Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy
Is this works-based salvation straight out of the mouth of Jesus? If you want to receive mercy then make sure you're merciful? That can't be the case for a number of reasons. Firstly, it would not fit in with the message of the entire bible. Secondly, it makes know logical sense - if you showed mercy in order to receive mercy then you would have earned it... in which case it is no longer mercy! Thirdly, this comes within the context of the other beatitudes. The merciful person is someone who has recognised their own spiritual bankruptcy (v3), owned their sin and repented (v4), humbly entrusted themselves to God (v5) and recognised their absolute dependance on him (v6). Merciful people are people who have received mercy. If you don't recognise your need for mercy, you are unlikely to show it to others.
This verse also does not promise that if you show mercy to someone they will return the favour. If it did then Jesus' own life would have disproved it - he was the most merciful person that ever lived, yet he was brutally murdered. But we are assured that we will recieve God's mercy for eternity. True happiness is found in a life marked by mercy - receiving and giving.
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