WELCOME
Communion Worship Service
Good morning First Baptist. We welcome you to worship this morning. Be sure to remember your brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the week as you pray for them, and as the Holy Spirit brings their faces to your mind. Be sure to also connect with them in the ways that are possible. And if you have any questions or would like to talk to someone, please don’t hesitate to contact the church through the church telephone and leave a message. (519-733-4144)
Songs
Call to Worship
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been diving into God’s name and what it tells us about His heart, His mercy, His faithfulness, and His patience.
Today, we’re stepping into a part of God’s character that can feel a little tricky, how He holds mercy and justice together. God forgives our failures, but He also upholds what is right. At first, that tension can feel uncomfortable but that’s exactly where we see who God really is, and it’s perfectly revealed in Jesus’ death and resurrection. So, as we sing together this morning, let’s bring all of who we are, our joys, our struggles, our questions, and yes, even our need for forgiveness.
Songs
Prayer
CONFESSION:
God, we come before You recognizing that we fall short. We hold grudges when You call us to forgive. We stay silent when You call us to speak truth. We cling to comfort while ignoring injustice. We try to carry burdens that only You can bear.
Lord, forgive us. Restore us. Remind us that Your mercy is greater than our failures and that Your justice is perfectly wise. Amen
WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
Here’s the hope we hold on to: even when we fail, God’s mercy meets us, and His justice is perfectly wise. In Jesus, mercy and justice meet. He took the punishment we deserved and offers forgiveness freely. That’s what we are going to explore this morning: The God who shows both mercy and justice, and we’ll discover what it means for the way we live and love in the world.
More Than a Label
Mercy and Justice Embrace
Today's Message: Pastor Dave Page
So far, Over the past three weeks, we’ve been exploring God’s name and what it reveals about His heart:
- Week 1: God is personal—Yahweh, relational and near.
- Week 2: God is merciful—compassionate and gracious, meeting us in our weaknesses.
- Week 3: God is patient and faithful—slow to anger, abounding in love to thousands across generations.
Today, we explore one of the most profound aspects of God’s character: how mercy and justice embrace.
Exodus 34:7 captures it:
Scripture Reading: Exodus 34:6–7
“Forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished.”
At first glance, mercy and justice feel like opposites. How can someone forgive yet still hold wrongdoers accountable? How can God extend grace but also honor justice? For us, this feels like a tension, and that’s exactly the point.
Why does this tension feel so real to us?
- Human perspective is limited. We tend to see things in black and white: either mercy or justice, forgiveness or consequence. Life often presents us with imperfect situations, and our instinct is to pick one side or the other. Yet God’s ways transcend our binaries.
- We experience consequences personally. When someone wrongs us, we feel the pain and injustice deeply. Forgiveness may feel impossible. Or, when we fail, mercy may seem unearned. Holding both together is uncomfortable because it stretches our understanding beyond immediate human fairness.
- Sin has real impact. Justice exists because wrongdoing damages relationships, families, and communities. Mercy exists because punishment alone cannot restore brokenness. God does not ignore reality. He embraces the tension: He judges sin without destroying the sinner and forgives without dismissing the consequences of evil.
This is why the resurrection is so illuminating. On Good Friday, Jesus died; the innocent one taking the punishment we deserved. Justice was satisfied. The weight of sin and the reality of evil were fully accounted for. At the same time, mercy flowed freely. The penalty that should have been ours was removed, replaced with grace. Resurrection proves that God can hold these two realities together perfectly.
So, as we move through this message, I want you to keep two things in mind:
- First, God’s mercy does not ignore justice, and His justice does not nullify mercy. Both are essential, both are held together in Jesus.
- Second, Communion at the end of this service is not just symbolic, it is a moment to experience that mercy and justice tangibly. The bread represents Christ’s body, broken under the weight of justice. The cup represents His blood, poured out so mercy could flow freely.
We are going to explore how this tension between mercy and justice isn’t just a theological idea, it’s a life to live, a way to reflect God’s heart in our families, communities, and the world.
God Forgives Wickedness, Rebellion, and Sin
Exodus 34 names three aspects of human failure: wickedness, rebellion, and sin.
- Wickedness describes deliberate, harmful actions that hurt others and break God’s commands.
- Rebellion is the willful turning away from God, a defiance of His love and authority.
- Sin encompasses both these things and also the ways we miss God’s standard, the “missing the mark” of His design.
God doesn’t ignore these. He names them and then offers forgiveness, a restoration of relationship, not a blind pass on wrongdoing.
David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12):
David’s story provides a vivid example. David, the king of Israel, sees Bathsheba, desires her, and orchestrates the death of her husband to cover his sin. This is wickedness, rebellion, and sin all wrapped together.
