Throughout the Old Testament we see God's love for the entire nation of Israel, but we also see Him reaching out to individuals--the widows, orphans, and aliens. His instructions to His people included a charge to show mercy and bring justice to the needy. In the New Testament we see this played out in Jesus' life as well. With His hands he touched the sick, the lonely, and brought healing to both body and spirit. At Pentecost, when the Spirit invaded the hearts and minds of believers it continued the legacy of God's life poured into His people, for the purpose of pouring out mercy to the lost and least of these. Like a great revolving door of grace, God has been in the business of loving, saving, and equipping His people so they can love and save others throughout the whole of Scripture.
In Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church Tim Keller, explores the connection between when believers in Christ receive grace, and how that impacts the world around them. He argues that the Bible is a trustworthy guide for living a life of justice, and denies the claims of skeptics that the Bible has been a regressive influence in the world. Sharing examples from the lives of believers around him, and giving support from the Bible, Keller outlines a hopeful manifesto for all who seek to show God's mercy to the world.
