Justice & Mercy

Bear with me as I think out loud....it'll be a bit messy....

Justice - getting what is obligated to you; getting what you deserve; getting something by merit. Reward and punishment can both be aspects of justice.

Mercy - not getting the just punishment you deserve for the evil you have done

Grace - getting what you don't deserve and have not justly merited


That's why mercy and grace can never be obliged, deserved or merit. As soon as they are obligated to you, deserving or merited, then you are no longer talking about mercy and grace...you are talking about justice.

Salvation is by the mercy and grace of God. Therefore, it is never right to speak of salvation as something that is merited, obligated or merited. Salvation would no longer be by mercy and grace, but by justice. And only Christ can satisfy the justice of God. Mercy and grace have to be voluntary for them to be such. And since we cannot satisfy the justice of God, either by merit or by punishment, then we must rely on another to satisfy His just demands. This is where Christ shines brightest and His gospel becomes good news. He alone satisfies God's justice in taking my punishment...He got what I deserve. And I get what He deserves...and that is mercy and grace in action.

It's freely given. Not merited. Not earned. Voluntary. And God gives it to whom He wills...whom He chooses. It has to be that way or else we are no longer talking about mercy and grace...but justice.

In light of this, the doctrine of election has to be what it is as taught from a reformed perspective.

Just thinking out loud here. Not trying to write eloquently. Just working some thoughts out from our Bible study tonight.