The Mercy of God

Have you ever been discouraged because you thought that God would never forgive a sin you had committed? One story in the Bible exemplifies very well the mercy of God.

In John 8 we find the account of a woman caught in adultery.

“Early in the morning [Jesus] came again into the temple. … Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’” (verses 2-5).

The adulteress

Can you imagine how this woman, caught in adultery, felt at that moment? She was terrified; maybe she was ashamed.

The account continues, saying that “Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

“So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’

“And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst” (verses 6-9).

Then something amazing took place: “When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’

“She said, ‘No one, Lord.’

“And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more’” (verses 10-11).

Back to the future

Let’s leave the story for a moment and project ourselves into the future, 1,000 years after Jesus Christ’s second coming. The Bible shows that after Jesus Christ has reigned 1,000 years on earth, a period of time known as the Millennium, then a time of judgment will begin for the human race (Revelation 20:11-15).

At the time of the Great White Throne Judgment, all those who had never had an opportunity for salvation will be resurrected to be judged by God.

There will be billions upon billions of people raised to life. They will be stunned and scared; they will see God, His saints and His angels. They will find out they are about to be judged. Some will be crying to God, imploring His mercy.

And what will God tell them? “Go and sin no more.”

God takes the first step

Did you notice something surprising about the woman who was caught in adultery? The Bible doesn’t say she was seeking God or His truth. It was God who made the first step and who loved her. The account does not say she asked for mercy, but she received it freely.

Those billions and billions of people who will be resurrected after the Millennium—people who, for the most part, had not sought God—will be judged and found guilty of transgressing God’s laws. Nonetheless, after being taught God’s way, most of them will repent and be forgiven by God during this period of judging. (Some, unfortunately, after being given a full opportunity and knowledge of the truth will not repent and will be thrown into the lake of fire.)

God will tell those who are resurrected, “Go and sin no more,” like He told the adulteress. The same people will then have time to learn God’s laws, to change and embrace God’s way of life and to be granted eternal life as children of God. Billions and billions will be saved.

Experience God’s mercy

Jesus did not condemn the adulteress, but instead freed her from death like the bird that is freed from a net. How much more will the people resurrected after the Millennium experience God’s mercy! God will lead them to repentance and eventually grant them the gift of eternal life.

Psalm 103:10 states that God does not correct us as we really deserve. God is not interested in condemning people. Instead He wants all to repent. Acts 17:30 declares that in the past God overlooked such ignorance, but “now commands all men everywhere to repent.”

What are you waiting for? Seize this opportunity. Now is the time to study “What Is Repentance?” and ask God for His mercy.

Hervé Irion is a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in Houston, Texas.