What version of God's mercy are we to manifest in our lives?

[janxharris]

Version 1

Romans 9:15-16
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it is not of him who willeth, nor is it of him who runneth, but of God who showeth mercy.

For the Calvinist, these verses demonstrate divine election/reprobation. Here's Dordt's understanding:

Article 7: Election

Election [or choosing] is God's unchangeable purpose by which he did the following:

Before the foundation of the world, by sheer grace, according to the free good pleasure of his will, he chose in Christ to salvation a definite number of particular people out of the entire human race, which had fallen by its own fault from its original innocence into sin and ruin. Those chosen were neither better nor more deserving than the others, but lay with them in the common misery. He did this in Christ, whom he also appointed from eternity to be the mediator, the head of all those chosen, and the foundation of their salvation. And so he decided to give the chosen ones to Christ to be saved, and to call and draw them effectively into Christ's fellowship through his Word and Spirit. In other words, he decided to grant them true faith in Christ, to justify them, to sanctify them, and finally, after powerfully preserving them in the fellowship of his Son, to glorify them.

God did all this in order to demonstrate his mercy, to the praise of the riches of his glorious grace.

(Canons of Dordt - Election & Reprobation)

Version 2

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For Arminians and other non-Calvinists, this verse demonstrates God's mercy for all. Here's the Remonstrants' understanding:

SECOND ARTICLE.

Universal Atonement. -- Christ, the Saviour of the world, died for all men and for every man, and his grace is extended to all. His atoning sacrifice is in and of itself sufficient for the redemption of the whole world, and is intended for all by God the Father. But its inherent sufficiency does not necessarily imply its actual efficiency. The grace of God may be resisted, and only those who accept it by faith are actually saved. He who is lost, is lost by his own guilt (John iii.16; 1 John ii.2).

(http://www.theopedia.com/Five_articles_of_Remonstrance)

So, we have two versions of the mercifulness of God. In Luke 6:36, Jesus says:

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is also merciful.

So I ask, what version of God's mercy are we to manifest in our lives?

 

[Hammster]

Let's simplify this. In Calvinism, God is merciful to whom He chooses, apart from any action of man.

Arminianism says God is merciful to those who merit it by believing, and will only continue to be merciful as long as that belief continues.

 

[sdowney717]

Grace love expressed by unmerited favor from God to the saved, for by grace you have been saved.

Eph 2
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

v6 simply stops at God's love being the reason for God's grace.

More than this is a work. And by works of the law will no one be justified before God's face.

When Esther came before the King, she knew if the king did not extend his scepter towards her she would be instantly slain, yet she had trembling confidence to approach. Yet we have been granted access to sit in heavenly places in Christ, so we should have a bold confidence to come to God in time of need. And we know he will not refuse His beloved, His people, His children that He made propitiation for, even dying on a cross to bring them close to Himself.

 

[janxharris]

Let's simplify this. In Calvinism, God is merciful to whom He chooses, apart from any action of man.

Arminianism says God is merciful to those who merit it by believing, and will only continue to be merciful as long as that belief continues.

Version 1: God only provides mercy for a select group of His choosing.
Version 2: God provides mercy for all men, for anyone can believe.

You didn't answer the question in the OP.

 

[janxharris]

Grace love expressed by unmerited favor from God to the saved, for by grace you have been saved.

Eph 2
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

v6 simply stops at God's love being the reason for God's grace.

More than this is a work. And by works of the law will no one be justified before God's face.

When Esther came before the King, she knew if the king did not extend his scepter towards her she would be instantly slain, yet she had trembling confidence to approach. Yet we have been granted access to sit in heavenly places in Christ, so we should have a bold confidence to come to God in time of need. And we know he will not refuse His beloved, His people, His children that He made propitiation for, even dying on a cross to bring them close to Himself.

So you follow God's lead on this? You are merciful in a selective way? That is how God showed mercy right?

 

[Hammster]

Version 1: God only provides mercy for a select group of His choosing.
Version 2: God provides mercy for all men, for anyone can believe.

You didn't answer the question in the OP.

God doesn't provide mercy for all men in version 2.

What do you mean by "manifest"?

 

[janxharris]

God doesn't provide mercy for all men in version 2.

What do you mean by "manifest"?

Yes God does provide mercy for all in version 2, for He gave all men a chance to be saved if they would believe.

In version 1, if you aren't of the elect then you are shown zero mercy.


Manifest: demonstrate (in ones life)

 

[Hammster]

Yes God does provide mercy for all in version 2, for He gave all men a chance to be saved if they would believe.

In version 1, if you aren't of the elect then you are shown zero mercy.


Manifest: demonstrate (in ones life)

If you aren't a believer, and stay a believer, you aren't shown mercy in your view. Why you keep saying He's merciful to all is beyond me.

 

[sdowney717]

So you follow God's lead on this? You are merciful in a selective way? That is how God showed mercy right?

Yes, as Paul also says like this in v10.
Make extra effort to do good for those who are of faith in God's household, that is the saved.

