Originally posted by Contra_Mundum
If God simply forgives sin, then he gives something up--he sacrifices some justice at the expense of mercy. So he is less than perfectly just. He's imperfectly just, under this supposition. Do we want a God like this? If he is imperfectly just in this way, perhaps he is imperfectly just in other ways as well...
We ought to forgive, because we have been forgiven. God has no equal requirement to forgive or show mercy. He is not obligated to show mercy. On the other hand, justice or righteousness is a quality that is essential to his holy nature. It this sense, it is his obligation to do justice, or he ceases being who he is. As Scripture states: "He cannot deny himself."
It is just as necessary (if he wills it) that he express himself as fully in areas of "discretion" (such as mercy) as he expresses himself in areas of essence. But this he will not do by doing violence to himself. Mercy (forgiveness) presupposes the more basic requirement to do justice.
Maybe the easiest way to reach a 6-year old on this subject is to ask him what is more important--that Daddy is "fair" or that Daddy "forgives". Every time Johnny steals a cookie he wants Daddy to forgive him, so Daddy agrees and starts forgiving Johnny every time he steals a cookie. (This now happens frequently, since Johnny can now get a cookie with impunity.) At the same time Daddy starts "forgiving" Billy every time he hits Johnny. Should Daddy forgive Billy for hitting Johnny? Johnny starts complaining, but Daddy reminds him that he has to be fair to Billy, and forgive him every time since Johnny gets forgiven every time. Billy doesn't seem to want to steal cookies, but he does want to smack his brother around. Johnny isn't prepared to accept this argument. "I WANT JUSTICE!" he screams. OK, Johnny, Billy will get justice, but so will you for stealing allthose cookies.
That justice is more essential than mercy is also evident from its subjects. Everyone begins from the same standpoint--guilty, under judgment. Not everyone is shown mercy; some find mercy. So, in fact (though not in degree) some pass from judgment to mercy, experiencing both realities. The reprobate get no blessing from the mercy they contract in this life (so yes they are exposed to mercy) but instead remain forever under judgment, and never truly experience mercy. They are like persons without tastebuds who nonetheless eats for their belly, even an occasional bowl of icecream that goes unappreciated.
An analogy or illustration usually helps me when I have difficulty understand something.
