Biblical Answer

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. He knows nothing upon this point, until he hears the voice of God. Mercy is not necessary, it is a choice that God makes. If God had never created anything at all, he would still have been an omnipo- tent God, with the power to create, but not under any necessity to exert this power.

This understanding of mercy is seen in the biblical view, where divine mercy is seen more in the cause than in the effect, more in the "atonement" for sin than in the "remission" of sin, more in expiation than in "forgiveness." It is God's pity to the needy, His attitude to those who are in need of a Savior. God loves the world, the ungodly, and sinners, and He is willing to abundantly pardon them. His mercy is not confined to strict limits, but is inex- act because boundless. It may give more than is due, though never less than is due.

The biblical view of mercy also emphasizes that God's mercy is sovereign and optional, and therefore man cannot determine by any a priori method whether it will be extended to him. God chooses who will receive mercy, and His choice is not based on any inherent worth or merit in the individual. This is seen in the statement "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy" (Rom. 9:15), which highlights the fact that God's mercy is not based on human merit, but on His sovereign will. Therefore, it is not possible to limit God's mercy, as it is an attribute that is completely under His control.