CWK
Thomas Watson on The Mercy of God
from the Devotional, Glorifying God [1]
MY INTRO TO GOD'S MERCY
Definition of God's Mercy:
God’s mercy is his natural willingness to pity and comfort those who suffer which rises out of his love, without respect to their unworthiness, and only with respect to Christ's worthiness.
When a man in distress cries for pity, what more suitable plea can be urged than the extremity of his case?–And God allows such a plea as this: for he is moved to mercy towards us by nothing in us but the miserableness of our case. He doth not pity sinners because they are worthy, but because they need his pity...All their hope of mercy must be from the consideration of what he is, what he hath done, and what he hath suffered; and that there is no other name given under heaven, among men, whereby we can be saved, but that of Christ; that he is the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world; that his blood cleanses from all sin, and that he is so worthy, that all sinners who are in him may well be pardoned and accepted.–It is impossible that any should come to God for mercy, and at the same time have no hope of mercy. Their coming to God for it, implies that they have some hope of obtaining, otherwise they would not think it worth the while to come. But they that come in a right manner have all their hope through Christ, or from the consideration of his redemption, and the sufficiency of it. –If persons thus come to God for mercy, the greatness of their sins will be no impediment to pardon. Let their sins be ever so many, and great, and aggravated, it will not make God in the least degree more backward to pardon them... When God accepts of young persons, it is not for the sake of the service which they are like to do him afterwards, or because youth is better worth accepting than old age. You seem entirely to mistake the matter, in thinking that God will not accept of you because you are old; as though he readily accepted of persons in their youth, because their youth is better worth his acceptance; whereas it is only for the sake of Jesus Christ, that God is willing to accept of any. You say, your life is almost spent, and you are afraid that the best time for serving God is past; and that therefore God will not now accept of you; as if it were for the sake of the service which persons are like to do him, after they are converted, that he accepts of them. But a self-righteous spirit is at the bottom of such objections. Men cannot get off from the notion, that it is for some goodness or service of their own, either done or expected to be done, that God accepts of persons, and receives them into favour.–Indeed they who deny God their youth, the best part of their lives, and spend it in the service of Satan, dreadfully sin and provoke God; and he very often leaves them to hardness of heart when they are grown old. But if they are willing to accept of Christ when old, he is as ready to receive them as any others; for in that matter God hath respect only to Christ and his worthiness (From Jonathan Edwards's Sermon, Pardon For The Greatest Sinners).
Ephesians 2:4: "God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us..."
The ground and source of all mercy = love. The more one loves, the more mercy one can show. If we ask, "Why does God show mercy?" Answer: Because he loves his people. If we ask: Why does God love his people? Answer: Because God loves his people. Deuteronomy 7.7-9:
The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 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 commandments.If we ask, "Why does God loves his people." Answer: Because God loves his people.
