Condemnation before Mercy

“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” (Ro 11:32 AV)

Well, herein is another conundrum for the Calvinist.  If he is speaking only of the elect being concluded in unbelief that He might have mercy upon them, does that mean the non-elect are in belief yet condemned anyway?  Or, if unbelief is the condition upon which God shows mercy, then does that mean the universalist is right?  That all are shown mercy because all are in unbelief?  But this is not what we want to consider this day.  This if for another time.  An observation here is in order.  For the mercy of the LORD to be realized, there must be a conclusion for it.  In other words, for a sinner to experience the mercy of God in the sacrifice of Christ, he must first realize that he is concluded in unbelief.  He is condemned and in need of mercy before he can recognize what mercy is and how much he needs it.  This also has an application for the saint as well.

We may not like rebuke at the time of receiving it.  However, we are grateful if it results in correction from error.  If we are not rebuked just prior to the mercy, we will continue in the behavior that is making mercy necessary.  Let me explain.  A patient sees a doctor for an awful symptom.  This symptom is a result of a lifestyle choice.  There is an easy cure.  A simple treatment.  The doctor administers the treatment without telling the patient of the cause.  The treatment is painful and has to be repeated as often as the patient continues in the same pattern of choices.  As long as the patient continues without the knowledge of the cause of his problem, he will never fully appreciate the treatment and what it cost the doctor.  Not until the doctor tells the patient that it is his choices that cause the problem will he understand the depth of the treatment which he is receiving.

This is why the LORD must correct us when we are wrong.  This is why the preacher must rebuke.  This is why the word of God is far more about correction than it is about encouragement.  This is why the failures of mankind are recorded in the word of God prior to the mercy of God bringing the fix.  We may not like to be corrected.  We may not like the assessment or peer review.  However, if we do not endure evaluation, we can never experience the mercy that comes afterwards.