Biblical Answer

The Sovereignty of God's Mercy

From a biblical perspective, God's mercy is an attribute that is sovereign and optional. This means that God's decision to show mercy to someone is not determined by human actions or circumstances. In other words, God is not bound by any rules or limitations when it comes to extending mercy to sinners. As the passage from Hosea 13:14 suggests, God's mercy is not necessarily tied to human expectations or penitence. While repentance and confession are important aspects of the salvation process, they do not guarantee God's mercy.

The Limits of God's Mercy

Some may argue that God's mercy is limited by his justice and holiness. However, the Bible teaches that God's mercy is not necessarily limited by these attributes. In fact, the New Testament speaks of Jesus' death as the ultimate purification offering, which was powerful enough to cleanse all our sins (Rom. 8:3; Heb. 1:3; 13:11-12). This suggests that God's mercy is not limited by human sin or guilt, but rather is a sovereign and optional attribute that can be extended to anyone. Furthermore, the Bible teaches that we are to imitate God's mercy in our conduct toward others (Matt. 5:7; 2 Cor. 1:3-4), which implies that God's mercy is not limited by human actions or circumstances.

The Mystery of God's Mercy

Ultimately, the limits of God's mercy are a mystery that is not fully understood by humans. As the passage from Hosea 13:14 suggests, even the prophet does not know if God will come and give a blessing. This means that we must approach God's mercy with humility and reverence, recognizing that it is a sovereign and optional attribute that can be extended to anyone at any time. While we can strive to imitate God's mercy in our conduct toward others, we must also recognize that God's mercy is not necessarily tied to human actions or circumstances. Instead, it is a gift that is freely given by God to those who put their trust in him.