From Charles Spurgeon, Grace Abounding,
Such is the grace of God. It does not visit us because we ask it, much less, because we deserve it; but as God wills it, and the bottles of heaven are unstopped, so God wills it, and grace descends. No matter how vile, and black, and foul, and godless, men may be, he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and that free, rich, overflowing goodness of his can make the very worst and least deserving the objects of his best and choicest love... There is no reason for God's love in any man, if there is none in you, you are not worse off than the best of men, for there is none in them; the grace and love of God can come as freely to you as they can to those that have long been seeking them, for "I am found of them that sought me not."I. Our Need For Mercy
What shall we do to (have a share in) in God’s mercy? Be sensible of your wants.[2] See how much you stand in need of pardoning, saving mercy.[3] See yourselves as orphans. God bestows the charity of mercy only on such as are destitute. Be emptied of all opinion of self-worthiness. God pours the golden oil of mercy into empty vessels[4] ... To have health is a mercy, but to have Christ and salvation is a greater mercy.[5] [6]
II. God is Merciful
Mercy is an attribute of God, both the result and effect of God’s goodness... God is essentially good in Himself and relatively good to us. They are both put together in, “You are good, and do good (Ps. 119.68).”[7]
(God’s mercy is his) inherent propensity to pity and comfort those who suffer. Scriptures great design is to represent God as merciful. This is a loadstone to draw sinners to Him (Ps. 108.4).[8]
Mercy sets God’s power on work to help us...[9]
All the mercy in the creature is derived from God, and is only a drop in the ocean (compared to God’s mercy)...[10] If God has put any kindness into the creature, how much kindness is in Him who is the Father of mercy![11]
Even the worst people taste God’s mercy; even though they fight against it. [12] [13]
One act of mercy engages God to another. Men argue thus: “I have shown you kindness already. Therefore trouble me no more.” But because God has shown mercy, He is more ready still to show mercy. His mercy in election makes Him justify, adopt, glorify. One act of mercy engages God to more (just as a) parent’s love to his child makes him always giving.[14]
III. God’s Willingness to Show Mercy
God counts it His glory to scatter pardons; He is desirous that sinners should touch the golden scepter of His mercy and live. The willingness to show mercy appears by entreating sinners to come and take hold on His mercy, “Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life (Rev. 22.17; cf. Mt. 11.28-30).” Mercy woos sinners; it even kneels down to them. It was strange for a prince to entreat a condemned man to accept pardon. God says, “Poor sinner, let Me love thee. Be willing to let Me save thee.”[15]
God’s willingness to show mercy appears by His joyfulness when sinners take hold on His mercy (Lk. 15.3-9, “...joyfully puts it on his shoulders... rejoice with me... more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents... rejoice with me”). God’s goodness is that he rejoices at the salvation of sinners, and is glad when His mercy is accepted. God rejoices when a poor sinner comes in and takes hold of His mercy.[16]
IV. God’s Mercy Comes Through Christ Alone
... and all the mercy comes through Christ... carry the Lamb Christ in your arms, go in His name, present His merits. Say, “Lord! Here is Christ’s blood, which is the price of my pardon. Lord! Show me mercy, because Christ has purchased it.” [17] [18]
V. God’s Mercy is Free
The spring of mercy which God shows, is free and spontaneous.[19] To set up merit, is to destroy mercy; nothing can deserve mercy or force it.[20] Nothing can deserve mercy (because we are polluted in our blood), nor force it. We may force God to punish us, but not to love us. Every link in the cahing of salvation is wrought and interwoven with free grace. Election is free (Eph. 1.4-5). Justification is free (Romans 3.24) Salvation is free (Titus 3.5). Say not then, “I am unworthy,” for mercy is free. If God should show mercy to such only as are worthy, He would show none at all[21] ... As God’s mercy makes the saints happy, so it should make them humble.[22] Mercy is not the fruit of our goodness, but the fruit of God’s goodness. Mercy is a charity that God bestows. They have no cause to be proud who live upon the charity of God’s mercy... all my righteousness is the effect of God’s mercy.[23] Therefore, I will be humble and will not lift up my head. [24] [25]
