Is this injustice?

[JackRT]

From a theological point of view the argument would be that God is absolutely sovereign and therefore everything God does is just. However from a human POV this justice "would" seem to be applied unequally and therefore unfair. The question of repentance was not mentioned in the OP and therefore does not enter in this discussion. Speaking personally, I find much of theology to be highly speculative and therefore I lean towards the human understanding ---- justice must be seen to be done.

 

[royal priest]

Given the statement, 5 repented and 5 didn't.

There is no injustice with God.

This begs the question: which came first, the mercy or the repentance?

 

[nonaeroterraqueous]

(Borrowed)

Suppose 10 people sin and sin equally. Suppose God punishes five of them, and is merciful to the other five.

Is this injustice?

Justice comes by punishing them all. If there is an injustice, then it is not because the five were punished, but because the other five were forgiven. Yet, forgiveness is easily forgiven. Where there is forgiveness, there is no injustice. Therefore, the short answer is that it is not an injustice.

 

[Hammster]

That is not how it works.

All 10 can be forgiven, 5 of them chose not to be.

2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

That doesn’t answer the question.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

(Borrowed)

Suppose 10 people sin and sin equally. Suppose God punishes five of them, and is merciful to the other five.

Is this injustice?

It is inconsequential as we have a just God.
Be blessed.

 

[Hammster]

It is inconsequential as we have a just God.
Be blessed.

That doesn’t answer the question

 

[hedrick]

How so?

God has indicated many places a desire to save everyone. Either everyone is saved or every one who can be. Thus the answer to the original question has to be no, absent some difference that makes it possible to save some of them and not others.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

That doesn’t answer the question

No one can answer the question dear friend.

 

[public hermit]

If it is arbitrary, it is not just. The OP scenario places emphasis on the arbitrariness of the judgement. One might claim that God is just no matter what God does, but that is just as arbitrary. So, one conclusion might be that mercy is arbitrary and not just. There are good reasons to think that is the case. However, that leads us to the conclusion that if God is merciful, then God is arbitrary and not just.

What to do? How can God be both merciful and just? It seems to me the only real option is that God be merciful to all, or merciful to none. Anything short of those two options is arbitrary and unjust.

 

[Oldmantook]

What if none repented?

That may be an irrelevant question.
Philippians 2:10 - That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is Lord in the glory of God the Father.
Romans 14:11 - For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Isaiah 45:23 - I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

 

[Oldmantook]

If it is arbitrary, it is not just. The OP scenario places emphasis on the arbitrariness of the judgement. One might claim that God is just no matter what God does, but that is just as arbitrary. So, one conclusion might be that mercy is arbitrary and not just. There are good reasons to think that is the case. However, that leads us to the conclusion that if God is merciful, then God is arbitrary and not just.

What to do? How can God be both merciful and just? It seems to me the only real option is that God be merciful to all, or merciful to none. Anything short of those two options is arbitrary and unjust.

Agreed; He is merciful to all.

 

[royal priest]

If it is arbitrary, it is not just. The OP scenario places emphasis on the arbitrariness of the judgement. One might claim that God is just no matter what God does, but that is just as arbitrary. So, one conclusion might be that mercy is arbitrary and not just. There are good reasons to think that is the case. However, that leads us to the conclusion that if God is merciful, then God is arbitrary and not just.

What to do? How can God be both merciful and just? It seems to me the only real option is that God be merciful to all, or merciful to none. Anything short of those two options is arbitrary and unjust.

Was God's choice of Israel arbitrary?

 

[public hermit]

Was God's choice of Israel arbitrary?

That's not the OP situation. The OP presents a complete set, split evenly. The OP scenario would be more analogous to a final judgment. What you are referencing is the choice (creation) of a people through whom the means of redemption would come. Different scenario. All that to say, the arbitrariness of that choice is not unjust, because it's not a judgment in the final sense of the word.

 

[royal priest]

That's not the OP situation. The OP presents a complete set, split evenly. The OP scenario would be more analogous to a final judgment. What you are referencing is the choice (creation) of a people through whom the means of redemption would come. Different scenario. All that to say, the arbitrariness of that choice is not unjust, because it's not a judgment in the final sense of the word.

But it was a judgement. God was preparing Israel, while in Egypt, to bring judgement upon the inhabitants of Canaan.
Genesis 15:16
"Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete."
When God chose to have mercy on Israel, He overlooked the rest of civilization by default.

 

[Sketcher]

No, they won’t be. God just doesn’t punish them.

God doesn't just not punish sin. If you don't repent and trust Jesus to get his amnesty, you will be punished by God in this life or the next, period.

 

[Carl Emerson]

If it is arbitrary, it is not just. The OP scenario places emphasis on the arbitrariness of the judgement. One might claim that God is just no matter what God does, but that is just as arbitrary. So, one conclusion might be that mercy is arbitrary and not just. There are good reasons to think that is the case. However, that leads us to the conclusion that if God is merciful, then God is arbitrary and not just.

What to do? How can God be both merciful and just? It seems to me the only real option is that God be merciful to all, or merciful to none. Anything short of those two options is arbitrary and unjust.

Since when does God have to bow to 'logic'?

 

[public hermit]

When God chose to have mercy on Israel, He overlooked the rest of civilization by default.

I'm taking the OP scenario in terms of final judgment. I realize that is not explicitly stated, but if it's not, then the situation is still open and God may be merciful towards those whom he is now punishing and punish the ones towards whom he is now being merciful. And if that's the case in the OP scenario then it loses its force as an interesting scenario. So, it needs to be taken in terms of final judgment. Your example doesn't fit the scenario.

 

[Hammster]

God has indicated many places a desire to save everyone. Either everyone is saved or every one who can be. Thus the answer to the original question has to be no, absent some difference that makes it possible to save some of them and not others.

That makes it sound like He’s obligated to try.

 

[Hammster]

No one can answer the question dear friend.

I can.

 

[Hammster]

If it is arbitrary, it is not just. The OP scenario places emphasis on the arbitrariness of the judgement. One might claim that God is just no matter what God does, but that is just as arbitrary. So, one conclusion might be that mercy is arbitrary and not just. There are good reasons to think that is the case. However, that leads us to the conclusion that if God is merciful, then God is arbitrary and not just.

What to do? How can God be both merciful and just? It seems to me the only real option is that God be merciful to all, or merciful to none. Anything short of those two options is arbitrary and unjust.

Why does arbitrary matter?