Day 325: Ezekiel 22-24; James 2
Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 5:13)
What grand news! To know and understand that our God, the consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), is supremely merciful, how marvelous. Isolate that passage and you and I have a sentimental universalism. A loving God would never...you know the claim. Dietrich Bonhoeffer called this sentimentality 'cheap grace.' True, the news of mercy and judgment is powerful and wonderful, but let's put this statement in context: "Speak and act [consistently] as people who are going to be judged by the law of liberty [that moral law that frees obedient Christians from the bondage of sin]. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but [to the one who has shown mercy] mercy triumphs [victoriously] over judgment" (James 2:12-13, AMP). There will be judgment (Hebrews 9:27), and our God, the consuming fire, will pass that judgment. But those who have embraced and live by the law of freedom, which is the law of perfect love, need fear no judgment, for mercy triumphs over judgment. Those who have obtained such mercy, live it out in their lives as well. I am certain that you saw the truth Jesus spoke: "Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7, CSB). Thank God, our Merciful Redeemer!
What grand news! To know and understand that our God, the consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), is supremely merciful, how marvelous. Isolate that passage and you and I have a sentimental universalism. A loving God would never...you know the claim. Dietrich Bonhoeffer called this sentimentality 'cheap grace.' True, the news of mercy and judgment is powerful and wonderful, but let's put this statement in context: "Speak and act [consistently] as people who are going to be judged by the law of liberty [that moral law that frees obedient Christians from the bondage of sin]. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but [to the one who has shown mercy] mercy triumphs [victoriously] over judgment" (James 2:12-13, AMP). There will be judgment (Hebrews 9:27), and our God, the consuming fire, will pass that judgment. But those who have embraced and live by the law of freedom, which is the law of perfect love, need fear no judgment, for mercy triumphs over judgment. Those who have obtained such mercy, live it out in their lives as well. I am certain that you saw the truth Jesus spoke: "Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7, CSB). Thank God, our Merciful Redeemer!
2 Comments
To show mercy. I need to be reminded of this - always. I learned early that there is always a “pay day “ for wrongs of any kind. People can change and I need to forgive, since God keeps forgiving me over and over…
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