mercy – La Vista Church of Christ

The Merciful

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 02:40:12 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7 NKJV).

Obtaining mercy from God is a great blessing, but God intends to give it only to those who believe it is worth giving to others. If we do not become merciful in our character, then God is not interested in giving His mercy to people who cannot appreciate it.

What would it be like to live in a home where there is no mercy? What if there was only the expectation to do right, but no mercy for when you failed? Even those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for doing right, don’t always live up to the standard they are aiming to practice. What if there was no mercy for failures?

What if God gave us only what we deserve with no mercy? We would have no chance of going to heaven. We need mercy and forgiveness, but if we recognize that we need it, are we compassionate enough to give it to others? Do we hold them to a higher standard than we hold ourselves?

The Lord will have a kingdom of people who desire mercy and who value giving it to others. Later, Jesus would talk about forgiveness (an extension of mercy) and tell His disciples that if you do not forgive others, "neither will the Father forgive you." We want God to show us mercy and not give us what we deserve. God wants us to value mercy for others.

Imagine being in a kingdom that is blessed to obtain mercy and in which people are merciful in outlook toward each other and toward those outside the kingdom! That would be “blessedness.” Would you say that you are a merciful person? Do you feel for others, especially when it comes to failure and self-disappointment? Such people will obtain mercy, our greatest need in this world.

God’s Description of Himself

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:58:52 +0000

by Zeke Flores

"Then Yahweh passed by in front of him and proclaimed, 'Yahweh, Yahweh God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth'" (Exodus 34:6).

This is God describing Himself. Not Moses describing God, nor Israel describing God. God Himself says, “This is who I am.” Compassionate. Gracious. Slow to anger. Abounding in lovingkindness and truth.

A lot of us carry distorted images of God. We think He’s impatient, disappointed, or constantly frustrated with us. But when God reveals His own character, He leads with compassion and grace.

This verse is foundational to how we understand God. Everything He does flows from who He is, and who He is can be trusted.

If you’ve been carrying a heavy or fearful view of God, let this verse reshape your perspective. God isn’t waiting for you to fail. He’s leaning toward you with compassion.

Three Principles for Living Well

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:55:36 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

"He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8 NKJV).

Do justly

Be fair with others. Start at home with your wife, husband, and children. Make this principle a high priority there, and then take it to work and in recreation. Do not use one standard for others and a different standard for yourself. Doing the right thing will do wonders for your life.

Love mercy

Love to receive it from God because you know you need it. Then learn to be merciful toward others. Don't be so super critical that you cannot give people around you a break. Love the principle of mercy and show it!

Walk humbly with your God!

God can work in and through the humble to mold and change them for the better. But if we think we have already arrived at the final point of perfection where we need no change, then pride will keep us from the transformation God wants to work in us. Walk humbly and know that God can and will make you better in degrees of glory.

Memorize these three things, then make them your daily practice. I'm speaking to myself and all who would want to live well and get ready for judgment.

God bless!

Stop Trying to Neuter the God of the Bible

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 01:29:02 +0000

by Brad Harrub, Ph.D.

Somewhere along the way, much of modern American Christianity decided that the best way to attract people to God was to soften Him and make everyone "feel good." Sermons became filled with comforting thoughts, gentle encouragements, and repeated reminders that “God loves you.” Churches highlight the soothing passages. Devotionals emphasize grace, kindness, and acceptance.

And to be clear—those things are absolutely true. God does love us. His mercy is astounding. His grace is beyond measure.

But here’s the problem: many have presented only half of the picture.

In an effort to make God more palatable to modern culture, we have quietly pushed aside the passages that speak of His justice, His holiness, His jealousy, and yes—His wrath. The result is that many Christians today no longer have a biblical view of God. Instead, they have something closer to a grandfatherly figure in the sky—kind, soft, and incapable of righteous anger.

That is not the God of Scripture.

The Bible repeatedly reminds us that God is not only loving—He is also holy and just. And when wickedness persists, His wrath is real. Consider what the text says in II Kings 23:26:

“Nevertheless the Lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was aroused against Judah.”

That verse doesn’t sound like the sanitized version of God that is often presented today. It speaks of fierce wrath. The text continues just a chapter later in II Kings 24:20, explaining that Judah’s destruction came:

“Because of the anger of the Lord this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He had cast them out from His presence.”

