How About Something Interesting for a Change?

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Topic: Gods Eternal Mercy.

Citings of Gods Eternal Mercy, many, but in short form, repeatedly, in Psalm 136, where the refrain is multiple times throughout, "for his mercy endureth for ever"

Question for discussion is this. Will Gods Mercy be needed forever?

Mercy implies the need of same. I say, yes. The need for His Mercy will forever be needed. So, does this bed the ground of "need?" The need of recipients?

Perhaps some have never contemplated this matter. I consider Gods Mercy and this Divine Eternal Aspect of Him, nearly continually. A similar observation can be encountered with Eternal Grace, though there is a decided lack of linkage with the term enduring forever, specifically, with Grace. Not saying Grace isn't also an Eternal Characteristic, as many other Divine Characteristics, such as Eternal Judge.

So, Mercy enduring forever perhaps shows, likewise, a conjunctive subset of the eternal reception/receiver to deploy that Eternally Living Divine Characteristic unto.

Again, in short, will His Mercy have a need base that is not Him, for reception of same, eternally? And what might this imply? Endless creations? Endless multiple ages? Endless Mercy recipients? How many creations may have existed in eternity without end as we might look, endlessly retroactively, or may exist endlessly forwardly?

Food for Divine contemplation.

Psalm 77:
5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.

I have often considered this matter in coalitions with studies of evil and it's Divine Deployments, if they are not somehow in coalition with each others. Evil predicates the need for Mercy, for turning from it, for discovery of His Mercy.

There are may sub plots to the subject of Divine Mercy. For example, why might God HIDE His Mercy? Why might God NOT deploy His Mercy? What makes us NOT see or perceive His Mercy? Why might Mercy be delivered in part? Why might Mercy be delivered in partiality or favoritism? Why are some completely clueless of His Mercy? Why do some actively resist His Mercy?

You get the picture.

 

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These all mean the same exact thing:

The Mercy of God
The Joy of the Lord
The Grace of God
The Law of God
The Kingdom of God
The Rock of God
The Son of God
The Love of God
The Kingdom of Heaven
The Kingdom of the Holy Spirit
The Kingdom of Jesus Christ
The Kingdom of Christ
The Breath of Life
The Tree of Life
The Book of Life
The Kingdom of the Spirit
Heavenly Kingdom
The Breath of God
The Word of God
The word of the Lord
The voice of the Lord
The Gospel of God
The Light of Men

I've laid some kind of hard truthful scriptures about EVIL THOUGHTS from Jesus' Own Mouth to share in. These scriptures are exactly relevant to the topic matter. I think you'll find a very good end to the conversation, but sometimes you have to have a honest basis to find a good end.

 

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All the "good and evil" thoughts come from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil in which the thoughts called Satan are stored.

I don't disagree at ALL. See how easy that was!

Those who eat of the forbidden Tree of the knowledge of good and evil will perish according to the Law of God.

That "meal" was put inside all of us quite some time ago. The instant God Spoke His First Words to Adam. Look at what happened BEFORE Adam ate: Mark 4:15.

When we observe the 'external actions' of sin in flesh, we are looking way past the early stages. That sin begins, just as Jesus says it does, internally, via EVIL THOUGHTS.

And yes, these do come from our spiritual adversary. But, you see, to say we do not have them is, er, ah, kind of like HIDING don't you think?

I don't think Jesus is fooled by this by any believer. NOR do I believe any believer is speaking "truthfully" if they say they don't have evil thoughts. To me such are just pulling their own legs, not only before ME, but before God in Christ.

So, let me be the first to say, YES, I do have "evil thoughts." And what does this tell me? It tells me that Paul was also telling us the truth, that "evil is present" with us. Romans 7:21.

 

[handy]

I'm not sure that I agree with your basic premise here.... that the fact that God's mercy endures forever means that there will be forever an eternal reception of mercy. Seems to me the whole of Scripture indicates that, once we achieve glory, we will continue on within the state or being of mercy, rather than a continuous cycle of reception/receiver.

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding your premise.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I'm pretty much with handy on this one.

 

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I'm not sure that I agree with your basic premise here.... that the fact that God's mercy endures forever means that there will be forever an eternal reception of mercy. Seems to me the whole of Scripture indicates that, once we achieve glory, we will continue on within the state or being of mercy, rather than a continuous cycle of reception/receiver.

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding your premise.

Simple premise. We'll always be in need of Gods Mercy. Eternally so.

My question or observation is why? Mercy speaks of the need of same. Why would we need Gods Mercy? I'm saying we do. That's a given.

 

[handy]

If your premise is that we will always be in need of God's mercy, for all eternity, then I'd like to see some scriptures to back that up.
In eternity, the "first things have passed away." So, while we will be forever in a state of mercy, I don't see us in a need for mercy.

 

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If your premise is that we will always be in need of God's mercy, for all eternity, then I'd like to see some scriptures to back that up.
In eternity, the "first things have passed away." So, while we will be forever in a state of mercy, I don't see us in a need for mercy.

Saying otherwise would infer we don't need God.

 

[handy]

Saying otherwise would infer we don't need God.

I think I'd like to see some scripture that will back up your inferences here.

Keep in mind, my main thought is not on this side of the veil.. but in eternity. The heaven and earth that we now have will be gone, as will sin and death. So... while we will be in a state of mercy, we will have no "need". A "need" implies something lacking. Mercy, in eternity, will be fully realized.

