OUR ONLY HOPE

GOD'S MERCY:  THE FOCUS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Mercy may be defined as "not getting what one deserves." God's pardon from sin!

Psalm 33:18-22 - "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.  Our soul waiteth for the LORD:  He is our help and our shield.  For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.  Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee."

The Word of God has a phrase that is repeated over and over:  "His mercy endureth forever."  It is found in 1 Ch. 12:34, 41; 2 Ch. 5:13; 7:3, 6; 20:12; Ezra 3:11; Ps. 100:5 and Jer. 33:11; it is also found in all twenty-six verses of Ps. 136! 

GOD'S GRACE:  THE FOCUS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Grace may be defined as "getting something one does not deserve."  God's gift of salvation!

1 Timothy 1:1-2 - "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, Who is our hope; unto Timothy, my own son in the faith:  Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord."

The Word of God speaks of God's grace in many verses; here are just some of them:  Lk.2:40; Acts 11:23; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:6; Phil. 1:2; Col. 1:2; 1 Th. 1:1; 2 Th. 1:2; Phile. 1:3; Heb. 2:9; Jam. 4:6; 1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Pet. 1:2; 2 Jn. 1:3; Jude 1:4; etc.  Our salvation requires both God's mercy and God's grace.  He showed mankind mercy when He sent His only begotten Son to pay for the sins of the whole world (Jn.1:29;  3:16; 1 Jn. 2:2)!  He showed mankind grace, when He declared through the Apostle Paul:

Romans 10:9-10-13 - "...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation....For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
                                                                           AND
Titus 3:4-7 - "...the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

1)  My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
     I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

     Refrain:  On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand;

                      all other ground is sinking sand.

2)  When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace.

     In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

     Refrain:  On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand;

                      all other ground is sinking sand.

3)  His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood.
     When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay.

     Refrain:  On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand;

                      all other ground is sinking sand.

4)  When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found.
     Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

     Refrain:  On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand;

                      all other ground is sinking sand.