Biblical Answer

The Role of Mercy in the Face of Judgment

Understanding Mercy and Judgment

Mercy and judgment are two attributes of God that are often viewed as opposing forces. However, the Bible reveals that mercy and judgment are not mutually exclusive, but rather, they are intertwined. Mercy is the withholding of merited penalty and relieving distress, while judgment is the administering of justice according to the law (Psalm 103:8-14). God's mercy pardons sin, but it does not protect from the consequences of sin.

The Relationship Between Mercy and Justice

Mercy and justice are not two separate attributes of God, but rather, they are two sides of the same coin. When God exercises mercy, He is not ignoring justice, but rather, He is exercising justice in a way that is life-giving and assists people in their misery. The Bible teaches that God's justice is not inexorably necessary, and that mercy is not the vicarious endurance of punishment for the sinner. Instead, mercy is an attribute whose exercise is sovereign and optional, and therefore, man cannot determine by any a priori method whether it will be extended to him.

The Purpose of Mercy in the Face of Judgment

The purpose of mercy in the face of judgment is to reveal God's justice and to bring about repentance and restoration. When God exercises mercy, it is not to ignore the sinfulness of humanity, but rather, it is to reveal the sinfulness of humanity and to bring about a desire for repentance and restoration. The Bible teaches that God's mercy is not a sanctuary for the presumptuous, but rather, it is a sanctuary for the penitent. When humanity recognizes their sinfulness and turns to God in repentance, God's mercy is revealed, and He exercises justice in a way that is life-giving and assists people in their misery. This is seen in the life of Jesus Christ, who suffered the full penalty for sin on behalf of humanity, and who offers mercy and restoration to all who turn to Him in repentance. (Romans 3:24-25).