God Of Mercy And Justice

Hello Friends, 

If you don't already know this about me, I greatly enjoy listening to music. I find pleasure in the diversity that exits within music itself. I enjoy that it has the capacity to inspire, motivate, and create certain emotions. Lately there's one song in particular i've really been enjoying. You can check it out HERE (it's worth it!). I want to take a moment to share my thoughts on the message within this song ... Its lyrics focus on mercy/judgment and how it pertains to God. This has me thinking about how God manages to be both a God of mercy and justice. I've started to ask myself the following questions and have decided to share with you what I have discovered and believe to be true. 

1.What is mercy? Mercy is not getting what you deserve. God's word teaches us that God owes the human race nothing but judgment because of our disobedience (sin) toward Him. Many have the misconception that God is so extremely merciful that He does not need to be just or that He will put away His righteous judgment because of His mercy. God's righteous judgment on us is not something that can be put aside, it must be executed. In order to save us from the due penalty for our sin, God choose to send His perfect son Jesus to pay the penalty (which is death) for our sin. When Jesus hung on the cross, the justice of God did not pass over Him. He was the perfect Lamb who “bore our sins in His body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). The judgment of God fell on Jesus for the sins of His people. Thus, God showed us mercy by sending Jesus to experience the judgment that we deserve.

2. How Does God uphold His justice and still show His mercy? In the death of Christ, God is “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). Men have either been judged at Calvary or they will be judged for all eternity. Through his infinite wisdom, God made a way for us to experience His great mercy. God's mercy on me became possible through His righteous judgment on Jesus.

3. How do I live in God's mercy instead of God's judgment for now and all eternity? “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). I can safely say, “the believer may demand eternal life, because it has been entitled to them by Christ … that justice that seemed to require man’s destruction, now requires his salvation.”

In closing thought ... God made a way for us to experience His great mercy. You and I have the amazing opportunity to receive that mercy that was made possible through the cross. He delights in showing mercy.

~Micah 7:18 "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy."

~James 2:13 "mercy triumphs over judgment." This verse means that the mercy of God triumphs over God’s wrath because those who believe in Him are covered by the blood of Christ. The wrath of God has been canceled out by His mercy.

Thanks for reading! 

Much Love,

Lydia