VI. God’s Mercy Is Eternal
God’s mercy is eternal (Ps. 103.17; Psalm 100.5). “His mercy endures forever,” is repeated 26 times in Psalm 136... God’s anger to His children lasts but awhile, but His mercy is everlasting. As long as He is God, He will be showing mercy. As His mercy is overflowing, so it is forever flowing.[26]
VII. The Kinds of Mercy
There are several kinds of mercy:
preventing mercy,
sparing mercy,
guiding mercy,
accepting mercy,
healing mercy (Phil. 2.27),
quickening mercy,
supporting mercy,
forgiving mercy,
correcting mercy,
comforting mercy,
delivering mercy,
and crowning mercy.[27]
V. God’s Mercy is Free
The spring of mercy which God shows, is free and spontaneous.[19] To set up merit, is to destroy mercy; nothing can deserve mercy or force it.[20] Nothing can deserve mercy (because we are polluted in our blood), nor force it. We may force God to punish us, but not to love us. Every link in the cahing of salvation is wrought and interwoven with free grace. Election is free (Eph. 1.4-5). Justification is free (Romans 3.24) Salvation is free (Titus 3.5). Say not then, “I am unworthy,” for mercy is free. If God should show mercy to such only as are worthy, He would show none at all[21] ... As God’s mercy makes the saints happy, so it should make them humble.[22] Mercy is not the fruit of our goodness, but the fruit of God’s goodness. Mercy is a charity that God bestows. They have no cause to be proud who live upon the charity of God’s mercy... all my righteousness is the effect of God’s mercy.[23] Therefore, I will be humble and will not lift up my head. [24] [25]
VI. God’s Mercy Is Eternal
God’s mercy is eternal (Ps. 103.17; Psalm 100.5). “His mercy endures forever,” is repeated 26 times in Psalm 136... God’s anger to His children lasts but awhile, but His mercy is everlasting. As long as He is God, He will be showing mercy. As His mercy is overflowing, so it is forever flowing.[26]
VII. The Kinds of Mercy
There are several kinds of mercy:
preventing mercy,
sparing mercy,
guiding mercy,
accepting mercy,
healing mercy (Phil. 2.27),
quickening mercy,
supporting mercy,
forgiving mercy,
correcting mercy,
comforting mercy,
delivering mercy,
and crowning mercy.[27]
(On Sparing Mercy) Mercy stays the speedy execution of God’s patience. Sinners continually provoke God and make, “the fury come up in his face (Ez. 38.18).” Whence does God not presently arrest and condemn them? It is not that God cannot do it, for He is armed with omnipotence, but it is from His mercy. Mercy provides a reprieve for the sinner, and stops the speedy process of justice. God would, by His goodness, lead sinners to repentance.[28]
VIII. Faith And Mercy
Nothing prejudices us but unbelief. Unbelief stops the current of God’s mercy from running, shuts God’s bowels, closes the cavity of Christ’s wounds, so no healing virture will come out.[29] As far as the heavens are above the earth, so far is God’s mercy above our sins[30]... Go with confidence in this mercy, as when one goes to a fire, not doubtingly, saying, “Perhaps it will warm me, perhaps not.” God’s mercy is plenteous.[31]
IX. Pray For Mercy
Go to God for mercy: “Have mercy upon me, O God (Psalm 51.1)!” Put me not off with the common mercy that reprobates may have. Give me not only acorns, but pearls. Give me not only mercy to feed and clothe me, but mercy to save me; Give me the cream of thy mercies.[32] Lord!... Give me such mercy as speaks Thy electing love to my soul. Oh, pray for mercy! Prayer is the key that opens treasures of mercy, and all the mercy comes through Christ... carry the Lamb Christ in your arms, go in His name, present His merits. Say, “Lord! Here is Christ’s blood, which is the price of my pardon. Lord! Show me mercy, because Christ has purchased it.”...[33]
X. Mercy and Love to God
God’s justice may make us fear Him; His mercy makes us love Him. If mercy will not produce love, what will? We are to love God for giving us our food, much more for giving us grace; for sparing mercy, much more for saving mercy. Sure that heart is made of marble which the mercy of God will not dissolve in love. “I would hate my own soul,” says Augustine, “if I did not finding it loving God.”
