Over and Above This World

Is God Unjust?  Not at all!  For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

(Romans 9:14-15)

Standing over and above this world is the Great Judge of all.  Though men may mistreat me, God never does.  That God allows a human being to mistreat me unjustly is just of God.  While I may complain to God about the human justice I have suffered, I cannot rise up and accuse God of committing an injustice by allowing the human injustice to befall me.  God would be perfectly just to allow me to be thrown in prison for life for a crime I didn't commit.  I may be innocent before men, but I am guilty before God.

We often blame God for injustices done to us and harbor in our souls the bitter feeling that God has not been fair toward us.  Even if we recognize that He is gracious, we think that He has not been gracious enough.  We deserve more grace.

Please read that last sentence again:  We deserve more grace.  What is wrong with that sentence?  Grammatically it is fine.  It has a subject, a verb, and a direct object.  There is no need for the editor's red pencil in that regard.  But there is something seriously wrong with the content, with the meaning of the sentence.

It is impossible for anyone, anywhere, anytime to deserve grace.  Grace by definition is undeserved.  As soon as we talk about deserving something, we are no longer talking about grace;  we are talking about justice.  Only justice can be deserved.  God is never obligated to be merciful.  Mercy and grace must be voluntary or they are no longer mercy and grace.  God never "owes" grace.  He reminds us more than once, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy."  This is the divine prerogative.  God reserves for Himself the supreme right of executive clemency.

--R.C. Sproul

Knowing Scripture

I just finished a book that a friend gave me, titled Knowing Scripture by R.C. Sproul of Ligonier Ministries. R.C. talks about the importance of studying the Bible and interpreting it accurately and with fidelity to the Author's intent. The book contains six sections:

1. Why Study the Bible
2. Personal Bible Study & Private Interpretation
3. Hermeneutics: The Science of Interpretation
4. Practical Rules for Biblical Interpretation
5. Culture & the Bible
6. Practical Tools for Bible Study

R.C Sproul lays out the foundation in how the Bible should be studied so that we may avoid misinterpretations and misconceptions of certain texts that result in a distortion of sound doctrine, and instead, obtain a clearer understanding of the pure and life-changing Word of God.

The Holiness of God

R.C. Sproul - The Curse Motif of the Atonement

The Only Way

The Insanity of Luther