Transforming Communities through Compassion, Mercy & Justice

Transforming Communities through Compassion, Mercy & Justice

Healthy Churches Transform Communities through Compassion, Mercy & Justice

 

Compassion, Mercy & Justice in the Bible

  1. Revealed in his laws
    1. Various Laws on compassion, mercy and justice (Ex 22:25, Lev 14:21, 19:9, 23:22, Prov 28:27, Ex 22:22-24)
    2. Law of the Tithe (Dt 26:12)
    3. A command (Dt 15:11)
  2. Reiterated by his prophets (Is 3:14-15, Jer 5:26-29, Amos 5:21-23, Micah 6:8
  3. Jesus Condemns Pharisees for not practicing these (Mt 23:23-24)
  4. Acts Church practiced care for poor believers (Acts 9:36, 10:4, 11:29-30)
  5. Apostles urges Paul to remember the Poor (Gal 2:10)

Compassion, Mercy & Justice are rooted in God’s Character (Exo 34:4-7)

  1. Compassion
    1. The strong tie God has with those whom he has called as his children (Psa. 103:13-14)
    2. God’s unconditioned choice (grace). (Hos. 11:8-9)
    3. God’s compassion is his willingness to show us favor.
    4. Anger is the Opposite of Compassion (Amos 1:11-12)
  2. Gracious – giving something one doesn’t deserve (2Sam. 12:22, 2Kings 13:23)
  3. Mercy is Displayed in the Character of God by
    1. Slow to anger (Prov. 15:18, 2Pt 3:9)
    2. Abounding in love (Hesed)
      1. unfailing love; covenantal faithfulness, kindness.
      2. undeserved power of God that sustains life (Psa. 6:4-5, Mic 7:18)
      3. enduring, persistent, even eternal. (Isa 54:10
    3. Abounding in faithfulness. (1Ki 10:6, 2 Tim 2:13)
      1. Emet = truth, accurate, reliable
  4. Justice is displayed by:
    1. Forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin
    2. Punishing the wicked (Ex 34:7).

Healthy Churches are filled with individuals who reflect the heart of God for the needy and poor.

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