Let's hope you never find yourself in need of forgiveness and mercy as it is abundantly clear you are unwilling to offer it
Says who? You?
When did you become so familiar with my personality that you could make such statements?
Aren't you being judgemental right now? Hypocrite!
and, being without sin,
I don't ever remember claiming to be without sin...
@Right Divider, did I ever claim to be without sin, to make @fzappa13 say something like this?
are not in need of it in your own estimation if your offering is any indication.
I find what Jesus said to be relevant here:
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
Bible Gateway passage: Luke 17:3-4 - New King James Version
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
www.biblegateway.com
Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord. Are you the Lord?
Nope.
But the government was appointed by the Lord, and is a minister to execute wrath upon the wicked, and does not bear the SWORD in vain.
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
Bible Gateway passage: Romans 13:1, Romans 13:2, Romans 13:3, Romans 13:4, Romans 13:5 - New King James Version
Submit to Government - Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
www.biblegateway.com
To me the whole question is something of a quandary. On the one hand we are called to seek righteousness and on the other we are called to be merciful by the same Word. How do we reconcile these two directives? Indeed, much of the contention between those that believe the Bible revolves around what appears to be contradictions in said Word. I would suggest that these apparent contradictions are just that ... they appear to be contradictions as a result of our limited ability to understand them and in this crucible we eventually learn what it is we incarnated in order to learn.
:think: Hmmmmm....
"they appear to be contradictions as a result of our limited ability to understand them"
"To me the whole question is something of a quandary. On the one hand we are called to seek righteousness and on the other we are called to be merciful by the same Word. How do we reconcile these two directives?"
:think:
I wonder if, just maybe, the reason you see it as a quandary is due to your limited ability to understand the Bible... And I don't mean that you are incapable, but rather that you have limited yourself from being able to understand it by training your mind to accept apparent contradictions, instead of searching them out and trying to understand them.
Let me see if I can give you a hint...
Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, for example, was directed at Israel, and was personal instruction in nature, and it has absolutely nothing to do with anyone today, other than what we can glean from it in a secondary manner. It was meant for Israel... For the coming Millennial Kingdom... NOT for the Body of Christ in modern times.
On the other hand: We (RD and myself) are talking about how GOVERNMENTS should behave, and the scripture we use is not meant to be taken personally as instruction for individuals, but rather is advice on how a godly government should act.
If you keep that in mind (as a general rule, that is), the apparent contradiction goes away, and you are left with a better understanding of Scripture.
Why?
Because that is rightly dividing the word of Truth.