INTRODUCTION:

Recently in reading Ephesians I got stuck on this verse, wondering how rich is God's mercy. We tend to measure riches by some standard - how does God measure it.

I. Unsearchable - (Eph. 3:8)

Many a man has set himself on the mission of determining the end of God's mercy.

A. Some would say murder, but Moses the murderer would say (Ps. 90:14; 103:7-17).

B. Some would say adultery, but all David the adulterer had to say was:

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions" (Ps. 51:5)

"For great is thy mercy toward me: And thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell." (Ps. 86:13)

C. Some would say, when you begin to backslide, but (Ps. 94:18) says: "When I said, my foot slipeth: thy mercy, O Lord, held me up."

D. Some would say denial, but Peter said: (1 Pet. 1:3-5).

E. Some would say failure to repent: (1 Cor. 3:5)

F. But still a voice of a protester suggest that there must be somewhere an eternally vile sinner whose wretchedness cannot be touched by God's mercy. Consider John Newton, Slave trader:

• "I am not what I ought to be! How imperfect and deficient I am! I am not what I wish to be, although I abhor that which is evil and would cleave to what is good! I am not what I hope to be, but soon I shall be out of mortality, and with it all sin and imperfection. Though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor yet what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was: A slave to sin and Satan. I can heartily join with the apostle and acknowledge that by the grace of God I am what I am!"

II. Passeth knowledge - (Eph. 3:19)

Things that surpass comprehension:

A. His grace is rich enough to make me accepted, (Eph. 1:6,7), which eliminates the necessity of anyone else's acceptance.

B. Rich in citizenship, (Eph. 2:19). Everyone is dying to come to America, makes you wonder why everyone is dying to get a better citizenship than what they have.

C. Rich in forgiveness - (Tit. 3:4-7).

D. Rich in love (Eph. 2:4) - Who can calculate it? Cooper, overwhelmed by the "Great Love" writes, "There is a fountain filled with Blood." Everest stands hypnotized on Golgotha and writes "Take up thy Cross." Huntingdon bathes in the rich love until he can truthfully say "Love to tell the story." Robinson is so obsessed with the magnitude of this love that he calls "Come thou fount of every blessing."

• Oh love of God; It took a miracle, Amazing Grace, The half has not been told, Oh for a thousand tongues to sing; Jesus lover of my soul; No one ever cared for me like Jesus.

Either somebody is crazy or there is a great love being dispensed to somebody!

How do you account for the millions of crazy people in every century for the last 2000 years.

"Tell me the old, old story; I need thee every hour; More love to thee; Jesus loves me this I know!"

Figure it out if you can!!!!

[1]. Christ died for the ungodly (Rom.5:6)
[2]. Christ died for those without strength (Rom 5:6)
[3]. Christ came to seek sinners (Lk. 19:10)
[4]. Christ came to save sinners (Lk. 15:10)
[5]. Christ died for transgressors ( Isa. 53:3-8)
[6]. Christ died for murders and blasphemers (1 Tim. 1:15)
[7]. Christ died for his enemies ( Rom. 5:10)

YOU FIGURE IT OUT!

Some would say, if it can't be understood, it can't be utilized.

Thomas Edison said: "We do not know one millionth part of 1% about anything. We do not know what water is. We don't know what light is. We do not know what electricity is. We do not know what gravity is. We do not know what magnetism is."

But that didn't stop him from utilizing what he did know!

"I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (2 Tim. 1:12 Rom. 8:38,39)

III. His Mercy is rich in time - (Eph. 2:7)

(Eph. 1:4) God the father planned our salvation

(Eph. 1:7) The Son provided it

(Eph. 1:13) The Spirit sealed it.

So I have hope of the future (Eph. 1:17-19)

His mercy ends, only where it never began - has it begun in you?

(Phil. 1:6) "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"

IV. Why is God's mercy necessary?

B. Our need of holy living. - will you respond to it?

You have come full circle when you enjoy extending the same mercy and compassion you have previously received.