The Retribution Of God And Combatting Injustice – The Delicate Balance Of Judgment And Mercy – Part 3 Series

THE RETRIBUTION OF GOD AND COMBATTING INJUSTICE – THE DELICATE BALANCE OF JUDGMENT AND MERCY – PART 3

THE DELICATE BALANCE OF JUDGMENT AND MERCY – CAN HUMAN BEINGS HANDLE IT?

One of the mysteries we only partly understand as Christians is what I might call the balancing of the judgment of God against His mercy (and we could include love and grace). Judgment says that the sinner must die an eternal separation from the presence of a righteous God. Mercy says that the sinner must be rescued and changed so he can live in the presence of God. Actually it is only in Christ that these two aspects of the Father’s demands can be met. The writer to the Hebrews uses the expression for Christ as “Faithful and Merciful High Priest.” These two qualities again, are in apparent contradiction. I heard an illustration once that highlighted the difficulty of marrying these two qualities.

A farmer sent his two sons to market, each with a pig and gave them precise instructions to be punctual for the sale. One son belted the pig along the road in an urgent fashion and was unkind to the animal but he arrived in time for the sale. That son was faithful to the father’s demand but not merciful. The other son felt rather kindly disposed to the animal and wandered along with it without putting any stress on it. He arrived at the sale but was too late and could not fulfil his father’s instructions. He was merciful but not faithful. As human beings we err usually one way or the other but it is a blessed truth that the facets of faithfulness and mercy are perfectly united in Christ. Likewise the seemingly opposing qualities of judgment and mercy are also united in Him.

Because of sin the whole system of this world and all in it are subject to the full judgment of God. That judgment should have meant the whole annihilation of everything that is here. However God’s mercy has extended to the fallen creation, and His love, resulting in the Saviour’s sacrifice, has purchased its redemption. The redemption has only one legitimate ground of acceptance - that of sacrificial purity, and the only One who could meet those demands was the Son of God. It is through Jesus Christ, therefore, that the full expression of grace and love can be appreciated. It is only through Him that the proper perspective of judgment and mercy can be appreciated satisfactorily.

Only when we understand that we have been delivered from God’s just judgment, can we also appreciate that that just judgment continues to hang over the heads of all who are unredeemed with solemn consequences. The retribution of God is one specific aspect of God’s overall judgment and it is proposed that the delivery of that retribution is often delayed, because it is tempered with love and mercy for the sinner. A verse from James’s letter, chapter 2 and verse 13 speaks about mercy triumphing over judgment and I believe that is the way God would like it to be. He would desire all sinners to repent and be converted so the demonstration of His mercy over judgment could be seen. {{James 2:13 “Judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”}}

The retributive judgment is certain of course in the absence of repentance as the nature of a holy God cannot allow sin to be unrewarded. The truth of, “Whatever a man sows that he shall also reap,” has not been cancelled. Therefore the sins and wrongs committed against the children of God will reap their just rewards, but God who is rich in mercy, does not want the sinner to be lost or damned in hell. His retribution may not be forthcoming at this time, but it continues to hover. {{Ephesians 2:3-6 “Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest, but GOD, BEING RICH IN MERCY, BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE WITH WHICH HE LOVED US, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”}}

Let not the persecutor, the liar, the hypocrite or the evil man or woman think the child of God can be treated in an unfair or vindictive manner. Demonic forces are at work now at the end of the Church age but let the hateful man and persecutor beware! God will keep His own possession as the apple of His eye and any evil against His children will result in just retribution. {{Psalm 17:6-9 “I have called upon You for You will answer me, O God. Incline Your ear to me; hear my speech. Wondrously show Your loving kindness, O Saviour of those who take refuge at Your right hand from those who rise up against them. KEEP ME AS THE APPLE OF THE EYE. Hide me in the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.”}}