God’s mercy, it is not new, it was there from the beginning: Romans 12:1; Genesis 3:21-24; Hebrews 10:1-25; Genesis 22:7; Romans 3:10-20; John 1:29, 36; Genesis 22:1-19; Exodus 29-30; Lev 14-16
God’s inestimable love was expressed by Grace - from the beginning - as He created and made, formed and breathed life and light in and to all creation, but most profoundly, in mankind - us. His love expressed in mercy followed close on Grace’s heels, as man and woman fell violently from the perch of shared dominion with God and hurled toward death, in their futile attempt to be “like God”.
Yet, God, in His mercy, did not snuff out the life of mankind immediately, but instead mercifully covered the sin and shame of their rebellion and His mercy increased when He sealed the way to eternal life gained by man’s reaching out, so that he and she, we, would not live forever in the current condition of sin and suffering - but instead - would, in time, be offered a return to bliss, to God’s delight, to eternal life in Him - released from sin and death by the most holy Covering, the body and blood of their, or our, Maker, now Creator (Eph 2), our Priest (Heb 2; 10) and King (Jo 18:33-37; Mat 26:53).
God’s mercy has been there, from the beginning.
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Genesis 1:21-24
Hebrews 10:1-25
Genesis 22:7-8,13 7Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together… 13Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
Romans 3:10-20; 5:6-8
John 1:29, 36 29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
1Corinthians 11:23-29
