OUTLINE:

Perspective
Why do we expend so much time/energy on being anxious? Why do we try to “fix” yesterday’s mistakes and “prepare” for tomorrow’s? Who are we depending on, anyways? (Mt 6:24-34)

“The Advantageous Estate of Brokenness”
We have a merciful God!

Without mercy, mankind has no hope.

Our Hope Is In Christ
Christ is the greatest expression of mercy in the history of the Universe. (Jn 3:16-17; Eph 2:4-7; 1Ti 1:12-16; Tit 3:3-7; 1Pe 1:3-5; 2:9-10; Jude 17-25)

1Jn 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.

Our Hope Is In Christ
Christ is the greatest expression of mercy in the history of the Universe. (Jn 3:16-17; Eph 2:4-7; 1Ti 1:12-16; Tit 3:3-7; 1Pe 1:3-5; 2:9-10; Jude 17-25)

Perverted Mercy
One particular way in which contemporary “Christian” churches have perverted the definition of mercy is to propose the following lie: “God is SO merciful that He grants forgiveness even to those who refuse His Son, who refuse to repent, who refuse to be humbled, but live a ‘good’ life.”

God’s Mercy
Mercy does not widen the gate that leads to life (Mt 7:13-14). It is abundantly merciful for God to even open said gate at all!!! (Ro 5:8-10)

God’s Mercy
God’s mercy is FAR beyond human comprehension, even. For who knows the thoughts/intentions of the heart except Him? (Heb 4:12) And yet, man is never satisfied with God, always willing to challenge Him, His grace, His mercy, His love.

The Satanic Way
We NEVER have the right to put God on trial. That is what Satan and the kingdom of darkness suggests we do. For example, for man to question the “limits” of God’s mercy is to put Him on trial.

“distort”
from metastrepho - means to turn something into its opposite; by adding moral law to the gospel, false teachers effectively destroy God’s grace/mercy, turning the message of unmerited favor into merited/earned favor

“neither received it from man”
No part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ ought to be invented, speculated upon, or even reasoned upon. God’s grace and mercy in salvation will never make sense to arrogance; however, it is the living hope of all who are saved! (1Pe 1:3-5)