Just a question? Pls answer.

[Ivan Djuglanov]

The bible says that God has mercy for murderers and thieves, even for those in sodom. What does the bible mean by that God has mercy for them? How can God have mercy for those in sodom? As punishment for their sins he killed them with rain of fire, well it was something like that. And bible says he has mercy for them? I don't get it... where is the mercy. And murderers probabbly go to hell... i don't get where is the mercy.

 

[food4thought]

God has mercy on everyone to a point. When we do something that deserves God's punishment, He does not always punish us. In mercy, God does not always give us what we deserve, and in His grace He often grants us what we do not deserve. Yet God will still judge the wicked if they do not repent (which means to turn away from their sin and to God) and place their trust in Jesus.

The ultimate example of God's mercy is found in Jesus Christ, whom God has given us so that we may be forgiven of ALL the wrong that we have ever done and ever will do. That forgiveness is only found through faith in who Jesus is and what He has done for us, but it includes every act of evil ever done by those who repent and place their faith in Him. This would include murder, rape, homosexual acts, etc.

I don't know of anywhere it says in Scripture that God had mercy on Sodom... the problem with Sodom was that they were completely unrepentant of their sins and did not place their faith in God. If you read the passage on Sodom in Genesis 18-19, you will see that Abraham asked God to spare the city if even 10 righteous people could be found in it, and God agreed. Of course, we know that God did end up destroying the city, and saved only Lot and his daughters. And we learn that even they were not all that righteous towards the end of Genesis 19, but God had mercy on them because of their faith in Him.

Hope this helps.

 

[Drew Jones]

Repentance. Those who repent, and call upon his name, shall receive mercy. It's as simple as that.

 

[bling]

God gave much time to Sodom for them to repent, just like the people time to repent in the days of Noah.

A quick death can be better than a prolonged death.

There is also the issue of annihilation and eternity in hell, since eternal existence is given to those that will go to be with God.

 

[paul1149]

I'm also unaware of any place where it says the people of Sodom will be given mercy. Not saying it won't happen, just that I don't believe it's written.

It does say, however, that in the Judgment the people of Sodom will rise up and condemn Jesus' generation. That is because His generation was given the greater witness, therefore it was more accountable for turning its back.

The important thing is that whoever you are, whatever you've done, if you repent you will find forgiveness and grace in Christ. There is no sin that can trump the mercies of the Cross, where the virtue of the Son of God was made available to lost and sinful man. The Cross has completely upended the calculus of salvation. It has reversed the grid. Now God not only can extend forgiveness, He emphatically is "just" to do so (1 John 1:9) because Jesus has established the legal foundation for it.

 

[Ivan Djuglanov]

I'm also unaware of any place where it says the people of Sodom will be given mercy. Not saying it won't happen, just that I don't believe it's written.

Well, i readed it in bulgarian... i couldn't get what it means so i asked you guys. Now it seems that it is not even written.

 

[oi_antz]

Can I mention please that salvation achieved by the sacrifice of God's son, with whom He was pleased, and who brought Him great joy, does not require doctrines of "legal foundation for salvation" - as this represents a highly developed, fairly young doctrine with no actual basis in scripture. Albeit very commonly found among unregulated protestant communities. Though, scripture states clearly that God shows His mercy for us, all of us being disobedient sinners, and all having proven less able to please Him than His own son did, yet even though we are sinners, Christ died so that we may live. No greater love does that, to lay down his life for the life of his friends. No greater mercy is there, than to give one's very own son, to go through with it, because it is the only way that you and I can be saved. Our gratitude is actually owed for that.

 

[Mediaeval]

Were you thinking of Ezekiel chapter 16 where it speaks about deliverance for Sodom?