“…if any affection and mercy.”
Today we come to the last of the four motivations for unity.
“if any affection and mercy.”
Once again, this “if” is true. It can be translated “since.” “Since it is true that we have affection and mercy.”Paul assumes that it is normal for Christians to have concern and love for each other.The word “affection” means tender affection, whether it expresses itself in love, mercy or compassion. This is the term for the seat of our feelings.
“Affection” means the seat of compassion and “mercy” means mercy itself. Paul assumes that we have both a heart for mercy and that we execute mercy. That is normal Christian life. “If you have a heart and if your heart expresses itself in mercy, listen to me.” That is a powerful appeal for unity.
“Mercy” is subjective compassion. As mercy witnesses the misfortunes of others it has a sense of sorrow for the ills of others.
The Lord Jesus when he saves a soul makes a hard, cruel, coarse person different. That person now has a capacity to be kind, gentle and loving. Culture does not do that. Government cannot do that.
Principle:
A person who has come to know Christ has a capacity to extend affection and mercy and, in fact, extends mercy. That is the reality of being a true Christian.
Application:
Since you have become a Christian no doubt you have sensed a new capacity to extend mercy. If that is true, to whom is your mercy extended?
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