The Issue of Accountability. Part [14] 08/20/2024 (Morning thought)

Exodus 34:6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty…

Why then are those two statements of pardon, and non-pardon juxtaposed to each other? They are put together in the same passage so that persons would harbor a balanced and realistic perspective of God’s grace. In fact, God finds it necessary to be careful in how He offers grace, lest the human agent becomes too presumptuous, and may begin to take unwarranted liberties.

A Christian parent understands that grace, mercy, and much pardons would have to be exercised as the children are growing, but the same parent has to be very careful in telling the children that they will be pardoned. Think about it in reality! The parent knows that he will pardon the son or daughter numerous times, so how does the parent convey those offers of mercy to the child, without the kid getting the wrong idea?

Should the parent only say to the child, I will forgive you numerous times for repeated offenses, over and over again, even to seventy times seven, or should the parent add in a caveat to bring about a balance to the equation? If parents only offer mercy with no caveat, it is most likely that children will abuse the grace, and mercies offered, especially if they were told by the parents that they have 490 offers of pardon.

Ecclesiastes 8: 11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

The Issue of Accountability. Part [13] 08/20/2024 (Evening thought)

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

The reason for this is that the guilt of such persons will be a recurring theme, where they are forgiven now, and immediately after are again found guilty, by their own choices. A convicted felon was jailed in a certain state, for a number of crimes committed, and repeated over an extended period of time, but was later released and pardoned. On his way home from incarceration, he committed the very same crimes he was convicted of.

And thus, the grace and mercy shown by the judge in question to the inmate turned out to be a waste of time, for his guilt was immediately, and deliberately incurred. When Peter asked the question: “How often should I forgive my brother?” and Jesus says seventy times seven, it does not mean that forgiveness has to be always open-ended for there can come a time when it will be foolish to forgive.

Kindness is never foolish, and thus, if a person or a nation chooses to continue in sin, after numerous offers of pardon, and mercy have been given, and rejected, then there is nothing either God, or man could do in such cases, for through their deliberate choices, the decision to do wrong becomes sealed in the mind permanently.

Luke 17: 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!