Cast them out from His presence. Those are sobering words.

Or listen to the language used by the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 13:9–11:

“Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger… I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity.”

That doesn’t sound like a harmless, passive deity. It sounds like a holy God who takes sin seriously. The same message appears again in Isaiah 34:2:

“For the indignation of the Lord is against all nations, and His fury against all their armies.”

These passages are not obscure verses hidden in the margins of Scripture. They are part of the inspired portrait of God.

Yet many Christians today act almost embarrassed by them.

Some preachers avoid these texts entirely. Others rush past them quickly, hoping not to make anyone uncomfortable. A few even attempt to reinterpret them so that they mean something far less severe.

But here is the uncomfortable truth: when we soften God’s wrath, we distort His character. We don't see the full picture!

A God who never judges evil is not righteous. A God who never responds to wickedness is not holy. And a God who never punishes sin is not just.
Ironically, when we remove God’s wrath, we actually weaken the very gospel we are trying to promote. After all, if God is never truly angry at sin, then what exactly did Christ save us from?

The cross only makes sense in light of the reality of God's wrath on sin and divine judgment.

The early church understood this. The apostles preached both the goodness of God and the seriousness of sin. They called people not only to love God, but to fear Him. That phrase appears throughout Scripture: “the fear of the Lord.”

Most preachers water down those passages to mean only a "deep reverence." While that sentiment is certainly pertinent, there is also the fear of knowing that the God of the Universe will one day judge you (Hebrews 10:31). It is the kind of fear that recognizes that God is not to be trifled with. When He gives commands, He expects obedience.

Sadly, that concept has nearly disappeared from many pulpits today. When celebrities and politicians who live openly immoral lifestyles can stand in front of cameras and claim to be Christian, it reveals they have no fear of the God they claim to follow.

Parents hesitate to talk to their children about it. Preachers worry that it might drive visitors away. Church leaders fear that emphasizing God’s judgment will sound “too harsh.”

But Scripture never apologizes for God’s wrath. Neither should we.

In fact, the Bible teaches that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. When people lose that fear, something dangerous happens—they begin to lose their understanding of who God really is. The Bible no longer communicates the message God intended.

And when that happens, sin stops looking serious.

Look around our culture today. Many who claim Christianity live as if God’s commands are optional suggestions. Holiness is rarely emphasized. Repentance is seldom preached. The seriousness of sin is often minimized.

Why?

Because many have been taught about a God who comforts but never confronts, who forgives but never judges, who loves but never disciplines.

That is not the God revealed in Scripture. The God of the Bible is both merciful and mighty, loving and just, compassionate and holy. His grace is astonishing—but His wrath against sin is equally real.

We do no one any favors by pretending otherwise.

Parents must teach their children the full picture of God. Church leaders must resist the temptation to reshape God into a figure that culture finds easier to accept. Preachers must open the entire Word of God—even the passages that make people uncomfortable.

Yes, some people may not like hearing about divine judgment. But the solution is not to silence the truth. The solution is to teach the full portrait of who God is.

A God who is infinitely loving… but also perfectly holy.
A God whose mercy is immeasurable… but whose justice cannot be ignored.

When we present both sides of that reality, something powerful happens. People begin to understand the seriousness of sin—and the incredible beauty of the grace that God offers through Christ.

So let’s stop trying to neuter the God of the Bible. Instead, let’s preach Him as He truly is. Not a soft, grandfatherly figure molded by modern preferences. But the holy, righteous, sovereign God of Scripture—the One who deserves both our love and our fear.

Is it grace that someone survives an accident?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 21:40:31 +0000

Question:

Good day, sir,

When the Bible talks about grace or mercy, does it only refer to salvation? Many people mention grace when someone survives an accident, but grace is used for everything.

Thanks.

Answer:

Grace is a gift given to you because the giver wanted to give it, not because you earned it or deserved it. You can't demand grace because the offer is not your decision.

Mercy is a judge deciding to release you from a punishment that you deserved because of your wrongful actions. You might request mercy from a judge, but you have to understand that it is not your decision as to whether mercy will be extended or not. It is solely the judge's decision.

The terms can be applied to many situations. Thus, surviving an accident can be viewed as a gift from God.

Question:

I appreciate your response.