XI. Imitate God's Mercy
We are to imitate God in showing mercy. As God is the Father of mercy, show yourselves to be His children by being like Him. Ambrose says, “The sum and definition of religion is, be rich in works of mercy, be helpful to the bodies and souls of others. Scatter your golden seeds; let the lamp of your profession be filled with the oil of charity. Be merciful in giving and forgiving (To enemies: Lk. 6.36; To fellow christians: Eph. 4.32-5.2).”[34] [35]
XII. Abusing God’s Mercy
Take heed of abusing the mercy of God.[36] Suck not poison out of the sweet flower of God’s mercy. Think not that because God is merciful, you may go on in sin; this is to make mercy your enemy... To sin because mercy abounds is the devil’s logic.[37] He who sins because of God’s mercy is like one who wounds his head because he has a bandage... Mercy is not for them who sin and fear not, but for them who fear and sin not. God’s mercy is a holy mercy; where it pardons, it heals.[38]
VIII. Faith And Mercy
Nothing prejudices us but unbelief. Unbelief stops the current of God’s mercy from running, shuts God’s bowels, closes the cavity of Christ’s wounds, so no healing virture will come out.[29] As far as the heavens are above the earth, so far is God’s mercy above our sins[30]... Go with confidence in this mercy, as when one goes to a fire, not doubtingly, saying, “Perhaps it will warm me, perhaps not.” God’s mercy is plenteous.[31]
IX. Pray For Mercy
Go to God for mercy: “Have mercy upon me, O God (Psalm 51.1)!” Put me not off with the common mercy that reprobates may have. Give me not only acorns, but pearls. Give me not only mercy to feed and clothe me, but mercy to save me; Give me the cream of thy mercies.[32] Lord!... Give me such mercy as speaks Thy electing love to my soul. Oh, pray for mercy! Prayer is the key that opens treasures of mercy, and all the mercy comes through Christ... carry the Lamb Christ in your arms, go in His name, present His merits. Say, “Lord! Here is Christ’s blood, which is the price of my pardon. Lord! Show me mercy, because Christ has purchased it.”...[33]
X. Mercy and Love to God
God’s justice may make us fear Him; His mercy makes us love Him. If mercy will not produce love, what will? We are to love God for giving us our food, much more for giving us grace; for sparing mercy, much more for saving mercy. Sure that heart is made of marble which the mercy of God will not dissolve in love. “I would hate my own soul,” says Augustine, “if I did not finding it loving God.”
XI. Imitate God's Mercy
We are to imitate God in showing mercy. As God is the Father of mercy, show yourselves to be His children by being like Him. Ambrose says, “The sum and definition of religion is, be rich in works of mercy, be helpful to the bodies and souls of others. Scatter your golden seeds; let the lamp of your profession be filled with the oil of charity. Be merciful in giving and forgiving (To enemies: Lk. 6.36; To fellow christians: Eph. 4.32-5.2).”[34] [35]
XII. Abusing God’s Mercy
Take heed of abusing the mercy of God.[36] Suck not poison out of the sweet flower of God’s mercy. Think not that because God is merciful, you may go on in sin; this is to make mercy your enemy... To sin because mercy abounds is the devil’s logic.[37] He who sins because of God’s mercy is like one who wounds his head because he has a bandage... Mercy is not for them who sin and fear not, but for them who fear and sin not. God’s mercy is a holy mercy; where it pardons, it heals.[38]
***
[1] The content is excerpted from Thomas Watson, Glorifying God: A Yearlong Collection of Classical Devotional Writings, June 7-17. See dates in footnotes for references to Watson. I have also added some scripture references, excerpts from others, and my own comments.
[2] What we need is NEED.
[3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 5.3);” / “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked (Rev. 3.17).”
[4] Watson, June 15.
[5] Watson, June 9.
[6] We should be thankful and humbled by all mercies – what do we have that we have not received freely from God (1 Tim. 6.17; 1 Cor. 4.7). All mercies are good. Yet, some are better, and some are best. We should, thus, rejoice more when we have hope in sure heavenly treasure than when we have hope in uncertain earthly treasure (1 Timothy 6.17; Lk. 12.16-21; 6.3-4, 19-21), more, over a good name with God than a good name with men (Mt. 5.11-12). And, we should not rejoice even when we have great spiritual power, but should rather rejoice that our names are written in heaven (Lk. 10.20).
[7] Watson, June 7.
[8] Watson, June 7.
[9] Watson, June 8.
