If he never forgives, he is just, but not merciful. If he forgives, he is merciful but not just.
2007-11-18 03:12:39 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think that God is WHIMSICAL!!!
Malachi 1:4 (NIV) Edom may say, "Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins." But this is what the LORD Almighty says: "They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the LORD.
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Rom 9:11-14 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad–in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls–she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!
2007-11-18 03:22:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Justice is handing down the verdict, mercy is commuting the sentence. A court of law can be both just and merciful...a judge can find a person guilty and, if they person admits that guilt and begs for mercy, the same judge can suspend the sentence. If a court can be just and merciful, why can't God be the same?
None of the definitions of justice I found included the phrase "never forgive" and only one included the term punishment.
2007-11-18 03:22:34 · answer #2 · answered by KAL 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
He is both- how- you can be just and still merciful- let me put in human terms, even though this does not explain all HE IS=
If your child does something wrong- would you just be merciful and let it go, no of course not, you would be just in discipling your child- however a good parent loves and has mercy on his child too- understand?
However with God it is even more amazing- because He is Holy and we are not- His justice is still in place due to the fact that some people go to hell, His mercy is in place for those who know they deserve Hell, but has accepted Christ as payment. Justice met Mercy at the cross
2007-11-18 03:20:59 · answer #3 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your statement contradicts itself.
You claim if God forgives, he is merciful, but not just. You could not be more wrong.
You must understand that the world is in the condition it is in because of one thing. It chooses to believe a lie.
The lie is that they can live without God. This has been going on since the garden of Eden.
The devil told Adam and Eve that if they ate the forbidden fruit, they would be like God, a god. And this same lie has caused many to lose their very souls.
You must understand that God gave man choice to believe his Word or the lie of the devil.
Man chose to follow the path of unrighteousness. So all that goes on in this world, with the world moving towards total annillation, is because man choses to believe a lie. He chose a path without God.
You claim God is not just. If that were so, he would not have given man the right to make a choice.
Yet, he did and man fell. He sold his soul to the devil by believing his lie.
That is why God sent his Son so that man could have a chance to escape the hold satan has upon mankind. This is the mercy of God.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2007-11-18 03:27:28 · answer #4 · answered by heiscomingintheclouds 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Justice is getting what we deserve.
Mercy is not getting what we deserve.
Grace is getting what we do not deserve.
The wages of sin is death...we are all sinners, therefore we deserve death.
Every day we live, God shows His mercy towards us all, I haven't seen any world wide floods lately(example)
Grace is God's unmerited favor freely given to those that will trust and believe in Him, and the saving work He did on the cross.
2007-11-18 03:43:52 · answer #5 · answered by Jed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
god is merciful on those who repent with all their heart in devotion. justice is when he punishes those who dont ask for his mercy or change their ways unless the are taught to via punishments. both of these are at a balance as you can see, those who ask for forgiveness TRULY from their hearts would be given a 2nd chance, those who know theyre wrong yet still commit wrong deeds, will be punished in order for them to gain a lesson out of it!
2007-11-18 03:21:46 · answer #6 · answered by ... 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because mercy is only given to those who are deserving of mercy, justice is dealt to those undeserving of mercy. The two terms are not exclusive of each other
2007-11-18 03:16:57 · answer #7 · answered by lifeilluminate 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What makes God both merciful and just is the fact that He is God. His ways are not our ways and His wisdom is not ours. When He sent His Son as payment for our sins that was being just, merciful is that He offered Him as atonement for everyone. Even those who continually deny His existence. How many of us would still reach out and help someone who has denied us, spit in our face, say our name in vain, and do all they could to dishonor and shame us? I believe that God gives everyone every opportunity to repent,(mercy), if that does not happen then what ever befalls them they have brought about on themselves because of their unbelief(just).
I hope this is not too confusing for you. This is a deep question and not one taken lightly. I hope I have helped you and not confused you further. May God's wisdom be with you and may God guide you into all truth as you seek to learn more about Him. God Bless!!
2007-11-18 03:29:46 · answer #8 · answered by debj69121 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Justice = the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims
Mercy = compassion shown to an offender... or compassionate treatment
The two terms are not Mutually Exclusive.
2007-11-18 03:26:35 · answer #9 · answered by janssen411 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Christ Jesus, fully God and fully man, willingly bears the punishment that sinners deserve! Then God the Father can have mercy on sinners and forgive their sins.
2007-11-18 03:18:04 · answer #10 · answered by Horton Heard You! 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