◄ Discord United, Harmony Effected ►

Mercy and truth meet. Righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Psalm 85:10

In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:19

Jesus – Whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins.
Romans 3:25

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God Who justifies.
Romans 8:33

Attributes of God

The moral qualities of God are absolute, and He makes them known. His attributes are expressed in His Word, and they make their demands. One attribute does not negate another – but each compliments the other. Each aspect reflects the Lord’s glory, like the surface of a multi-faced diamond.

Eternal Root

MERCY and TRUTH meet and are linked together in His eternal embrace. RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE are joined in God’s profound love and grace. MERCY is disposed to clemency and pardon. TRUTH is linked with justice and punishment. RIGHTEOUSNESS must maintain the blameless one, yet judge the sinful one. PEACE would rejoice in forgiveness and grace. All have their roots in the love, tenderness, and intimacy of the eternal One.

Paradox of God

As members of the human race, we are made in the image of God, through Adam. As blood-bought believers, we are redeemed by Him, through Christ Jesus. As His children, we are being conformed into the image of His beloved Son. But how often these attributes of the Lord appear to be in opposition. How frequently we regard them as opposite in nature and in expression. How many times do the complementary characteristics and moral qualities of God.. create an inward tension in the heart of the believer, by their demands!

Human Tensions

We long to forgive the offender, but we must maintain the rule of the house. We would like to bypass the fault, but to do so would countenance lawlessness and cause confusion. We desire that wrath and judgment be meted out to the wicked, yet we know the heart of God towards all His creation.

Lopsided Bias

Some hammer away at Truth alone, while others become submerged in Mercy. Some call down the fires of Judgment, while others bathe only in Peace. Some err on one side, whilst others sway to the opposite boundary. In both cases, the reaction is distorted and embraces a lopsided bias.

Human Tensions

Precious few can simultaneously maintain truth and show mercy. Limited numbers are able to examine self and identify their own prejudice.. yet most believe that their way is the best way. Most believe that theirs is the only way to behave. Most consider that they have the right balance in thought, word, and deed. Are you like that? Am I?

Godly Balance

However, there is no such tension in the contrasting attributes of the Godhead. There is no contradicting aspect in God’s own moral qualities, for each attribute is perfect and each quality is eternal. Contradictory demands are united together in the extremity of His understanding. The three-fold cord of the Holy Trinity is as unbreakable as it is eternal.

Redemptive Grace

The Redemptive Love of God in the Person of His Son has eternally united Judgment and Love – has bound together Mercy and Truth, forever – has enabled Righteousness and Peace to embrace in gracious union.

Incarnate God

All this has been accomplished because the Word of God became Flesh. All contradictions are void because God has become incarnate. All conflicts are calmed because the God-Man kissed the extremes, Uniting Mercy and Truth, Judgment and Love, Righteousness and Peace: for He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes, we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

Reconciling Work

He it was that undertook to represent both God and man. He it was that both declared the chastisement and bore its pain and shame. The height and depth of this great truth of Christ’s reconciling work, is beyond our foolish comprehension. The enormous wonder of the uniting of all His attributes for our eternal good is more than the human mind can fathom.

Wonders of Redemption

The wonders of the redemption and the glories of heir-ship with Christ plumb the depths of our grasp and scale the heights of our imaginations. Oh.. the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Romans 11:33