Mercy or Leniency?

God is not the God of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles (non-Jews) – He is one God – both Jews and Gentiles are justified through faith in Jesus. Justify: to prove or show to be just, right, or reasonable.

Romans 4:14-25 “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: ... for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace [power]; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; ... Who against hope believed in hope, … And being not weak in faith, … He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, … But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.”

Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” The Lord's will is that men would be saved and we are justified by faith, have peace with God and have access to Him by faith – this is the assurance of hope by which we are able to stand. This is what we must hold onto, as God's Word tells us: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 6:12-14). It is by His great power that God has redeemed us. Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Romans 6:6-7 - “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.”

Romans 6:12-13 - “Let not sin, therefore, reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

Romans 6:22-23 - “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” “Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:” (Deuteronomy 31:12). Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Matthew 11:29).

God is merciful, but God is not lenient towards sin. He will not give in to permit a little sin because of the weakness of man, it is the power of God to Salvation when the gospel (the Word of God) is believed. Therefore, when we choose to believe His Words over man's words and man's weakness, then we will know His Word is true when He says, “My grace IS sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). This was not spoken idly, but with great power and authority by God. Paul knew this and chose to believe God and he saw God's power made manifest. If God is mighty enough to give us His Salvation, is He not powerful enough to keep us in the way of Life eternal? Does He not live in us by His Spirit, will He not continue to guide us even till the end of our lives? Will He not show us how to endure temptation while not yielding to sin? Does He not show us this way giving us His Word by which to live? It is then up to us to follow His way. In doing so we will have rest for our souls, not having fear of condemnation because of sin; but we will rest knowing that we are abiding in Him (not submitting to sin). In Him we have life and life abundantly.

“But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:33).

“Every Word of God is pure; He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him” (Proverbs 30:5).