the time they left Egypt until now." [20] The LORD replied, "I
have forgiven them, as you asked.
The manifestation of God's mercy lies at
the basis of many other manifestations. Nevertheless, it is not true, according
to Biblical usage, that "mercy is exercised only when there is guilt."
110.030.020
Torrey: p56, T:III, P:2
POINT 20: The mercy
of God is manifested in his bearing long with sinners even when they harden
their hearts and persist in sins.
Nehemiah
9:16-18, 26-27, 30- 31 [16]
But they, our forefathers, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and did not obey
your commands. [17] They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles
you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed
a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious
and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not
desert them, [18] even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and
said, 'This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,' or when they committed
awful blasphemies. [26] But they were disobedient and rebelled against you;
they put your law behind their backs. They killed your prophets, who had admonished
them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies. [27]
So you handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they
were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your
great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of
their enemies. [30] For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit
you admonished them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you
handed them over to the neighboring peoples. [31] But in your great mercy you
did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful
God.
Confer: 2 Peter 3:9 The
Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is
patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
110.030.030
Torrey: p57, T:III, P:3
POINT 30: The mercy
of God is manifested in His delivering from sickness, sorrow and oppression.
Psalms
6:1-4 [1] O LORD, do not
rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. [2] Be merciful to me,
LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony. [3] My soul
is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? [4] Turn, O LORD, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.
Philippians
2:27 Indeed he was ill,
and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me,
to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
Exodus
15:13 In your unfailing
love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide
them to your holy dwelling.
110.030.040
Torrey: p57, T:III, P:4
POINT 40: The mercy
of God is manifested in His maintaining the security of those who trust Him.
Psalms
21:7 For the king trusts
in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.
110.030.050
Torrey: p57, T:III, P:5
POINT 50: The mercy
of God is manifested in His acting as a defense and refuge in the day of trouble.
Psalms
59:16 But I will sing of
your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.
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