“And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.” Luke 1:50

Young Mary expressed a truth many fail to understand in our day. The LORD’s mercy is on those who fear Him, from generation to generation.

In other words, not all receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. Though God “so loved the world,” and Christ died for the sins of all (John 1:29; 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:6; 2 Cor. 5:15; 1 John 2:2), not all are pardoned and forgiven. Rather it is those who humble themselves before the LORD God, acknowledge their sinfulness and look to Him for mercy for the sake of the holy life and innocent sufferings and death of Christ Jesus, God the Son in human flesh and our Savior.

This same truth is expressed in Psalm 103:17-18: “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.” (Cf. Psalm 95:7ff.; Isa. 53:1; Rom. 10:16.)

In Exodus 20:5-6, we read: “I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments” (cf. Ex. 34:6-7).

The truth expressed by Mary, as well as in the Psalms and Exodus, is not that anyone can merit God’s mercy by his works or keeping the Commandments but that God shows mercy to those who confess their sins and look to Him for mercy in Christ Jesus, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29; cf. Psalm 32:1-6).

To fear the LORD is to honor and respect Him as our God, Creator and holy Judge. It is to acknowledge that His ways are right and ours are wrong and sinful and deserving of His judgment. And, it is to take Him at His word and trust in His promises of a Savior who would take our sins upon Himself, pay the price and make atonement, and redeem us to God (cf. Gal. 4:4-5). It is to repent of our sins and sinful ways and look in faith to Christ and His cross for mercy and forgiveness!

And God’s mercy is on those who fear Him – on those who partake of His covenant of mercy – from generation to generation. God’s mercy was upon the Old Testament saints, upon the young Virgin Mary, upon Jesus’ disciples in the first century, upon all who repented and trusted in Christ down through the centuries; and it is upon us today when we turn from our sinful ways to Christ Jesus for mercy and forgiveness.

Indeed, “His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.”

Lord God, grant that we not be proud, self-righteous and impenitent, but penitent and trusting in our crucified and risen Savior for mercy. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Since we will gather for worship and to partake of Christ’s body and blood given and shed for the remission of our sins, it is indeed good and right that we examine ourselves in accord with 1 Corinthians 11:28-29: “Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

We do so this week on the basis of Isaiah 1:16-20, where we read: “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”

Many go through the outward motions of confessing their sins and hearing the absolution, but they don’t truly receive God’s mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. They may say the right words but lack true faith in Christ. They just continue on in their sinful ways, nothing changing, and imagine they are forgiven because they have said the prescribed words with their lips.

The Lord speaks of such when he writes ( Isaiah 29:13-14): “Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men….”

God desires that our repentance be true, that we acknowledge our sins and agree with God concerning our sin and guilt and the just punishment we deserve on account of our sins; and such agreement with God includes agreeing that our sinful ways are wrong and God’s ways are good and right.

In addition to godly sorrow over our sins, true repentance includes faith in Christ – believing that Christ fulfilled all righteousness for us and that He suffered our just punishment when He died upon the cross and then rose again on the third day. True repentance acknowledges sin as sin and deserving of God’s wrath and looks to Christ’s perfect righteousness which is imputed to those who place their hope and faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ Jesus for the sins of the world.

With David, we say: “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest” (Psalm 51:3-4). And with David, we pray: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2).

We acknowledge our sin and flee to the altar where Christ was offered up and atoned for the sins of all and pray with the tax collector: “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13)!

And what does God say when we truly repent and look to Him for mercy in Christ Jesus? “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Through faith in Jesus, all our sins are washed away! We are counted righteous and holy in God’s sight for Jesus’ sake!

And so, I ask you before God: Do you acknowledge that you are a sinner and have sinned in thought, word and deed? Do you confess and agree with God that you are guilty and deserving of his wrath and punishment? Do you trust that Christ Jesus has truly redeemed you and made atonement for all your sins? Do you also believe that Jesus, in the Sacrament, gives you to partake of His body and blood which were given and shed that your sins might be forgiven you? As a fruit of your faith, do you truly desire and seek God’s help to amend your life and live it in accord with God’s Word?

If you are truly sorry for your sins and look to Christ and His atoning sacrifice upon the cross for pardon and forgiveness, I announce unto you the grace of God and, in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.