Tuesday | 21 July 2026
Paul recognised that he had become a minister of the Spirit on the basis that he was a recipient of the Lord’s mercy. 1Ti 1:15-16. The mercy of God has been extended to all men through the offering of Christ. However, it is only received, or obtained, by those who have become bankrupt in spirit because they have met Christ as their Lord and King.
The first dimension of the mercy of God is the forgiveness of the debt that has been accrued, because of our sin, under the judgement of the Law of God. However, the mercy of God is far more than forgiveness. The mercy of God grants us a participation in the fellowship of the seven wounding events that Christ experienced from the garden of Gethsemane to the cross.
In the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings, the other law is circumcised from our heart, enabling us to cease from sin. The mercy of God delivers us to a participation in both the dying and the living of our Lord Jesus. It includes both the remission of our sin in the death of Christ, and the capacity to live as a son of God through the resurrection of Christ. The apostle Paul testified, ‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.’ Gal 2:20.
The mercy of God is new every morning because, each day, we have a new participation in the fellowship of Christ’s offering and sufferings. Lam 3:22-23. The apostle Paul exhorted us to this daily reality when he wrote, ‘I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service’. Rom 12:1. We will continue to be a recipient of the mercy of God until we receive the inheritance of our spiritual body on the day of resurrection. Jud 1:21.
Further Study:
1 Timothy 1
References:
1Ti 1:15-16
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
Gal 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Lam 3:22-23
Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
Rom 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Jud 1:21
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.