I guess the actual question is what about the one in an accident who died, while the rest are scratch-free? The other day, my brother told a woman that it was God's grace that helped her. What do you tell the family of the other one who passed on?

Thanks.

Answer:

As with anyone who loses someone he or she loves, you express your sympathy, "I am very sorry about your loss. I know you are missing him." Often, encouraging them to talk about the good memories they have of the person who died helps them balance the pain. Don't minimize the grief they are going through.

In addition, be helpful in specific ways. Instead of broad offers of help, such as "Let me know if you need anything," offer concrete help like "Can I bring dinner tomorrow?" or "I'm going to the store, what can I pick up for you?"

Be Merciful

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:28 +0000

by Doy Moyer

We cannot see what is going on inside someone. That’s obvious, but sometimes our judgments about people assume that everything should be normal for them because we can’t see anything outwardly wrong. If we see them acting in ways we would otherwise expect, we might judge them to be rude, or worse. When someone is dealing with internal issues that affect their interactions with others, it’s easy to lose patience or think that the person just doesn’t care or is being selfish. We judge the feelings of others based on how we think they should feel, and this can lead to serious misjudgments and assumptions that change how we treat them. Our judgment is based on outward appearance when, internally, there may be another story to tell.

This drives home to me why we need to be merciful. I’m not talking about going easy on sin. We need to be aware that problems suffered aren’t always visible, and these are not issues that can be fixed by just telling people to get over it or have more faith. There are complex issues that may involve physical problems in the brain (e.g., a lack of dopamine in patients with Parkinson’s disease), which can impact movement, emotions, and cognitive functions. One’s whole system is affected. However frustrating it may seem, know that the person dealing with it is even more frustrated.

What do we do about it? Be patient, merciful, and kind. Be a help. Be aware. Pray for one another. Let people know you care.

"Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who have an anxious heart,
'Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you'” (Isaiah 35:3-4).

From Now on Sin No More

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 16:17:05 +0000

by Zeke Flores

There she sat, crumpled on the ground and completely humiliated. She was plainly guilty of her adultery, but her only defender turned the legal quibble into a moral quandary. Who had the right to judge her? No one, it seems.

One by one, they dropped their stones and shuffled away.

Jesus chose forgiveness over condemnation, but make no mistake: It was not some sort of "cheap grace" that He extended. His explicit instructions, "Go and sin no more," detail the acceptance He offered. Just a moment ago, she was humbled in humiliation; now, she had an opportunity for righteousness and self-respect. We can only imagine that the woman sought to do just what Jesus said: go and sin no more.

What about you?

Jesus accepts you, but He accepts you on His terms. That makes sense since He's a Sovereign King. When we try to insinuate Him into our lives without making room by clearing out sin, we fail miserably.

If we want His forgiveness, His instructions to us are the same as He gave to the woman: Go and sin no more.

"Jesus stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'Neigther do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more'" (John 8:10-11).

Is it right to say God has mercy on some?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 21:10:09 +0000

Question:

Best regards,

A few days ago, I came across this article, "Are We Condemning Those Who Never Heard the Gospel?" and I have been meditating on it. My observation and comment are not because I do not believe in the perfect righteousness of God, since I am a Christian, a member of the church of Christ for some decades, but rather it is to avoid giving occasion to those who twist the Word.

There is a statement in the article that says, "If God is merciful to some and not to others, those who have not received mercy cannot yet complain," which reminds me of the phrase of a Presbyterian pastor (Harry L. Reeder), who states "Justice is when God gives us what we deserve. Mercy is when it stops what we deserve. Grace is when He gives us what we don't deserve." This phrase is used by Calvinists to assert that 1) God gives grace and mercy only to some and 2) God gives justice (judgment) only to others. And such Calvinists claim that God, in doing this, is no respecter of persons, and they say things like, "If God is merciful to some [predestined for unconditional salvation] and not to others [the non-elect], those who have not received mercy cannot yet complain [because they are condemned for their own sins]."

