“For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.
God gives no mercy to the person who refuses to demonstrate mercy to others. God does not have mercy on those who show partiality to fellow believers. An individual who lives a life of selfishness and lack of mercy to others is the kind of person God will judge.
PRINCIPLE:
God’s compassion ultimately does not extend to those with no compassion.
APPLICATION:
Discrimination demonstrates a lack of compassion. God will not extend His mercy indefinitely in time on earth if we continually do not show mercy to others. If we expect mercy from God now, we must show mercy now.
Since God is wholly impartial, He expects us to be wholly impartial. A person who lives with impartiality is a selfless person. If we live by mercy, God will reward us with mercy. This is an essential function of living by grace toward others.
Does this mean that merciless people are not truly saved? We don't show mercy to earn mercy or give forgiveness to get forgiveness from God, but aren't we supposed to have evidence of these things in our lives if we are saved?
Karen, the entire book of James is written to believers. The issue is not salvation but how to live the Christian life.