This is an excellent video. I thought that I'd share it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrLzYw6ULYw
At 2:36, a girl who is "not good enough", after seeing someone else that doesn't have to be put on the good-o-meter (Jesus takes his place on it, who is, of course "good enough") and gets to go to heaven, and whose "file" isn't even opened before it's thrown into a heap, says "Hey, wait a minute. That is totally not fair." (Then one of the angels snarks to the other one, "that's why it's called grace." Nyuk nyuk, nyuk.)
So is she right? Is it totally not fair how things are set up? Nobody can be good enough? And the lucky ones who hear the Gospel (the correct version of it) and believe it and obey it well enough get to have Jesus weighed instead of them and get a reward for it, even though they don't deserve it?
Is grace unfair?
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
At 2:36, a girl who is "not good enough", after seeing someone else that doesn't have to be put on the good-o-meter (Jesus takes his place on it, who is, of course "good enough") and gets to go to heaven, and whose "file" isn't even opened before it's thrown into a heap, says "Hey, wait a minute. That is totally not fair." (Then one of the angels snarks to the other one, "that's why it's called grace." Nyuk nyuk, nyuk.)
So is she right? Is it totally not fair how things are set up? Nobody can be good enough? And the lucky ones who hear the Gospel (the correct version of it) and believe it and obey it well enough get to have Jesus weighed instead of them and get a reward for it, even though they don't deserve it?
Is grace unfair?
Yes, grace is unfair. If grace were "fair"... it wouldn't be "grace".
You see, I believe that God knows all things and is absolutely sovereign regarding His creation. God knew that all of mankind would sin and become unworthy of eternal life. However, God didn't want His creation, man, to be lost forever. Therefore, God designed a plan whereby a remnant of man would be saved. This remnant was chosen by God in eternity to be saved. These are the elect children of God. While God's actions may not prove to be "fair", they are just in that the plan is in accordance to God's sovereign will. God's ultimate goal... to receive glory, honor, and power as God. If not for this divine intervention (divine election) EVERY soul would be lost forever. While God demonstrates and reveals His holiness, justice, and judgment against sin in the wicked, God also demonstrates and reveals His grace, mercy, and forgiveness in the elect. As a result... God's holiness and authority is affirmed... while His grace and mercy is demonstrated. While we may not like the plan... the plan is the sovereign will of God, our creator, regarding His creation.
So no, grace isn't fair. As a believer, that haunts me and brings me to my knees... knowing that I too deserve condemnation.
While we're waiting for Aquila to answer my questions, maybe you could take a stab.
How are they "very different things"?
And in what way is God not fair?
Let's say that you have three children. One turns twelve and you purchase a bicycle for them. The second one turns twelve, and you purchase a bicycle for them also. However, your third child turns twelve and you decide to buy them a video game. Why? You know your third child is irresponsible and has a habit of playing in the streets. You don't want them to be harmed. So, until you feel they are responsible enough, you refrain from buying them a bicycle. Now, the first thing out of the mouth of the third child will be, "But dad... that's not FAIR." No, it isn't. However, it is "just". Why? Because your actions are for the greater good.
So, no. Being "fair" and being "just" are two vastly different things.
While we're waiting for Aquila to answer my questions, maybe you could take a stab.
How are they "very different things"?
And in what way is God not fair?
To put it very very simply:
To be just is to do what is right in other words God always does what is right even though we may not understand the how what or the why we can trust that God always doe what is right.
To be fair would be to give everyone the samething. If God heals one person He would then be under oblagation to healeveryone when really it may not be best in the big picture to heal everyone. There have been people down through history that have been used by God and have been able to have a profound affect upon multitudes because of their infirmity. Another example would be if God answered one prayer with a yes then He would then be under oblagation of fairness to answer everyone's prayer with a yes. I for one am very glad that he does not always answer all of our prayers with a yes.
Because God knows best He is just instead of fair.
Yes, grace is unfair. If grace were "fair"... it wouldn't be "grace".
You see, I believe that God knows all things and is absolutely sovereign regarding His creation. God knew that all of mankind would sin and become unworthy of eternal life. However, God didn't want His creation, man, to be lost forever. Therefore, God designed a plan whereby a remnant of man would be saved. This remnant was chosen by God in eternity to be saved. These are the elect children of God. While God's actions may not prove to be "fair", they are just in that the plan is in accordance to God's sovereign will. God's ultimate goal... to receive glory, honor, and power as God. If not for this divine intervention (divine election) EVERY soul would be lost forever. While God demonstrates and reveals His holiness, justice, and judgment against sin in the wicked, God also demonstrates and reveals His grace, mercy, and forgiveness in the elect. As a result... God's holiness and authority is affirmed... while His grace and mercy is demonstrated. While we may not like the plan... the plan is the sovereign will of God, our creator, regarding His creation.
So no, grace isn't fair. As a believer, that haunts me and brings me to my knees... knowing that I too deserve condemnation.
You know what the girl meant, I think. It was unfair to punish her for being "not good enough" (which we all are -- the tiniest imperfection is enough to burn for) and reward this other fellow, who could have been a child-rapist for all we know. Maybe she never heard of Jesus. Maybe she heard of him but didn't believe what some of her follow humans claimed about him.
Is grace unfair to those who will not experience it?
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
To be just is to do what is right in other words God always does what is right even though we may not understand the how what or the why we can trust that God always doe what is right.
To be fair would be to give everyone the samething. If God heals one person He would then be under oblagation to healeveryone when really it may not be best in the big picture to heal everyone. There have been people down through history that have been used by God and have been able to have a profound affect upon multitudes because of their infirmity. Another example would be if God answered one prayer with a yes then He would then be under oblagation of fairness to answer everyone's prayer with a yes. I for one am very glad that he does not always answer all of our prayers with a yes.
Because God knows best He is just instead of fair.
I think being "just" also makes you "fair" in your dealings.
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