Gal 6

6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

v10 fits well into the idea of God letting the rain fall on good and bad alike, yet some He has mercy on and saves them.

 

[janxharris]

Yes, as Paul also says like this in v10.
Make extra effort to do good for those who are of faith in God's household, that is the saved.

Gal 6


v10 fits well into the idea of God letting the rain fall on good and bad alike, yet some He has mercy on and saves them.

The compassion shown by God to all men corresponds to the compassion we should show to all men.

Under Calvinism, God showed zero compassion for the non-elect. Are you going to emulate this for you are commanded to be merciful as your Father is merciful.

 

[janxharris]

If you aren't a believer, and stay a believer, you aren't shown mercy in your view. Why you keep saying He's merciful to all is beyond me.

Ultimately, yes, mercy will be withheld. But God does show mercy to all men in giving them a way out. To have never sent Jesus would have meant zero mercy for all.

Are you encouraged to be selectively merciful, just as you think your Father is?

 

[Mediaeval]

"The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works" (Ps. 145:9). Mercy like this.

 

[janxharris]

"The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works" (Ps. 145:9). Mercy like this.

What amount of mercy do you think God showed to the non-elect (assuming Calvinism to be true for the purpose of argument)?

 

[Hammster]

Ultimately, yes, mercy will be withheld. But God does show mercy to all men in giving them a way out. To have never sent Jesus would have meant zero mercy for all.

Are you encouraged to be selectively merciful, just as you think your Father is?

So your view isn't real mercy, and mine is. And your view is somehow better?

I guess if I was to show mercy according to you, I'd just show it to those who are good to me, until they weren't.

 

[sdowney717]

There is mercy and there is also justice and there is also wrath.
God has every right to simply destroy the world and all in it.
God chose to be merciful to some and save them.
God chose to not be merciful to others and simply let them be all that they can be, without Him and His help and that is that they remain unenlightened and stay at enmity with God. They remain blinded in their minds by Satan, without hope and without God in the world.

The gospel is hidden from the hearts of those who remain blinded in their minds, those who are perishing.

3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.

6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

v6, an active God who COMMANDED the light to shine into our hearts the knowledge of the truth of Jesus Christ.

But not to all did God command this to happen.
If God had commanded His light to shine that way, then all would be saved, but not all are saved. BEcause they have not received mercy from God to be saved.
Jesus is the author and finisher of your faith, in an intensely personal way.

The parable of the tares and the wheat really demonstrate this.

 

[sdowney717]

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

The Parable of the Tares Explained

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”

37 He answered and said to them:

“He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

38 The field is the world,

the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom,

but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil,

the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

God made sure that this parable was explained in His bible, so that all can read and see How God works among mankind.
Whether you agree with it or not, this is our God and His ways.

 

[sdowney717]

Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’

This question of the servants has always struck me as hilarious.

How then does it have tares?

It is like they are innocently ignorant of the powers at work in the supernatural all around them.
People don't think of Satan doing this evil work mixing his seedy weeds in among God's children. They just assume all are God's sheep.

Jesus send out his children in the world as sheep among wolves.

 

[janxharris]

So your view isn't real mercy, and mine is. And your view is somehow better?

If mercy is giving someone something they do not deserve, even if it is just the potential to be saved, then it is still mercy.

I guess if I was to show mercy according to you, I'd just show it to those who are good to me, until they weren't.

No, God showed mercy to all men: You see, just at the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)

Your version of God has it that some men are shown zero mercy, zero love and zero grace. Do you follow God's lead in this?

 

[janxharris]

There is mercy and there is also justice and there is also wrath.
God has every right to simply destroy the world and all in it.
God chose to be merciful to some and save them.
God chose to not be merciful to others and simply let them be all that they can be, without Him and His help and that is that they remain unenlightened and stay at enmity with God. They remain blinded in their minds by Satan, without hope and without God in the world.

The gospel is hidden from the hearts of those who remain blinded in their minds, those who are perishing.

So summing up, God showed zero love, grace and mercy to these men, and you are to be merciful as your Father is merciful?

v6, an active God who COMMANDED the light to shine into our hearts the knowledge of the truth of Jesus Christ.

But not to all did God command this to happen.
If God had commanded His light to shine that way, then all would be saved, but not all are saved. BEcause they have not received mercy from God to be saved.
Jesus is the author and finisher of your faith, in an intensely personal way.

The parable of the tares and the wheat really demonstrate this.

And as I have shown you in Matthew 13, the blinding is not the absolute required by your doctrine. When are you going to deal with the fact that, because you assert that Judas was a reprobate, Jesus describes him as being part of the wrong group?

 

[janxharris]

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares



The Parable of the Tares Explained



God made sure that this parable was explained in His bible, so that all can read and see How God works among mankind.
Whether you agree with it or not, this is our God and His ways.

That you think God elects unconditionally - that you think that this is what this parable is teaching is astonishing. Believers are regenerated, as scripture clearly teaches - and does so explicitly. You are forced to extrapolate, and wildly so.