How far will mercy go?

Grace is unlimited and forever. Mercy, on the other hand, is vast but can end in either of two ways:

-Repentance leading to salvation by grace through faith; or...
-The wrath of God and eternal punishment for forsaking or denying the mercy of God in your life.

God is calling us through His mercy into obedience. When we get right with God it becomes clear we cannot get away with unrepentant sin. It is to know that after we have come to a knowledge of the truth His mercy has accomplished it's mission. Then it is time for obedience to His Word and keeping ourselves immersed in His grace by forsaking the path of sin and following after Him.

1 Peter 4:17, 18 "The time has come for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if what we know now is only the beginning, what will it be when it comes down to those who refuse to believe God's Good News?"

Mercy is always available if we ask, but not as an excuse to do wrong. While we say, "Everyone else is doing it!", or "I used to be able to!"--when God "meddles with our affairs" the world of evil is expanding around us.

Some of us have already experienced just how far God will go to form "Christ in us". When the fear of God hits us, and our prayers for deliverance from sin are finally answered God literally scares us out of hell. Mercy teaches us that wisdom begins by fearing the Lord and the Word tells us the way of mercy.

(1) The Word says that God in His mercy chastises us.
Hebrews 12:6-8 (KJV) "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."

(2) The Word says that God in His mercy requires our sacrifice.
Romans 12:1 "Think of God's mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God."

(3) The Word says that God's mercy is not an excuse for sinning or backsliding.
Exodus 34:6-7 (NIV) ..."The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the wicked unpunished... "