Mystery to Ponder (Listen or Read)
Mystery to Ponder
God, in His infinite wisdom, integrates both mercy (pardon) and judgment (chastisement). It is not simply “either/or ” as our tradition implies. To give you an example of what I mean, consider the following texts. How do we explain them?
¨ To You…belongs mercy; for You render to each according to his work (Ps. 62:12; 101:1). Mercy, yet He renders according to work?
¨ You were to them God-Who-Forgives, Though You took vengeance on their deeds (Ps. 99:8). God forgives, yet takes vengeance?
¨ Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save you” (Is. 35:4 NIV). Do not fear because God comes with vengeance? Divine retribution to save you?
¨ Her iniquity is pardoned; she has received from the Lord…double for all her sins (Is. 40:2). Sin pardoned, yet receives double for sin?
¨ We [believers] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds…according to what he has done, whether good or bad….He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2Co. 5:10, 21 NAS). Recompensed for bad deeds, yet righteous in Christ?
¨ As the elect of God…Christ forgave you….but he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality (Col 3:12, 13, 25). Forgiven, yet repaid?
¨ Judges according to work…redeemed…precious blood of Christ (1Pe. 1:17-19). Judged according to work, yet redeemed?
¨ We ourselves have known…God’s love toward ourselves…Love will come to its perfection in us when we can face the day of Judgment without fear;…to fear is to expect punishment (1Jn. 4:16-18 JB). Although we know (experience) God’s love (v. 16, 19), i.e. mercy; we rightly fear chastisement in the day of judgment if we lack love. We who know His love should fear His judgment? Who is sure they are perfect in love? Are you?
How do we reconcile these seemingly conflicting statements? In addition to these, have you noticed the extensive number of warnings in Scripture directed to believers—to those redeemed and washed in the blood? These warnings are real. The answer lies in simply accepting that God integrates both mercy and judgment as He sees necessary. But is there a verse that states this plainly? Yes! “Judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy” (Ja. 2:13). If judgment is without mercy to the merciless, it is with mercy to the merciful! Consider a few more verses:
In one sense, we are “justified” by faith (Ro. 5:1, etc). Yet, in another sense, a lowly tax collector is “justified” as a result of his humility, while a high ranking Pharisee is not justified in spite of his prayer and faith (Lu. 18:9-14). Now what if this humble tax man had acted like the wicked servant in Mt. 18:32? He too would have been delivered to the jailers until his original debt was paid (34-35). So then, lasting justification depends on our continuance in merciful deeds. Jesus repeats the same idea when emphasizing the role of faith in prayer. He admonishes us that while praying, unless we forgive, we will not be forgiven (Mk. 11:22-26). So then, God works through both mercy and judgment to accomplish His will in each of our lives. Is this not fair and just?
Along with this, might there be further light offered if forgiveness, like salvation, has more than one dimension? Could there be both a legal and relational side to it? All humanity receives pardon from our inherited sin in Adam through Christ’s redemption as the last Adam (Ro. 5:11-21; 1Co. 15:22, 45; 1Jn. 2:2). We gain “legal” pardon based solely on the merits of Christ just as we have legally inherited Adam’s sin. Note that the legal, financial term involved is “redeem” (1Pe. 1:18; Ep. 1:7). Yet relational forgiveness depends on each individual’s response to God’s truth revealed in his or her heart. “To whom much is given (revealed), much is required” (Lu. 12:48). God is absolutely fair and just with each person (Le. 24:19). In all the universe no one is more fair and just than He (De. 32:4; Ps. 19:9).
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn. 1:9). This is “relational” forgiveness as it is linked to confession, a relational act.. Notice the reason He forgives: He is “just.” Why is justice a factor? Because Christ legally paid the ransom for the sins of the whole world! (1Ti. 2:6; 1Jn. 2:2). Since the debt has been paid, God must forgive. But that does not exclude Him from doing it on His terms and for our correction (Pr. 3:11-12). Remember, He is a loving Father to all (pages 51-59).
We need to recognize that God integrates both mercy and judgment. This factor is a crucial piece of the puzzle helping us to better understand God’s plan for all. By applying mercy together with judgment, He accomplishes what is good and just in all our lives. Charles Pridgeon, president and founder of the Pittsburgh Bible Institute, argues:
There is an erroneous idea that when one accepts forgiveness of his sins, he thereby escapes all the consequences of his sins. This is by no means the case, as everyone may know by experience. The consequences last until there is no longer need of their warning and judging lesson. Some of them continue to the end of this life, and even extend much further.7
Does this throw a wrench in our theology? Did we think we had God or even salvation all figured out? Did we forget how deep are the riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge; that His judgments are unsearchable and His ways unfathomable (Ro. 11:33)? Did we forget even Paul only knew in part (1Co. 13:9-12)? How could we have expected Paul to make everything clear when even he admitted to seeing without complete clarity? Is it any wonder myriads of Christian denominations fiercely adhere to conflicting tenets?
Let us humble ourselves before God’s power and wisdom and accept that He is infinitely greater than we can imagine (Ep. 3:20). Let us accept that we do not have all the answers. Let us cease being dogmatic in our doctrines and humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God. Consider what was said to Daniel: “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard…” (Da. 10:12). The key to understanding is a humble and seeking heart.
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out” (Ro. 11:33 )! “For we know in part.…For now we see in a mirror, dimly.…Now I know in part…” (1Co. 13:9-12). “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…be glory” (Ep. 3:20).
In order to appreciate the vital role of God’s just and righteous judgments in His unfailing plan for all, we must understand salvation’s depth and purpose— the grand scope of what it encompasses; salvation’s relationship to faith and the Cross; and recognize that God integrates pardon with chastisement. Failure to recognize any of these vital elements will compromise our ability to find harmony within the Scriptures and grasp the awesome majesty of God!
References: See Bibliography page.
