The Other-Worldly Nature of Mercy

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“13He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” — Colossians 1:13–14

Dear believer,

You probably know that the ways of God’s kingdom are counter to natural, human, fleshly ways. For example, Scripture tells us that the way to life is death. The path to maturity is childlikeness. True greatness is found not in being on top but in serving from below. The qualification for heaven is not a resume of personal goodness but moral honesty about our lack of personal goodness and need for mercy.

We could go on and on.

However, we’d be remiss to overlook the most striking counter-worldly way the kingdom of God is demonstrated.

When someone is convicted of a capital offense. Having been caught red-handed on video with multiple witnesses, we expect the culprit to pay.

So, the desire for the enforcement of justice is natural, and I think, necessary. After all, when such an offender is let off without any penalty, we cry foul at the lack of justice, which is injustice.

And yet, at the very core of the Christian message is that God declares many deserving of death, traitors to the kingdom, righteous. Not only cleared of all charges but…