No “heresy” of our day is more widespread or pernicious than the denial of hell, its existence, and its sad frequency. I use quotes around the word only because I, as a simple priest, do not have the power to declare formal heresy. However, “heresy” in a broader, more descriptive sense simply means picking and choosing among revealed truth. Confronted with truths that are in some tension (such as God’s justice vs. His mercy or human freedom vs. God’s sovereignty) the “heretic” chooses one and throws out the other in order to resolve the tension. Orthodoxy says “both” but “heresy” picks one and discards the other.
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The essence of fear is 1) your life is on the balance, and 2) you are not in control of the situation. In the presence of God you can only claim mercy in the name of Jesus. YOU BRING NOTHING TO THE TABLE.
ONLY when one begins to understand Holy and Just can one understand mercy and love.
God must be just, he does not have to be merciful.
I also like the warning against presumption in the article.
God must be just, he does not have to be merciful.
Didn’t the Lord tell Moses that He is merciful?