My point is that the quoted sentence in the article gives occasion to the Calvinist to affirm his doctrine, and we should not give opportunity to such enemies of the truth. My suggestion is to re-frame the use of words and offer a broader explanation [obviously according to the Word], considering that Calvinists use such "dilemmas" as the case of the indigenous Amazonian tribe to affirm their doctrine of predestination. I know that the article's central point has to do with the gospel and the need to obey it. I know that we should not soften or make up the Word of God to please people (I am not suggesting such a thing), but we should be cautious with our words so that we do not end up agreeing with the enemies of the truth. While it is true that a Christian reading the article might understand it well without generating concerns, an unbeliever/sectarian might end up with many more questions than answers when reading the article (depending on the person's background). It would be good to address more of those questions in the article, anticipating those who raise questions against the truth at the moment.

Blessings

Answer:

I appreciate your concern about the accuracy of the articles on this website. Normally, I would send a concern like yours to the article's original author; however, Matthew Bassford passed on to his reward a year ago last fall.

Not long ago, we had an excellent study on grace here at La Vista. One of the points made at the start of the study is that just because there are groups that twist the teaching about grace, it isn't a reason to avoid digging into the topic. It is true that there will always be those who twist the truth. "And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction" (II Peter 3:15-16). Therefore, the concern should not be whether something can be twisted but whether what was stated was accurate.

After Israel sinned again, Moses pleaded with God to stay with them because they were His people. God grants Moses' request because Moses had God's favor. But God reminded Moses that it is up to the judge to decide who will get mercy, not the defendant. God told Moses, “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” (Exodus 33:19). The application of mercy is God’s choice, not man’s. Paul quoted this passage from Exodus and concludes: “So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy” (Romans 9:16). Just because you want mercy doesn’t mean you will receive mercy.

Regarding salvation, God has chosen to be merciful to all. He has offered salvation to everyone (Romans 1:16), which is something the Calvinists get wrong.

"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12).

"For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all" (Romans 11:32).

"But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe" (Galatians 3:22).

Access to the gift of salvation is dependent on belief. After all, God offers the gift and sets the rules. Matthew Bassford's article addresses the complaint: What about people who never had a chance to believe? One of his arguments is that since we are on the receiving end of God's mercy, we are not in a position to complain if we think God's mercy is not being offered fairly. The reason Christians are motivated to teach people, even in distant lands, is because we understand how much depends on a person hearing the Gospel (Romans 10:17). "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men" (II Corinthians 5:10-11). In other words, we don't decide that the rules must be changed. We understand that the Creator and Judge can do as He wishes. Instead, we work with what God has graciously given us because we don't even deserve the rich blessings He has already given us.

Where Calvinists go wrong is declaring that God decided to make all decisions. He is in control, but He left the choice of accepting His gift up to each person. "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1-2 NKJV). He also left the responsibility of spreading the saving news to each Christian. Instead of wondering about those who might not have heard, we need to shoulder the burden and figure out ways that they might hear.

I hope this makes the matter a bit clearer.

Mercy and Grace

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 17:41:37 +0000

by Perry Hall

Are mercy and grace the same? As with many things, metonymy can combine multiple things under a single word (i.e., faith often includes obedience and being saved by grace). Even with that example, faith and works are distinguishable. Faith is inward first (like mercy), being trust, and then demonstrated outwardly second (like grace), showing obedience. In this example, as obedience follows trust, so does grace follow mercy.

A Thought Exercise to show the difference:

Hebrews 4:14-16 shows the true fulfillment of the holy of holies.

Instead of Aaron and his descendants being high priests, we have the great high priest.
Instead of passing through a curtain, the heavens are passed through.
Instead of the sons of Aaron, we have the Son of God.
Instead of a high priest who has sinned, we have one without sin.
Instead of the high priest entering into the presence of God, all can draw near to God.
Instead of a mercy seat, there is a throne of grace.

That last point might not be as powerful today as the first-century Jewish mind.

The seat is now called a throne. The ark of the covenant was topped with the mercy seat, which was considered the meeting place of Yahweh with His people (Numbers 7:89). Jesus is both king and priest. Jesus is Yahweh.
The seat of mercy is now the throne of grace. Never in the Old Testament is the word "grace" (chen) connected to the ark of the covenant. It is always the "mercy seat" (kapporet 26 times). Surprisingly, the word "mercy" (tahinna) is not even found until the book of Joshua (Joshua 11:20).

Why did the Aaronic high priest enter into the holy of holies? To offer an atonement sacrifice.

Why was an atonement sacrifice needed? For sins of the people and himself.

This is why Jesus was tempted yet without sin. We sin. He did not.

