The Divine Mercy of God

Already in the beginning of these words, Paul places his finger on a very moving and tender spot: “Even when we were dead in sins.” That is a reality about which many no longer want to hear. They wish to step over that spot and move onward to Christ. However, when that awful state of death has never become a reality in our lives, why would we need to be quickened with Christ? So when Paul speaks about that wonder of God's grace, he does not stand looking or expecting something from what is dead. In the text he soars so high and points to the moving cause of divine mercy. He does not look to the world, because that is a place where it cannot be found.

Paul also does not look to all the people belonging to the congregation for the reason why there is such a wonder, namely, saved by grace. No, the reason is not to be found with them. Perhaps you then ask, “What is then the moving cause that a holy and just God can have mercy?” We find that it is with God Himself. From all eternity, when there was nothing that could move Him, He was moved from within Himself. There a holy and just God looked upon deeply fallen sinners. There the eternal election lies firm with God in Christ. That is why we say with holy astonishment that the foundation upon which the Lord builds His church lies immovably with God in eternity.

Who are they who may be built upon this foundation? They are people who were cast out of Paradise and out of God's communion, people lying under His just and everlasting wrath. The wonder of salvation is that God came to ask for them. Who are they? They are people who are dead in sin and trespasses, enemies of God and His salvation. The mercy of God sought for them and reached out for them. Then they may come upon their knees, for the Lord awakens a publican's prayer in their hearts.

Oh, it was great love with which He loved them, for mercy flowed out of that love for those deeply wretched ones. Who can measure that love? It is a love for enemies who sought to cast Him from His throne. It is a love which the church can never admire enough. In holy amazement the church stammers, “Why me, when there are so many for whom there is no mercy?”

Has the Lord already taught you how it is possible that there is mercy for such deeply sunken ones? It is only possible in Another, in the only begotten Son of God, who came to stand in the breach, a breach which could never be bridged by them. There He spoke, saying, “Father, I will pay the price for sin. I will pay the price so that Thy love may seek them. Father, I will pay the price so that for them an avenue may be opened unto Thy heart. Because when My Father's love and mercy touches that sinner's heart, then for him there is only one homecoming, and that is to the place he has lost: My Father's love and mercy.” Who can fathom the love of God? He gave His only begotten Son, to crush Him for hell-deserving sinners. Who can fathom the love of the Son? He gave His life and His blood to obtain righteousness for those unrighteous ones.

In the text Paul points to this wonder of God's grace. He says, “That wonder came to you when you were dead in sin.” Paul there speaks to God's people, saying, “There you were changed from death to life in and through the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ.” It is true, the leadings of God can differ from one to the other. But there are certain marks which are the same. When that change takes place, our eyes are opened. We may now see the breach between God and our soul. We see that it is our sins which have made that breach. We now see that from our side it can never be bridged. Those eyes now see what it is to be lost, forever lost. When that change takes place, our darkness becomes enlightened with that heavenly light which shines within. There Paul cried, “Who art Thou, Lord? What must I do to be saved?” There John Bunyan, feeling the weight of sin, cried, “Lost! Lost! I am forever lost.” When that change takes place, the Lord awakens a sorrow that reaches out unto the living God.

Oh, what a wonder when light may shine upon that avenue opened in Christ. When by faith they may look upon it, they cry, “Lord, plant my feet upon that avenue.” Standing upon it, they hunger and thirst for something that must now be applied unto their heart—the blood and righteousness of Jesus.

Notice the wisdom in those leadings. There He closes every other avenue. We are so foolish that we always seek and want our own avenue, but the Father has only one avenue for His elect children. There He strips away all our righteousness. We are so foolish that we always want to maintain our righteousness. But the holy Father has only one righteousness with which He wants to clothe His elect children, and that is the righteousness obtained by Jesus. There the sinner comes to stand naked and polluted in that filthy unrighteousness that is ours.

What wonderful dealings when, prepared by the Holy Spirit, that sinner may bow under the righteous demands of a holy God. There the Lord can do no wrong. If He must cast me away forever, then that is just and right. What a wonder when there a holy judge announces, “I have found a ransom,” when that holy Child will say, “Father, I have paid for him.” There the Lord gives such a wretched one to understand, “By grace ye are saved.” When the Lord presses that wonder upon the heart, a song awakens within: “Through Thee, through Thee alone, because of Thine eternal good pleasure.”

Now there is a homecoming unto the heart of the Father. And there are times when the sweetness of being saved by grace may lie so warm within their bosom that they long for that homecoming. Salvation by grace becomes an ever greater wonder when, step by step, everything outside of Jesus may be dried up. Then an old child of God once said, “I had many saviors who could not, but now I have one who can. He will bring me all the way, and then a holy Father will say, 'I see no spot or wrinkle in him.”'

Dear reader, examine your heart to see whether or not you are a stranger of God's work within. What if, when you come to the end of life's journey, you cannot say, “Saved by grace”? Then you will say, “Lost! Now it is forever lost.” Oh, beg the Lord for conversion. That is still possible because the Lord works salvation by grace.

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