COMMUNION IS ABOUT GOD'S MERCY TO US
By Ernest O'Neill
Communion is About God's Mercy to Us
By Rev. Ernest O'Neill
Now, communion this morning states God's mercy to you and me. It states that Jesus died the death for you and that's why you're not dead yet. That's why you weren't struck dead. That's why you weren't stoned to death like the man in the reading this morning. That man was gathering sticks on the Sabbath. He was stoned to death. Now, the reason you and I have not been killed on the spot, the first moment we lied, the first moment we coveted, the first moment we had thoughts of fornication, the reason is that this dear Son of God died for you. He died the death that you should have died. It's because of that that God shows His mercy to you and me this morning.
That's stated in Psalm 103:10-11. "He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor requite us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him."
So, the first meaning of communion is that God does not deal with you in this life according to your sins or reward you according to your iniquities. He deals with you graciously, and mercifully. Therefore, loved ones, you and I have to deal that way with each other.
You remember there is a piece in the Bible that says, "God cannot forgive you, if you do not forgive others." So, we live now because of a gracious God who has given us that sky out there. We don't deserve to be able to see that sky. We deserve to be dead. But God has allowed you and me to live out of grace and mercy and forgiveness. We must deal with each other that way. So must we forgive each other. So must we be merciful to each other. I am with any of you here who say, "But if I am a boss, don't I have to demand discipline from my employees?" Yes, yes, the whole world would fall apart if we didn't demand justice and order. But in our heart's attitude to each other, there is to be absolute mercy and forgiveness. It's to be unending because we ourselves are the recipients of such unending mercy and forgiveness.