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Wednesday, January 11, 2023
“By definition, the big difference between mercy and justice, is that mercy is never, never, never obligatory.” – R.C. Sproul
I.O.U. We’re all familiar with that abbreviation. Whether it’s a home mortgage, a car loan, or a college tuition, we have all owed somebody something at some point in our life. We may also owe someone a favor in return for something kind they did for us when we were in need. In such cases, the catchphrase, “I owe you one,” is often used.
God, on the other hand, doesn’t owe anyone anything. After all, He created the universe and owns its entire contents. He has never borrowed from anyone or taken out a loan, nor has He been the recipient of a one-sided favor. And so, when God bestows mercy on a sinner by offering them both forgiveness and salvation, it is because He is loving and gracious… not because he is under any sort of obligation.
Conversely, God is obliged to carry out justice in accordance with His holiness. That is why He was required to pour out His wrath on sinners. However, because of His aforementioned love, He chose to exercise His judgment on a Substitute – His Son, Jesus Christ – on Calvary’s cross.
Mercy is often defined as “not getting what you deserve,” and Scripture clearly teaches that what we deserve is condemnation, death, and eternal punishment in hell because of our sins (Romans 3:23; 6:23a). On the flip side, grace can be defined as “getting what you don’t deserve,” which, in our case, would be forgiveness and entrance into heaven.
The choice is ours. Do we accept God’s offer of mercy and grace or reject it, opting to roll the spiritual dice and hope against hope that our good works – which are nothing but “filthy rags” in God’s sight (see Isaiah 64:6) – will be our ticket through the pearly gates?
Can you imagine someone being offered a forgiven mortgage that amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars… and turning it down? Not on your life! And yet, sadly and tragically, every day an estimated 80,000 people die and pass into a Christless eternity because they rejected Him as Savior.
Please don’t be one of them!
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
