The Wideness of the Mercy of Christ

The sign at Arcadia Methodist said this last week:  “There’s more mercy in Christ than sin in us.”  I immediately smiled and said, “Hallelujah!  Thank you, God!”

This is a profound thought, if you really consider it.  Think how much sin there is in us.  Stop for a moment and assess your own sinfulness.  How often are you selfish?  Do you always treat others the way you want to be treated?  Do you fret about money or future security or do you trust God to give you your daily bread?  Are you full of selfish ambition?  Do you have fits of rage?  Do you let others go first?  Are you self-controlled?Have you ever betrayed someone or been unfaithful?  Are you jealous?  Addicted? Divisive?  Do you get drunk?  Were you disobedient to your parents?  Do you envy others? Do you love money?  Are you ungrateful? 

Are you starting to see the pervasiveness and ubiquity of sin?  We’re full of it.  I got these characteristics from Galatians 5 and 2 Timothy 3, where God lists specific sins.  These aren’t all the sins possible, of course, but just a sampling to get you thinking.  

Now multiply this times everyone on earth.  If you can see the depth of your own sin, think of the vastness of the sins of everyone on earth.  Add in the more recognizable sins, like murder, theft, lying, false witness, sexual immorality, gossiping, cheating, oppressing the poor, worshipping idols, etc. and you start to get an inkling of how much sin exists in the world.  Now add in all the sins of the past, from everyone who’s ever lived, and the sins of the future, for everyone who will ever be, and you see the absolute incomprehensibility of the magnitude of the sinfulness of the world.  And the immeasurable grace of Jesus. 

Now you can start to see the glory in that statement – There’s more mercy in Christ than sin in us.  The wideness of the mercy of God. What a thought to ponder.