Biblical Answer

The Sovereignty of God's Mercy

The Bible teaches that God's mercy is an attribute whose exercise is sovereign and optional. This means that God is not bound by any necessity to extend mercy to all men without exception. In fact, God's mercy is not even extended to all who are elect, but rather to those whom He has chosen to show mercy (Rom. 9:15). This is not to say that God's mercy is arbitrary or capricious, but rather that it is a demonstration of His sovereign will.

The Nature of God's Mercy

God's mercy is often misunderstood as being a necessary attribute, one that must be exercised in response to human need. However, the Bible teaches that God's mercy is optional and can be extended to whom He pleases (Ps. 78:38). This is why the Bible says that God "has mercy on whom He will have mercy" (Rom. 9:18). God's mercy is not limited by any external factors, but rather by His own sovereign will. This means that God can show mercy to those who do not deserve it, and withhold mercy from those who do.

The Implications of God's Sovereign Mercy

The implications of God's sovereign mercy are profound. It means that we cannot determine by any a priori method whether God will show mercy to us. We can only know for certain that God will show mercy to those whom He has chosen to show mercy (2 Tim. 2:25). This is why the Bible says that faith is a gift of God (Eph. 2:8), and that those who are ordained to eternal life will believe (Acts 13:48). In making the choice, God acts according to His sovereign will, and His mercy is not limited by any external factors. Therefore, we must approach God's mercy with humility and reverence, recognizing that it is a demonstration of His sovereign will.