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Since there is a connection between my actions and God's mercy extended toward me, does this mean that I deserve (earn) God's mercy? This question can be stated another way that more formally captures a point of theological difference; here is the other way this question can be posed: If my receipt of God's spiritual blessings depends upon works (my actions), doesn't that make salvation “works based”? Our focus will be on this point today.

Let's check what we know. We know that God extends special mercies (spiritual blessings) to those who love Him (see yesterday's article). We further more know that mercy, by definition, cannot be earned or deserved; that's what makes it mercy. It would seem to me that this should end the debate of earning or deserving mercy. However, I think the issue is one of understanding and not of facts. How can we work (act) in order to receive something and it not be “works based”? A few illustrations may be of help.

Legalized gambling in the form of lotteries are quite the rage of late. However, someone who hits the jackpot is never seen as having earned the money that might be paid out. Yet, he/she had to do something to obtain the prize. It is a well know fact that unless you possess and present the winning ticket, you cannot win. That is why I am positive that I will never win the lottery; I simply do not do what is required of me to possess a ticket! Lottery winners are not seen as having earned or deserved their winnings merely because they: (1) Purchase a ticket, (2) Retain the ticket in a safe manner, (3) Determine that they have a winning ticket by comparing the published numbers with their tickets, and (4) Present the winning ticket for payment of the winnings. The lottery is not a “works based” system even though works are required in order to win. I in no way think that God's mercy is like the lottery; I simply use this illustration to distinguish between what makes something works based and that which is not works based.

Another distinction can be made. Within a given culture, certain tasks have a value assigned to them; we refer to this as market price. It is what one would expect to pay for an item or service if it were bought on the open market. While this value might vary significantly, it can usually be established within reasonable limits. Now here's the parallel. In the real world, just what is the value of one of God's special mercies – say forgiveness for instance? What is its fair market value? How much would one have to work to earn it and say at the end of the day, “It is mine because I deserve it”? I would suggest that there can be no fair market value for salvation in as much as it cannot be bought or sold! For anyone to claim to have earned salvation (God's mercy) is to claim that which makes no sense. This is why there are no records of anyone in the Bible crying out for mercy and at the same time, claiming to deserve it. Mercy, by definition, cannot be earned or deserved. It is the quality of extending to others out of one's own kind heart, that which is not deserved or earned!

If God promised to grant me eternal life if I dig ditches 24-7 for the rest of my life and I comply with His stipulations, I still could not claim to have earned salvation! Why not? Because it is something that cannot be bought or sold in our culture. It's value is literally out of this world. That is why Jesus asked, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8.36-37). It is the quintessential case of comparing apples to oranges! There simply can be no monetary or physical value placed upon even one of God's special mercies – end of story! (continued)

Questions:

1. What would constitute works based salvation? Why can't mercy be a part of such a system?

2. What monetary value can be placed on forgiveness? Why would it be difficult or impossible to determine such a value?

3. If a man gains the whole world (just as Jesus said), where and to whom would he turn to barter it for his soul? How does this show the folly of believing in a works based salvation?

4. If God's mercy can be obtained by working for it, what was the purpose of Jesus' death upon the cross? How would such a system invalidate God's own plan for humanity?

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

The Second Sin