He Is Not Willing
Notes
Transcript
Peter is writing to the church or those who "have obtained like precious faith" In our passage this morning he is trying to clarify an issue of confusion to the early church. In reality an issue to all periods of the church even to us today. The issue of the Lord's return and all things end time. Now I am not going to preach on those things this morning, but I want us to catch a glimpse of the true character and person of God.
Peter is saying to the church, who may have been enduring tremendous persecution - It seems that Christ is delaying his coming - but Peter says there are two reasons
A Misunderstanding of God time - Look at God's time in this passage A Misunderstanding God's Mercy - Let's talk about God's Mercy this morning
Mercy is a tremendous word in the Bible. It is found around 250 sprinkled all through the sacred text. In the Old Testament is usually refers to "loving-kindness"
Mercy is an essential quality of God (Exodus 34:6-7; Deut. 4:31; Psalm 62:12, etc.); it is His delight (Micah 7:18, 20; Psalm 52:8); He is "the Father of mercies" (2 Cor. 1:3),
"rich in mercy" (Ephes. 2:4), "full of pity, and merciful" (James 5:11);
(b) it is associated with forgiveness (Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18; 1 Tim. 1:13, 16); (c) with His forbearance (Psalm 145:8, " Yahweh is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great lovingkindness"; compare Roman 2:4; Roman 11:32); (d) with His covenant (1 Kings 8:23; Neh. 1:5), with His justice (Psalm 101:1), with His faithfulness (Psalm 89:24), with His truth (Psalm 108:4); mercy and truth are united in Proverbs 3:3; Proverbs 14:22, etc. (in Psalm 85:10 we have "Mercy and truth are met together"); (e) it goes forth to all (Psalm 145:9, "Yahweh is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works"; compare Psalm 145:16, "Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing," the Revised Version margin "satisfiest every living thing with favor"); (f) it shows itself in pitying help (Exodus 3:7; Ezra 9:9f), supremely in Christ and His salvation (Luke 1:50, 54, 58; Ephes. 2:4); (g) it is abundant, practically infinite (Psalm 86:5, 15; Psalm 119:64); (h) it is everlasting (1 Chron. 16:34, 41; Ezra 3:11; Psalm 100:5; Psalm 136 repeatedly).
The Gospels: mercy demonstrated and demanded. The use of "mercy" in the Gospels has a twin focus: Jesus' own contact with human need and his instruction in true religion.
In reading the Gospels, we often find that people with afflictions came to Jesus.
One cried out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me" (Mt 15: 22); another pleaded, "Lord, have mercy on my son" (Mt 17: 15).
Jesus responded; in each case, he healed and met the need.
There were two lessons for those who observed Jesus, and they are there for us as well.
First, those with needs must recognize Jesus' ability to help them:
each recorded cry for mercy is also an expression of faith in Jesus as the Son of God. Second, those who come to Jesus invariably have their needs met.
This latter fact vividly expresses the attitude of God toward us.
According to Ro 9 and 11, God's mercy is the basis for his action. This does not take away from love as the primary motivation in providing salvation. (See LOVE) But, in context, Paul emphasizes that God was responding to the need of the helpless and was not moved by any merit on the part of those he chose to love
His love and mercy are so great he is not willing for anyone to perish.
1. The woman at the well - a prime time to lay it on. Jesus never does
2. The man Jesus heals because of his sin. Lest something greater John 5
John 5:14 (KJV)
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
The Bible just says he had an infirmity for 38 years
Maybe it was an STD Maybe he was an alcholic and caught some kind of disease that Maybe he was just being foolish and did some daring act trying to impress his friends Whatever it was Jesus had an opportunity to say - THIS IS YOUR FAULT - YOU THINK I'm GOING TO HELP YOU NOW? YOU MADE YOUR BED NOW SLEEP IN IT. "
Joel Hemphil may not always have gotten theology ccorrect but one place he was spot on was in his song Consider the Lilies the last verse reads,
May I introduce you to this friend of mine
Who hangs out the stars and tells the moon when to shine
Who kisses the flowers each morning with dew
AAnd yet He's not too busy to care about you.
We have a heavenly Father above
With eyes full of mercy and a heart full of love
He really cares when your head is bowed low
Consider the lilies and then you will know.