Most of us know about “amazing grace.” We know that “grace” is defined as “unmerited favor.” Paul said if grace is on the basis of works, it’s not grace (Rom 11:6) … and that makes grace amazing—not earned; bestowed. We often miss the fact that mercy is equally amazing.
If grace is getting favor we don’t deserve, mercy is not getting justice we deserve. Justice is what makes all things right, equal, correct. When there is a violation of God, justice requires payment. Mercy is a restraining of justice. The two are in opposition. If God simply showed mercy to His creation, He could not be considered just, because mercy is the restraining of justice. That’s why Paul points to the blood of Christ as “propitiation” (Rom 3:25)—the appeasing of an angry God. God needed to be appeased (Rom 1:18). Justice demanded it. So Christ appeased the Father by His sacrifice of Himself. Of this, Paul says, “It was to show [God’s] righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom 3:26). Mercy, the restraint of justice, could only be displayed if justice was first met. That’s why we say “Jesus paid it all.” Jesus said, “This is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt 26:28). That’s why John the Baptist referred to Jesus as “the lamb of God that takes away sins” (John 1:29). This is why Isaiah said “He was pierced for our transgressions” (Isa 53:5-6).
We don’t receive mercy because we earned it. We don’t even receive mercy because we’re worth it. We receive “justice suspended” because we have redemption in Christ through His blood” (Eph 1:7). We have mercy because in His death on the cross, Jesus allowed God to be both just and justifier of those who believe (Rom 3:26). Grace really is amazing, but mercy is equally awesome. We don’t earn it. We don’t deserve it. It’s not mere favor. It’s a rescue from the justice we so richly deserve accomplished by the blood of Christ. God accomplished an astounding coup when He sent His Son to pay for our sins so that He wouldn’t have to punish us for our sins … and still remain a just God.
People today all why God can't simply forgive everyone's sins. When they ask that question, it belies their understanding of justice. Christianity alone gives God the ability to be both just and merciful. All other religions require "good works" to get into heaven. But not a single one of them deals with our "bad works". As long as your good outweighs your bad, you're okay, forgetting that sin deserves punishment. Justice demands that sin be punished. Every single human's sin will be paid for, but the only options are to pay for them yourself, or have them paid for by Christ.
ReplyDeleteOn the surface, the topic of God’s mercy might seem like a dry theological discussion, but when examined more closely for its practical ramifications, it proves to be as amazing as His grace, as you say. Only the God of the Bible is both just and justifier. Other false gods might be seen by their subjects as requiring appeasement, but those entities have no power to apply that atonement to sinful hearts or to extend mercy to the guilty; thus, continual mollification is necessary--and ineffective. Our God identified the problem, provided the solution, and draws the needy ones to Himself to receive infinite mercy and grace based solely on Someone else’s perfect work on our behalf--"an astounding coup,” as you say.
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