Do we deserve it?

As Christians, we often state how much we don’t deserve God’s grace and mercy. I’ve been pondering whether or not we’re correct in saying that.

Obviously, by our actions and behaviours, we definitely don’t qualify for any amount of grace or mercy. However, the Old Testament can give us some clues that maybe we deserve it more than we think.

Sound crazy? Bear with me.

If we look at an Old Testament leader like Joshua, we could state that God’s people deserved grace and mercy. He was such a God-fearing leader, that those under him received God’s favour. And yet, there was always an element of sin still happening under the most righteous of leaders.

They were, after all, human beings! So, regardless of the leader in power, many of God’s people continued to dabble in all sorts of sinful acts throughout the entire Old Testament. And we can’t forget that God sustained His people through a lot of terrible leaders as well.

God’s grace and mercy continued over His people, often when they didn’t deserve it. In reflecting on this, I think the His people component is the key to answering why.

They were His people.

God’s chosen people deserved His grace and mercy, in a sense, because they were His chosen people. They belonged to Him, a people set apart for Him.

Now, before you think I’ve lost theological grounding, I realize that this was at a time when sacrifices still needed to be made and laws had to be kept, to keep themselves in right standing with God. However, they were in covenant with Him because of the commitment and promise He made to them and for them.

We’re His people through Christ.

We, who have given our lives to Christ, are now under the New Covenant. Do we not deserve God’s grace and mercy more than ever before; not out of what we have done? Only through what Christ did for us at the cross.

If we’ve been brought into God’s family, do we not carry the birthright of His grace and mercy? I know this is hard to swallow…that word “deserve” feels wrong, but again, bear with me. I’m headed somewhere.

My sons deserve my love.

In my human mind, as a father, I can grasp the overwhelming love I have for my sons. Regardless of their actions and behaviours, it is impossible for me to imagine not loving them. They deserve my love because of their position as my sons, born from a part of me, and into a close relationship with me.

And yet, because of my imperfect human nature, my grace and mercy toward them will have limits. Even if I can’t fully comprehend why I know that I will fail them and I will let them down on occasion because I am a fallen father.

Our Heavenly Father loves us.

Our Heavenly Father is the One who created the love that I have for my sons, and who has a limitless ability to give grace and mercy. He is perfect, holy, righteous and without fault of any kind. And he has adopted me to be His son through Jesus.

This is perhaps, one of my favourite components of the Gospel; that Christ’s perfection falls on me and I’m brought into God’s family. It is truly mind-boggling!

It’s the eternal second chance!

In this, although I don’t deserve God’s mercy and grace from my own merit, through His loving-kindness shown at Calvary, I now deserve it as His son.

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:17)

If we’ve been brought into God’s family, Christ’s righteousness has been given to us and in turn, we are now co-heirs with Him. In that sense, we are deserving of the Father’s grace and mercy.

Join the Conversation, Leave Your Thoughts

• Do you believe you are deserving of God’s grace and mercy? Why or why not?
• How would you describe becoming co-heirs with Christ to a friend or neighbour?
• What is the most amazing component of the Gospel?