[10] If men, who are evil, have the capacity for mercy – how much more the God of all mercy (Lk. 11.13)!?
[11] Watson, June 10.
[12] Mt. 5.45, “(God) causes His sun to shine on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (cf. Psalm 145.9).”
[13] Waston, June 9.
[14] God’s chesed (translated: steadfast love, loyal love, lovingkindness, etc.) in the OT describes His faithfulness to persevere with His people in love (Ex. 34.6-7). Thus, God’s love is a merciful love: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2.13).”
[15] Watson. June 13.
[16] Watson, June 13.
[17] Watson, June 15.
[18] Jonathon Edwards, Pardon for The Chief of Sinners, “It is only for the sake of Jesus Christ, that God is willing to accept any person...it has nothing to do with anything we bring, or any goodness we have. You say, your life is almost spent, and you are afraid that the best time for serving God is past; and that therefore God will not now accept now you- because you are coming to him late in life; what you are really saying is that God accepts persons because of the service they are willing to do him. But a self-righteous spirit is at the bottom of such objections. Men cannot get away from the notion that God welcomes persons and receives them into his favor for some goodness or service of their own, either that they do, or that God expects them to do later—Indeed they who deny God their youth, the best part of their lives, and spend it in the service of Satan, dreadfully sin and provoke God; and he very often leaves them to hardness of heart when they are grown old. But if they are willing to come to Christ when old, he is as ready to receive them as any others; because in the matter of receiving sinners God has respect only to Christ and his worthiness.”
[19] Charles Spurgeon, Grace Abounding, “Such is the grace of God. It does not visit us because we ask it, much less, because we deserve it; but as God wills it, and the bottles of heaven are unstopped, so God wills it, and grace descends. No matter how vile, and black, and foul, and godless, men may be, he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and that free, rich, overflowing goodness of his can make the very worst and least deserving the objects of his best and choicest love... There is no reason for God's love in any man, if there is none in you, you are not worse off than the best of men, for there is none in them; the grace and love of God can come as freely to you as they can to those that have long been seeking them, for "I am found of them that sought me not."... "
[20] Thomas Watson, Body of Divinity, section on Mercy.
[21] Watson, June 11.
[22] R.M. McCheyne, “Ah, my friends this is a humbling doctrine. There is no difference between us and the children of wrath; some of us were more wicked than they, yet God set his love upon us. If there are any here that believe they have been chosen because they were better than others, you are grossly mistaken (cf. Eph. 2.3).”
[23] We are by nature sinners (Ps. 51.3), and so, by nature children of wrath (Eph. 2.3). Nature makes us proud sinners. Grace makes us humble saints – humble and holy, and humble when holy (cf. John Calvin, Puritan Papers, “Nature made him proud...”).
[24] See Whitfield on ‘true humility of mind,’ in Banner of Truth, vol. 1.
[25] God gives freely: this has 2 important, and connected, senses, 1) God is free in all He does – He does according to His good pleasure (Mt. 11.26), according to the counsel of His own will (Eph. 1.3ff), according to His own purpose (Romans 8.28ff), He has mercy on whoever he wants (Romans 9), he has mercy on whoever he chooses (Mt. 11.27). God’s sovereign hand is not forced from outside Himself. In short, God does as He pleases, when He pleases, and shows mercy to whom He pleases (i.e. wills, desires, chooses), when He wants, and how He wants. 2) God’s love is due to nothing in us; it is a gift, gratis, undeserved, unearned, unmerited, unbought, unsought. God owes no man anything but wrath. There is no reason in the creature, even in the best of men, for the love of God. We come to God as beggars, never as creditors. God stands toward us as benefactor, never as debtor.
[26] Watson, June 12.
[27] Watson, June 11.
