Would it be fair? Would it be right?
This post is old but interesting. It is from the Pyromaniacs blog, written by James Spurgeon:
"I posted the following once on my own blog, The Howling Coyote, and it generated some interesting discussion. Since we're on this theme of God and justice I thought I'd post it here where it will get read by more than just the ten or fifteen people who were reading my blog at the time.
Just thinking out loud here:
What if God were to create a race of beings, knowing they would fall, allow them to fall, and then do nothing to lift them back up? What if there were no mercy extended to them, no invitation, no restoration, no justification, no atonement, no redemption, no chance? What if God were to extend mercy to others, but not them? What if God were to make atonement and grant justification to others, but not them? What if God simply said, "One strike and you are out?" What if God said that to them, while on the other hand offering mercy to another group of fallen peoples, equally bad?
Would that be fair? Would it be right? Would it be just?
What if God sent Jesus into the world to die for one group of fallen persons, but not for all fallen persons?
Would that be fair? Would it be right? Would it be just?
What if God said to one group, "I will provide for you a Savior," but completely ignored the other group offering them nothing?
Would that be fair? Would it be right? Would it be just?
Be careful how you answer, because that is exactly what God has done when it comes to the fallen angels.
There is a Savior offered to the world of men, none to the world of angels. There is mercy offered to the world of men, none to the world of angels. There is restoration offered to the world of men, none to the fallen angels. There is atonement made for sinful men, none for sinful angels. Man is given a chance, offered mercy in Christ, angels are not.
God never sent his Son to take on the nature of angels, and there is nothing about that act at Calvary that ever could save or ever was intended to save any fallen angel.
One strike, and they are out.
Angels do not understand redemption. They have never experienced it. The ones who never fell never needed it and they know it would not have been offered or accomplished on their behalf. They know that, because, for the ones who did fall it was never offered or accomplished on their behalf.
Hebrews 2:16-17 (KJV)
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Matthew 25:41 (KJV)
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
1 Peter 1:12 (KJV)
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
2 Peter 2:4 (KJV)
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Jude 6 (KJV)
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
The truth is, it would be just and it would be right for God to condemn all, for all deserve to be condemned. God gave justice to the angels. Punishment is what they deserved.
We got something else instead of punishment. We got grace.
All of this should remind us that no one actually deserves a chance. What we deserve is hell. God is not a debtor and God owes not one thing to any of us. If he gave us one strike and you're out, he would be doing right by his own standards of justice.
Every moment a sinner lives is mercy and grace and every breath he breathes is mercy and grace."
"I posted the following once on my own blog, The Howling Coyote, and it generated some interesting discussion. Since we're on this theme of God and justice I thought I'd post it here where it will get read by more than just the ten or fifteen people who were reading my blog at the time.
Just thinking out loud here:
What if God were to create a race of beings, knowing they would fall, allow them to fall, and then do nothing to lift them back up? What if there were no mercy extended to them, no invitation, no restoration, no justification, no atonement, no redemption, no chance? What if God were to extend mercy to others, but not them? What if God were to make atonement and grant justification to others, but not them? What if God simply said, "One strike and you are out?" What if God said that to them, while on the other hand offering mercy to another group of fallen peoples, equally bad?
Would that be fair? Would it be right? Would it be just?
What if God sent Jesus into the world to die for one group of fallen persons, but not for all fallen persons?
Would that be fair? Would it be right? Would it be just?
What if God said to one group, "I will provide for you a Savior," but completely ignored the other group offering them nothing?
Would that be fair? Would it be right? Would it be just?
Be careful how you answer, because that is exactly what God has done when it comes to the fallen angels.
There is a Savior offered to the world of men, none to the world of angels. There is mercy offered to the world of men, none to the world of angels. There is restoration offered to the world of men, none to the fallen angels. There is atonement made for sinful men, none for sinful angels. Man is given a chance, offered mercy in Christ, angels are not.
God never sent his Son to take on the nature of angels, and there is nothing about that act at Calvary that ever could save or ever was intended to save any fallen angel.
One strike, and they are out.
Angels do not understand redemption. They have never experienced it. The ones who never fell never needed it and they know it would not have been offered or accomplished on their behalf. They know that, because, for the ones who did fall it was never offered or accomplished on their behalf.
Hebrews 2:16-17 (KJV)
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Matthew 25:41 (KJV)
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
1 Peter 1:12 (KJV)
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
2 Peter 2:4 (KJV)
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Jude 6 (KJV)
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
The truth is, it would be just and it would be right for God to condemn all, for all deserve to be condemned. God gave justice to the angels. Punishment is what they deserved.
We got something else instead of punishment. We got grace.
All of this should remind us that no one actually deserves a chance. What we deserve is hell. God is not a debtor and God owes not one thing to any of us. If he gave us one strike and you're out, he would be doing right by his own standards of justice.
Every moment a sinner lives is mercy and grace and every breath he breathes is mercy and grace."
posted by Austin | 1:33 AM
6 Comments:
It's interesting you brought this up, I just started studying this last night. Spurred by a reading of Jude and then cross referncing the Scripture mentioned along with Genesis 6, we must stand in awe of God and His mercy. I don't understand God's grace in full, it is too magnanimous for me to comprehend. Also while reading in Numbers 16 about the rebellion of Korah, I'm reminded of God's wrath and His mercy... May we never take His grace for granted. He is truly worthy of our praise forever and ever.
A few thoughts:
- We as humans are created in God's image. I don't recall anywhere in scripture it saying angels are...correct me if i'm wrong.
- Wasn't the redemptive plan of God (the cross) ordained before the beginning of time, rather than simply a response to rebellion?
cheers.
Joey,
Both statements that you made are true. But I'm not sure if they are responses to Spurgeon's post or not.
I don't remember him mentioning that angels were created in God's image. Did he?
Did he imply that the cross was reactionary?
I'm not really sure what you were stating. Clarification???
I guess I meant my comment as a question- the tone of spurgeon's blog seemed to carry the notion that angels were on the same level as humans and that the cross was reactionary...I was just curious...
Hmmm... considering that Mr. Spurgeon is an advocate of God's Sovereignty in all things, I find it hard to believe that he would believe that the cross was reactionary.
I personally didn't get the idea that he was equating angels and humans. As a matter of fact, it seems that he emphasized our disimilarities (ie. We have a way of salvation and they do not. And the eternal Son of God took on our form, not theirs).
What I believe he was trying to say in this post was that God is completely just in creating one group of persons with a way of salvation and another group of persons with no hope of salvation. The point of the post seems to be God's freedom in His salvific will - and whatever He decides to do with His creation is just.
But I guess we would have to ask Mr. Spurgeon himself. I am only making inferences.
It was great seeing you sunday. Thanks for taking the time to talk- I'm really encouraged to see your passion for truth!
-Catcha later
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