Lesson 2: God’s Love is Merciful, Giving Us Heaven

 Romans 5:10 "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life!"

The word "mercy" means "to bring help to the afflicted or the wretched." In other words, "to show compassion by withholding what is deserved." We deserve to go to hell. But out of mercy, God sent Jesus to die for our sins so we can go to where? Not hell but heaven! Now that is love!

 We live in a world that no longer pleads for God's mercy. They pout for justice. They think God owes them something! Some say, "I deserve a raise”, or “I deserve a new house,” or “I deserve good health just like everybody else." People think God owes them something. But if we got what we justly deserve, we would all die on the spot!

Therefore, let us look at the mercy of God.
The first way the Bible reveals the Merciful Love of God is that God gives His enemies a Palace in Heaven instead of a Pit in Hell.

Before we were saved, we were we considered as enemies in the eyes of God. So if people refuse to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, and instead remain His enemies, God will give them their choice. If they do not want to receive the mercy of God, then the justice of God declares that they just earned a place in the pit in hell. They have chosen this kind of place:
 1. Thirst: (Luke 16)
2. Worms: (Mark 9)
3. No return: (Luke 16)
4. Remembrance: (Luke 16)
5. The wicked dead: (Luke 10)
6. The wicked demons: (2 Peter 2)
7. A bottomless pit: (Luke 8)
8. A burning waste dump: (Matthew 23)
9. Outer darkness: (Matthew 8)
10. Fire: (Revelation 20)18.
11. The Lake of fire: (Revelation 20)
12. Eternal fire: (Matthew 18)
13. Unquenchable fire: (Mark 9)
14. Everlasting punishment: (Matthew. 25)
15. Eternal condemnation: (Mark 3)
16. Eternal judgment: (Hebrews 6)
17. Everlasting destruction: (2 Thessalonians 1)
18. Weeping & gnashing of teeth: (Matthew 13)
19. Torment: (Luke 16)
20. Eternal Torment: (Revelation 20)
 
Instead, God’s merciful love gives His children a palace in heaven like this:
 1. The Dwelling place of God: (Psalm 2)
 2. The Dwelling place of Angels: (Matthew 18)
 3. Heavenly Country: (Hebrews 11)
4. Holy place: (Isaiah 57)
5. Eternal paradise: (1 Corinthians 12)
 6. Streets of gold: (Revelation 21)
 7. Gates of pearls: (Revelation 21)
 8. Foundations of precious gems: (Revelation 21)
 9. Eternal rest: (Revelation 14)
 10. Eternal joy: (Revelation. 7)
 11. Without wickedness: (Revelation 22)
 12. Without darkness: (Revelation 21)
 13. Without sin: (Revelation 21)
 14. Without tears: (Revelation 21)
 15. Without mourning: (Revelation 21)
 16. Without pain: (Revelation 21)
 17. Without death: (Revelation 21)
 18. Absolute purity: (Revelation 21)
 19. Filled with the Glory of God: (Revelation 21)
20. An everlasting place: (2 Corinthians 5)
 
 Thought Question: Which is more important to you - your life today, or your destiny after tomorrow?
Verse to consider: Romans 5:8