[28] The merciful patience of God in not immediately sending just wrath is described as His longsuffering (Ex. 34.6), His kindness, tolerance, and patience (Romans 2.4), and his unlimited patience (1 Timothy 1.16). God’s withholding wrath is the combination of his patience and grace – patience in that he waits long; grace in that he does not give what we deserve. Thus, if God withholds His wrath, even for a moment, it is mercy. It is a postponement of just sentencing. Why does God demonstrate such tolerant patience? Because he would draw sinners kindly to repentance (Romans 2.4), and he would not break the bruised reed – i.e., He nurtures and waits out even the least gleam of hope in sinful men (see my sermon notes on that text).
[29] The problem is not God’s power or God’s willingness. The problem is sinful unbelief. “(Jesus) could not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.”
[30] Watson, June 13.
[31] Watson, June 12.
[32] It is not the case that ‘we have not because God has not.’ Or, that we have not because God is unwilling to give. We have not because we ask not (Mt. 7.7-8; James 1.5).
[33] Watson, June 15.
[34] Watson, June 17.
[35] Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy (Mt. 5.7). Knowing God’s mercy makes us merciful toward others. Mercy shown is evidence of mercy received, evidence of saving faith, and evidence that comforts us for the judgment day when all men will receive either mercy or justice. Also, mercy shown is evidence of mercy TO BE received on the judgment day. Mercy is a mark of “making our calling and election sure.” The best indication of mercy from God on that day, is mercy from us on this day.
[36] Romans 2.3-4; see Charles Hodge, Commentary on Romans, 2.3-4.
[37] Romans 3.8, 6.1-2.
[38] Watson, June 14.
[1] The content is excerpted from Thomas Watson, Glorifying God: A Yearlong Collection of Classical Devotional Writings, June 7-17. See dates in footnotes for references to Watson. I have also added some scripture references, excerpts from others, and my own comments.
[2] What we need is NEED.
[3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 5.3);” / “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked (Rev. 3.17).”
[4] Watson, June 15.
[5] Watson, June 9.
[6] We should be thankful and humbled by all mercies – what do we have that we have not received freely from God (1 Tim. 6.17; 1 Cor. 4.7). All mercies are good. Yet, some are better, and some are best. We should, thus, rejoice more when we have hope in sure heavenly treasure than when we have hope in uncertain earthly treasure (1 Timothy 6.17; Lk. 12.16-21; 6.3-4, 19-21), more, over a good name with God than a good name with men (Mt. 5.11-12). And, we should not rejoice even when we have great spiritual power, but should rather rejoice that our names are written in heaven (Lk. 10.20).
[7] Watson, June 7.
[8] Watson, June 7.
[9] Watson, June 8.
[10] If men, who are evil, have the capacity for mercy – how much more the God of all mercy (Lk. 11.13)!?
[11] Watson, June 10.
[12] Mt. 5.45, “(God) causes His sun to shine on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (cf. Psalm 145.9).”
[13] Waston, June 9.
[14] God’s chesed (translated: steadfast love, loyal love, lovingkindness, etc.) in the OT describes His faithfulness to persevere with His people in love (Ex. 34.6-7). Thus, God’s love is a merciful love: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2.13).”
[15] Watson. June 13.
[16] Watson, June 13.
[17] Watson, June 15.
[18] Jonathon Edwards, Pardon for The Chief of Sinners, “It is only for the sake of Jesus Christ, that God is willing to accept any person...it has nothing to do with anything we bring, or any goodness we have. You say, your life is almost spent, and you are afraid that the best time for serving God is past; and that therefore God will not now accept now you- because you are coming to him late in life; what you are really saying is that God accepts persons because of the service they are willing to do him. But a self-righteous spirit is at the bottom of such objections. Men cannot get away from the notion that God welcomes persons and receives them into his favor for some goodness or service of their own, either that they do, or that God expects them to do later—Indeed they who deny God their youth, the best part of their lives, and spend it in the service of Satan, dreadfully sin and provoke God; and he very often leaves them to hardness of heart when they are grown old. But if they are willing to come to Christ when old, he is as ready to receive them as any others; because in the matter of receiving sinners God has respect only to Christ and his worthiness.”