 

[handy]

You're right... it is interesting to contemplate!

 

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I think I'd like to see some scripture that will back up your inferences here.

Keep in mind, my main thought is not on this side of the veil.. but in eternity. The heaven and earth that we now have will be gone, as will sin and death. So... while we will be in a state of mercy, we will have no "need". A "need" implies something lacking. Mercy, in eternity, will be fully realized.

Would you consider that on the other side of said veil we are going to BE God? I don't really see it that way myself. I see more of a 'children/Father' relationship.

So, would you see the need to be eternally merciful to your children, if you were an eternal parent? If so, why?

Sorry to set you up this way. heh heh. No offense intended. I'm just not thinking I'm gonna ever be big G, God.

 

[ezrider]

If your premise is that we will always be in need of God's mercy, for all eternity, then I'd like to see some scriptures to back that up.
In eternity, the "first things have passed away." So, while we will be forever in a state of mercy, I don't see us in a need for mercy.

Saying otherwise would infer we don't need God.

To me the idea of Mercy is contained under the law. Mercy being the act of a reduced sentence for a particular transgression. Those who bound themselves to the old covenant of obedience to the law find mercy in the blood of Christ, and continually bring their sins before the cross. But for those who believe in Jesus and his new covenant, they are no longer under the law, that they should seek mercy for their sins, for they have entered into his Grace.

God has already judged the world according to sin.

 

[handy]

Would you consider that on the other side of said veil we are going to BE God? I don't really see it that way myself.

lol... no, I wouldn't consider that at all. Glad you don't see it that way.. I'd begin to worry about you!

So, would you see the need to be eternally merciful to your children, if you were an eternal parent? If so, why?

Not necessarily. If my children were fully free of sin and have nothing unclean in them, then what need would there be of mercy?
and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. ~Revelation 21:27

I don't think we can underestimate the profound change that glorification will in us.

 

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lol... no, I wouldn't consider that at all. Glad you don't see it that way.. I'd begin to worry about you!

Not necessarily. If my children were fully free of sin and have nothing unclean in them, then what need would there be of mercy?

Could be because we're not going to ever be Big G God Perfect?

 

[handy]

To me the idea of Mercy is contained under the law. Mercy being the act of a reduced sentence for a particular transgression. Those who bound themselves to the old covenant of obedience to the law find mercy in the blood of Christ, and continually bring their sins before the cross. But for those who believe in Jesus and his new covenant, they are no longer under the law, that they should seek mercy for their sins, for they have entered into his Grace.

God has already judged the world according to sin.

I certainly agree with this.

And I also see... as I stated before, that in eternity, we will be in an eternal state of mercy as opposed to "needing" mercy. If we are in the New Heaven and Earth... residing in the New Jerusalem, then all sin will be forever wiped away due to God's mercy. To my understanding, this is what is meant by "His mercies are everlasting".

 

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To me the idea of Mercy is contained under the law. Mercy being the act of a reduced sentence for a particular transgression. Those who bound themselves to the old covenant of obedience to the law find mercy in the blood of Christ, and continually bring their sins before the cross. But for those who believe in Jesus and his new covenant, they are no longer under the law, that they should seek mercy for their sins, for they have entered into his Grace.

God has already judged the world according to sin.

Whoa! Stop the presses! No need for Gods Mercy for believers?

You just sunk my battleship! No, that's simply not true. Believers DO need, and always WILL need, GODS MERCY IN CHRIST.

We are even termed "vessels of mercy" by Paul in Romans 9:

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Jude 1:21
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

 

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I certainly agree with this.

And I also see... as I stated before, that in eternity, we will be in an eternal state of mercy as opposed to "needing" mercy. If we are in the New Heaven and Earth... residing in the New Jerusalem, then all sin will be forever wiped away due to God's mercy. To my understanding, this is what is meant by "His mercies are everlasting".

Mercy implies need of same. Just saying. I'd propose without Gods Mercy we wouldn't even exist. Without Eternal Mercy God can only tolerate Himself and His Own Perfect P Perfection.

 

[ezrider]

Isaiah 54:5-10
For thy Maker is thine husband;
the Lord of hosts is his name;
and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit,
and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
For a small moment have I forsaken thee;
but with great mercies will I gather thee.
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment;
but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee,
saith the Lord thy Redeemer.
For this is as the waters of Noah unto me:
for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth;
so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
For the mountains shall depart,
and the hills be removed;
but my kindness shall not depart from thee,
neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed,
saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

 

[handy]

Could be because we're not going to ever be Big G God Perfect?

We're not ever going to be Big G God... but Jesus commanded that we be perfect. (Matt 5:48)
As a matter of fact, that is the full purpose of our Gospel to the world and our ministry to each other, that we be perfect in Christ. Colossians 1:25-28

The word here for perfect is teleios, which means complete, finished...needing nothing more. To take us from the state which we were all in... to the state that those of us in Christ are now...and bring us to that completion.

 

[handy]

Mercy implies need of same. Just saying. I'd propose without Gods Mercy we wouldn't even exist. Without Eternal Mercy God can only tolerate Himself and His Own Perfect P Perfection.

I do see what you're saying... I truly do. I just think that you are underestimating the completed work that we will be once we enter into eternity.

Let me ask you this: Was God needing mercy to tolerate Adam prior to Adam's sin? Or did He walk and talk with Adam on a daily basis in full fellowship?