All this makes the distinction between mercy and grace more poignant.

Israel went to the mercy seat to receive mercy, which meant not receiving what they deserved - destruction. That was the emphasis. Atonement is a covering of sin.
Believers go to the throne of grace to receive both mercy and grace, but now the emphasis is on receiving what we do not deserve. Atonement now is full forgiveness.

Now compare Hebrews 2:17-18 with Hebrews 4:14-16. The emphasis is not just on withstanding temptation but deeper - when we don't withstand temptation. That is why Jesus is the high priest (Hebrews 2:17; 4:14-15) and the atonement sacrifice (Hebrews 2:17), and the mercy seat is now the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).

If these Hebraic believers do not accept Jesus, they are missing the fulfillment. They are missing the great high priest. They are missing the divine king. They are missing grace in their time of need. Jesus didn’t let His sufferings stop Him in our time of need. Will these Hebraic believers allow their sufferings to stop them in their time of need?

How do I overcome my wife’s sexual past?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 22:05:27 +0000

Question:

Hello, minister of Christ,

I need your spiritual advice. I had prayed for a wife, and God blessed me with one. God has also blessed us with a lovely daughter. However, I have been battling this weakness. I had preserved myself for a marriage. I was a virgin before I met my wife. My wife had engaged in a sexual activity, and she's a believer. I loved her, and I still do. However, I am struggling to forget her past.

I have read biblical articles claiming that if you have sex with someone, you become one. Now, I feel like I have committed adultery, and my wife is someone's wife. Every time I think of that, I imagine her with that person. This has built anger inside me and hating myself and her. I want to get over it so I can salvage our marriage. How do I overcome this? Help me remove those images, love her for herself, and not judge her past.

Thanks.

Answer:

"Then Peter came and said to Him, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?'

Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.' And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.'

'But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.' But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.

'Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.

'My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart'" (Matthew 18:21-35).

I would assume you knew about your wife's past before you entered into a marriage covenant with her. You were willing to marry her then. The only thing that has changed is your attitude, and it hasn't been a good change.

God has granted her mercy and forgiven her sins. He doesn't hold her past against her. However, you act as if you are greater than God. You won't grant her mercy for something that she did not do against you. "Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body" (I Corinthians 6:18). She sinned against herself, not you.

Her sin did not make her married. If it did, then she did not sin when she had sex without being married. See:

You are declaring that your wife is causing you to sin when she is not. You are worried about reaching heaven, but as the passage I quoted at the start of this reply says, you are jeopardizing your salvation by not showing your wife mercy. You've committed numerous sins that the Lord has forgiven you for committing, but you can't extend the same mercy to your wife.

Question:

Thank you, Brother.

I have gone on a long journey of soul-searching and found myself. I am ready to begin the road to forgiveness. As it's easy to forgive and forget, I need to get those memories out of my mind. I fear I might keep remembering them, and I need to put the past to the past and the future to the future.

If you can do so, I would appreciate it!

God bless you and the work you've been doing! You've saved marriages.

Thanks.

Answer:

Our minds do not have erase buttons. Paul illustrates this when he mentions his past: "I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor" (I Timothy 1:13). He could not remove the memories, but he could deal with them.

He realized he was immature and wasn't a Christian when he sinned: "I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief" (I Timothy 1:13).
He realized he was not the man he used to be: "I was formerly a blasphemer ..." (I Timothy 1:13).
He appreciated Christ's forgiveness and support: "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me" (I Timothy 1:12).
He knew Jesus could forgive his sins, as terrible as they were. That forgiveness was because Paul deserved it or earned it. The forgiveness was God's gift to him: "The grace of our Lord was more than abundant" (I Timothy 1:14).
He was forgiven because Jesus came into the world to give forgiveness: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all" (I Timothy 1:15).
While Paul knew his past was bad, he also knew that his forgiveness had a purpose. He was a living demonstration of what God can do to change a person: "For this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life" (I Timothy 1:16).

What do you do with the memories of your wife's past? You recognize that she was immature, but she has since grown up and become a more mature Christian. She is not the same woman anymore. You thank God for her salvation and for bringing her into your life. And you rejoice that this has given you an opportunity to change and grow as well, making you a better servant of God. In the future, your marriage will show others what God's love can do in people's lives.