What does the Bible say about divine mercy?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that divine mercy is God’s free and compassionate favor toward sinners, rescuing those who deserve judgment and renewing them by grace alone. Titus 3:5 declares that God saves us not because of righteous works, but according to his mercy through the washing and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Though sin earns death, Romans 6:23 promises eternal life as God’s gift in Christ. Jesus bore our sins in his body, as 1 Peter 2:24 teaches, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. This mercy never excuses evil, for God does not tempt anyone to sin (James 1:13), but it draws those who seek him wholeheartedly (Jeremiah 29:13) to trust the Good Shepherd, who gives his sheep life.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Titus 3:5
not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
- 1 Peter 2:24
who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
- James 1:13
Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
- Ephesians 2:8
for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
- John 17:5
Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.
- Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Genesis 2:7
Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
- Jeremiah 29:13
You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.
- John 10:1-42
[1] "Most assuredly, I tell you, one who doesn't enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. [2] But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. [3] The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. [4] Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. [5] They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don't know the voice of strangers." [6] Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn't understand what he was telling them. [7] Jesus therefore said to them again, "Most assuredly, I tell you, I am the sheep's door. [8] All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them. [9] I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture. [10] The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. [11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [12] He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn't own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them. [13] The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn't care for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I'm known by my own; [15] even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd. [17] Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. [18] No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father." [19] Therefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words. [20] Many of them said, "He has a demon, and is insane! Why do you listen to him?" [21] Others said, "These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn't possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?" [22] It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem. [23] It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon's porch. [24] The Jews therefore came around him and said to him, "How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." [25] Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you don't believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, these testify about me. [26] But you don't believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand. [30] I and the Father are one." [31] Therefore Jews took up stones again to stone him. [32] Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?" [33] The Jews answered him, "We don't stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God." [34] Jesus answered them, "Isn't it written in your law, 'I said, you are gods?' [35] If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can't be broken), [36] Do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You blaspheme,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God?' [37] If I don't do the works of my Father, don't believe me. [38] But if I do them, though you don't believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." [39] They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand. [40] He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and there he stayed. [41] Many came to him. They said, "John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true." [42] Many believed in him there.
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