Nathan the prophet confronts David, calling him to accountability. David confesses, acknowledging his wrongdoing. God forgives him but the consequences remain. David experiences loss and grief.
This is a pattern we see throughout Scripture: God’s mercy does not erase the reality of sin, but it restores relationship and opens the door for redemption. The ultimate fulfillment of this mercy, of course, points forward to Jesus, who bears all our sins on the cross.
Application:
Your failures, your missteps, your guilt, they are not too great for God’s mercy. He meets you in them. And when you run to the cross, you find forgiveness that is sacrificial, complete, and transformative.
Yet He Does Not Leave the Guilty Unpunished
Now we approach the other side of the coin:
“Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished.”
This is God’s justice. To ignore sin and wrongdoing would not be loving, it would be neglect. Justice is not arbitrary punishment; it is God’s way of addressing the harm sin causes, upholding His righteousness, and protecting His creation.
Cain and Abel (Genesis 4):
Cain murders his brother Abel. God confronts him, asking, “Where is your brother?” Cain’s guilt is undeniable. God spares Cain’s life, a merciful act, but He also enforces consequences: Cain becomes a wanderer, marked and alienated, carrying the weight of his actions.
Cain’s story shows that mercy does not eliminate the need for justice. Yet at this point, justice is not reconciled with restoration. That tension finds resolution in the cross. Jesus absorbs the punishment we deserved, so mercy and justice are reconciled.
In our world today, the temptation to seek revenge is not limited to personal grievances; it can also manifest within the Christian community. Even among those who profess faith in Christ, there are instances where the desire for retribution overshadows the call to forgiveness and reconciliation.
- The Tragic Case of Charlie Kirk
The shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk ignited a range of reactions within the Christian community. While many mourned his loss, some Christian nationalists viewed his death as a martyrdom and called for vengeance against those they perceived as responsible. This response highlights how political and ideological divisions can fuel a desire for revenge, even among Christians.
- The Wakeley Church Attack in Sydney
In Sydney, Australia, a stabbing incident at Christ the Good Shepherd Church led to widespread calls for revenge within the Assyrian Christian community. Following the attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and Father Isaac Royel, messages circulated urging retaliation against Islamic mosques. This situation underscores how violence can lead to a cycle of vengeance, threatening the principles of peace and forgiveness central to the Christian faith.
- The Ethiopian Orthodox Church Schism
In Ethiopia, a schism within the ancient Orthodox Church has led to deep divisions among Christians. The rift began when clergy in the Tigray region broke away from the Holy Synod in Addis Ababa over its perceived failure to condemn atrocities during the Tigray war. This internal conflict, marked by excommunications and mutual accusations, reflects how unresolved grievances can escalate into a desire for retribution, even within the body of Christ.
These examples demonstrate how the desire for justice can sometimes morph into a desire for revenge, leading to further division and conflict. As Christians, we are called to a higher standard. Romans 12:19 reminds us, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
Comer Quote (Chapter 6):
“God is forgiving, yes, but He’s also just. He doesn’t sweep evil under the rug. He doesn’t shrug His shoulders at genocide or abuse or betrayal. That wouldn’t be love. God’s justice is actually part of His mercy.”
Application:
As followers of Jesus, we are called to hold this tension. We confront injustice with courage, but we do so pointing to the cross, where God’s justice was satisfied and mercy was poured out. We resist both cheap grace and harsh judgment, living instead in resurrection hope.
Mercy and Justice Embrace in the Cross and Resurrection
Here is the heart of the gospel. Mercy and justice are not opposites, they meet perfectly in Jesus.
- At the cross, God’s justice is satisfied. Sin is judged, evil accounted for, and the brokenness of the world addressed.
- At the cross, God’s mercy flows. Sinners are forgiven, relationships restored, and doors to new life are opened.
- At the resurrection, the tension between mercy and justice is fully done away with. Evil does not win, death is defeated, and life triumphs.
Joseph and His Brothers (Genesis 50:15–21):
Let’s revisit Joseph’s story. Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and separated from his family for decades. He endured injustice, false accusations, and imprisonment. By human standards, Joseph could have been consumed by bitterness and vengeance.
When his brothers feared retribution after their father’s death, Joseph’s response is remarkable:
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Joseph’s family’s betrayal was an act of sin that had real consequences. Yet Joseph chooses to extend mercy instead of exacting revenge. His actions are grounded in his understanding of God’s sovereignty. God can work even human wrongdoing into His redemptive plan.
Here we see that justice does not vanish in mercy. Joseph acknowledges the wrong, but he does not punish them in a way that destroys relationship. Mercy transforms the consequences of sin into opportunities for restoration and life.