[19] Charles Spurgeon, Grace Abounding, “Such is the grace of God. It does not visit us because we ask it, much less, because we deserve it; but as God wills it, and the bottles of heaven are unstopped, so God wills it, and grace descends. No matter how vile, and black, and foul, and godless, men may be, he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and that free, rich, overflowing goodness of his can make the very worst and least deserving the objects of his best and choicest love... There is no reason for God's love in any man, if there is none in you, you are not worse off than the best of men, for there is none in them; the grace and love of God can come as freely to you as they can to those that have long been seeking them, for "I am found of them that sought me not."... "
[20] Thomas Watson, Body of Divinity, section on Mercy.
[21] Watson, June 11.
[22] R.M. McCheyne, “Ah, my friends this is a humbling doctrine. There is no difference between us and the children of wrath; some of us were more wicked than they, yet God set his love upon us. If there are any here that believe they have been chosen because they were better than others, you are grossly mistaken (cf. Eph. 2.3).”
[23] We are by nature sinners (Ps. 51.3), and so, by nature children of wrath (Eph. 2.3). Nature makes us proud sinners. Grace makes us humble saints – humble and holy, and humble when holy (cf. John Calvin, Puritan Papers, “Nature made him proud...”).
[24] See Whitfield on ‘true humility of mind,’ in Banner of Truth, vol. 1.
[25] God gives freely: this has 2 important, and connected, senses, 1) God is free in all He does – He does according to His good pleasure (Mt. 11.26), according to the counsel of His own will (Eph. 1.3ff), according to His own purpose (Romans 8.28ff), He has mercy on whoever he wants (Romans 9), he has mercy on whoever he chooses (Mt. 11.27). God’s sovereign hand is not forced from outside Himself. In short, God does as He pleases, when He pleases, and shows mercy to whom He pleases (i.e. wills, desires, chooses), when He wants, and how He wants. 2) God’s love is due to nothing in us; it is a gift, gratis, undeserved, unearned, unmerited, unbought, unsought. God owes no man anything but wrath. There is no reason in the creature, even in the best of men, for the love of God. We come to God as beggars, never as creditors. God stands toward us as benefactor, never as debtor.
[26] Watson, June 12.
[27] Watson, June 11.
[28] The merciful patience of God in not immediately sending just wrath is described as His longsuffering (Ex. 34.6), His kindness, tolerance, and patience (Romans 2.4), and his unlimited patience (1 Timothy 1.16). God’s withholding wrath is the combination of his patience and grace – patience in that he waits long; grace in that he does not give what we deserve. Thus, if God withholds His wrath, even for a moment, it is mercy. It is a postponement of just sentencing. Why does God demonstrate such tolerant patience? Because he would draw sinners kindly to repentance (Romans 2.4), and he would not break the bruised reed – i.e., He nurtures and waits out even the least gleam of hope in sinful men (see my sermon notes on that text).
[29] The problem is not God’s power or God’s willingness. The problem is sinful unbelief. “(Jesus) could not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.”
[30] Watson, June 13.
[31] Watson, June 12.
[32] It is not the case that ‘we have not because God has not.’ Or, that we have not because God is unwilling to give. We have not because we ask not (Mt. 7.7-8; James 1.5).
[33] Watson, June 15.
[34] Watson, June 17.
[35] Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy (Mt. 5.7). Knowing God’s mercy makes us merciful toward others. Mercy shown is evidence of mercy received, evidence of saving faith, and evidence that comforts us for the judgment day when all men will receive either mercy or justice. Also, mercy shown is evidence of mercy TO BE received on the judgment day. Mercy is a mark of “making our calling and election sure.” The best indication of mercy from God on that day, is mercy from us on this day.
[36] Romans 2.3-4; see Charles Hodge, Commentary on Romans, 2.3-4.
[37] Romans 3.8, 6.1-2.
[38] Watson, June 14.
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