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FuzzyBunny116
Guest
I have a feeling this is a deceptively easy question, but, how do God’s infinite justice and mercy not contradict?
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po18guy
Well-known member
They are the same in Christ Jesus. He alone will judge us in justice, but he reminded us that he came not to condemn, but to save, which is mercy (John 3:17-18) “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
The sacrifice of Christ, as the eternal gift which could not be merited, holds the power to save every soul on earth through mercy, but it remains a gift which must be accepted in the spirit of justice. Thus, mercy and justice remain the same in Christ, as He is both.
Christ’s peace be always with you.
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SpiritMeadow
Guest
I’m never quite sure what God’s justice is. Sometimes I think it’s more like how man think’s God should judge. I have a feeling they might not be the same. LOL.
To me justice would be-- God doesn’t punish anyone not smart enough to be God…lol…That sounds just to me. Not a one of us has the requisite understanding of all things to be truly good, and since God knows this it would be “just” not to punish us…Now someone would come along and say, hey that’s not my idea of God and his Justice, and they would be equally right.
But I do see your dilemma. There is a contradictory element. He coulda made us perfect, he didn’t, we have no choice but to have the propensity to sin. He is mercifull, he should justly not punish us. works for me…hehe.
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Johndigger
Guest
Just throwing out ideas here: What about God’s justice being an act of mercy?
For example, those that die in mortal sin, if they went into the presence of God would be so repulsed by their own uncleaniness before the infinite goodness of God that it would be another kind of torture, so it is an act of mercy of God to make them depart from him?
Also, what about the saints? How would they feel if they were in the presence of such foulness before the Lord? It is an act of mercy towards them also.
If God forgave those people their mortal sin after death, it would be making a mockery out of:
speculating
For example, those that die in mortal sin, if they went into the presence of God would be so repulsed by their own uncleaniness before the infinite goodness of God that it would be another kind of torture, so it is an act of mercy of God to make them depart from him?
Also, what about the saints? How would they feel if they were in the presence of such foulness before the Lord? It is an act of mercy towards them also.
If God forgave those people their mortal sin after death, it would be making a mockery out of:
- Free will
- The people who repented of their mortal sin and struggled through life trying to avoid it
speculating
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FuzzyBunny116
Guest
That makes pretty decent sense.
However, what about this: Purgatory is justice because it punishes sin. However, He allows people to be released from Purgatory early as a mercy. Why does this mercy not override His justice, since the sinner did not properly pay for his sins?
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Truthstalker
Guest
Is there anywhere where God’s mercy is where His justice is not, or where his justice is, that His mercy is not? Can you separate His mercy and justice? God is simple, declared Aquinas, and I have been riding on those three words for a while. God’s mercy and justice are the same thing, but that does not reduce in any way either one to something we can really grasp. They continue to be mercy and justice. The best explanation we have is that the contradiction was resolved when Jesus hung on the cross and died for us. All contradictions are resolved in that act, as that was a revelation both of God’s mercy and justice, and there was no contradiction there.
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mlchance
Guest
I explain this to my students something like this:
Justice is getting what you deserve, good or bad. Mercy is getting what you need. Some times what you deserve and need are the same thing. Some times they’re not.
Since God’s love and authority are infinite, any serious sin is an offense against infinity. Justice demands an infinite punishment for an infinite offense. The Son of God chose to Incarnate in order to pay that punishment; he could do this because he was both man and God. As man, he can stand in our place. As God, he is infinite and can meet the demands of justice, which none of us could ever do. Justice is satisfied. Thus, instead of getting what we deserve, which is Hell, God grants us what we need, which is Heaven.
All we have to do is make the choice.
– Mark L. Chance.
Justice is getting what you deserve, good or bad. Mercy is getting what you need. Some times what you deserve and need are the same thing. Some times they’re not.
Since God’s love and authority are infinite, any serious sin is an offense against infinity. Justice demands an infinite punishment for an infinite offense. The Son of God chose to Incarnate in order to pay that punishment; he could do this because he was both man and God. As man, he can stand in our place. As God, he is infinite and can meet the demands of justice, which none of us could ever do. Justice is satisfied. Thus, instead of getting what we deserve, which is Hell, God grants us what we need, which is Heaven.
All we have to do is make the choice.
– Mark L. Chance.
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FuzzyBunny116
Guest
But if we all need Heaven, then why isn’t God merciful for even unrepented mortal sins?
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Pax
Guest
The OP’s question is a good one and has been followed by insightful posts. I have but one suggestion that will help in the appreciation of the attributes of God that are being examined.
God’s mercy comes first. God’s mercy is followed by His justice.
Contemplate on God’s mercy. He so loved the world that He sent his only Son, Jesus, to redeem us through His passion, death, and resurrection. Spend a lot of time thinking about this especially in light of how insignificant we are and how powerful and omnipotent God is. Meditating on this will give insight into God’s love and mercy toward us.
After doing this then turn to God’s justice. If we reject God, His love, and His mercy what is it that we have done? Moreover, what are the consequences of such an act. God will in his justice respect our free will. We will recieve what we deserve should we reject Him.
God’s mercy comes first. God’s mercy is followed by His justice.
Contemplate on God’s mercy. He so loved the world that He sent his only Son, Jesus, to redeem us through His passion, death, and resurrection. Spend a lot of time thinking about this especially in light of how insignificant we are and how powerful and omnipotent God is. Meditating on this will give insight into God’s love and mercy toward us.
After doing this then turn to God’s justice. If we reject God, His love, and His mercy what is it that we have done? Moreover, what are the consequences of such an act. God will in his justice respect our free will. We will recieve what we deserve should we reject Him.
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mlchance
Guest
An unrepented mortal sin kills the life of grace. This is the nature of mortal sin. Without grace there is no possibility of Heaven.
– Mark L. Chance.
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LilyM
Guest
The justice here lies BOTH in making those with unrepented venial (minor) sin pay the penalty for that sin AND in releasing them to Heaven when the proper penalty has been paid.
Mortal sin, as a previous poster said, is an eternal offence, being a complete rejection of God, who is eternal. So true justice for that sort of sin demands eternal punishment.
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