Comer Quote (Chapter 6):
“The tension between mercy and justice isn’t resolved by compromise but by the cross. God doesn’t pick one over the other. He holds them together perfectly in Jesus.”
Live Where Mercy and Justice Embrace
This is not just abstract theology, it’s a life we are invited into. God’s name calls us to embody the embrace of mercy and justice in our world.
- Receive God’s mercy. Lay down your guilt, shame, and failures. Let the cross lift that weight from you.
- Trust His justice. When the world seems unfair, remember that resurrection shows God’s justice will prevail.
- Live it out. Forgive others as you have been forgiven. Stand for truth and righteousness without losing compassion.
This is resurrection leadership. This is discipleship. This is how mercy and justice become visible through your life, your family, your workplace, and your community.
The Evangelist Billy Graham once shared a story about a judge whose own son stood guilty before him in court. The young man had committed a serious offense, and by law, justice demanded punishment. Everyone in the courtroom expected the judge to enforce the sentence strictly, as his duty required.
But something remarkable happened. The judge, the father, found the son guilty and passed judgement, involving a significant fine, and here’s the remarkable part, the judge, the father, moved by compassion and understanding, climbs down from the bench, reaches into his own pocket and paid the fine himself. Justice was upheld, the debt was accounted for, but mercy triumphed because someone intervened to absorb the penalty.
Communion
This is why we come to the table today. Justice is real, necessary, and cannot be ignored. But God’s mercy enters the courtroom of life in Christ. At the cross, Jesus stands in our place, paying the penalty for our sins while justice is fully satisfied. The resurrection confirms that God’s mercy and justice are victorious, forever intertwined.
Communion reminds us that mercy and justice met at the cross, and resurrection proves it.
- The bread reminds us of Jesus’ body, broken under the weight of justice.
- The cup reminds us of His blood, poured out so mercy could flow freely.
Prayer of Invitation:
Heavenly Father, we come to You recognizing that Your mercy and justice are perfectly balanced in Your character. Your justice cannot be ignored. Sin must be confronted. Evil must be addressed. Your mercy flows abundantly, offering forgiveness, restoration, and hope.
We thank You that at the cross, Jesus bore the punishment we deserved. We thank You that through His resurrection, we are given life, hope, and the courage to live as people who embody Your mercy and justice in the world.
Lord, as we take this bread and this cup, may we remember the cost of forgiveness and the power of resurrection. Help us to allow these symbols to strengthen our faith and inspire our lives.
The Bread – Jesus’ Body:
This Bread, let it remind you of Jesus’ body, broken under the weight of justice. He took our punishment, enduring pain and suffering, so that mercy could flow freely.
Silent Reflection
As you hold the bread, thank God for the forgiveness you have received. Think about the areas of your life where you need to surrender guilt or shame to Him.
Eat the bread in remembrance of Christ.
The Cup – Jesus’ Blood:
This cup, let it remind you of His blood, poured out so mercy could flow to us. Through this sacrifice, justice and mercy embraced, and love had the final word.
Silent Reflection
As you hold the cup, consider ways you can extend mercy and justice in your own life. Who needs forgiveness from you? Where can you stand for truth while showing compassion?
Drink the cup in remembrance of Christ.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your mercy and Your justice, revealed perfectly in Your death and resurrection. Thank You for bearing the punishment we deserved, and for extending forgiveness that we could never earn. Thank You for the resurrection, which gives us hope, courage, and the promise of new life.
As we leave this table, help us to live as people who embody Your mercy and justice. May we forgive those who have hurt us, reflecting the mercy You’ve shown us. May we stand for truth and righteousness with courage, reflecting the justice You have fulfilled. May we carry resurrection hope into every corner of our lives, our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities.
We lift up the people here today. Strengthen their faith. Encourage their hearts. Heal their wounds. Equip them to be agents of Your mercy and justice in the world. May their words, actions, and decisions point others to You.
We also pray for families, that love, forgiveness, and faithfulness would flow across generations. For our communities, we ask that Your justice would be evident, and Your mercy evident even in small acts of compassion and service.
Lord, help each of us to live in the tension You have held together—receiving mercy, trusting Your justice, and extending both. Let our lives proclaim that Your love has the final word.
Amen.
As we step back from the table, let’s remember what we’ve just experienced. The bread reminded us that Jesus took the punishment we deserved. The cup showed us the mercy poured out through His blood. Justice was served, mercy was extended and both met perfectly in Him. God’s perfect plan was that we might gain.
Song
Benediction
Carry the hope of the resurrection into your week. Let mercy and justice guide your choices and let God’s love shine through everything you do.
Amen.