Series: Grace Beyond Ability – The Justice and Mercy of God Toward the Helpless and the Ignorant
1. Introduction
The question of how God deals with those unable to comprehend or respond—such as unborn children, infants, or people with severe cognitive limitations—inevitably draws attention to His nature. To understand divine justice and mercy, we must begin not with human emotion but with God’s own revealed character. The biblical portrait of God is not arbitrary or inconsistent: He is both the righteous Judge and the merciful Redeemer. Justice without mercy would destroy; mercy without justice would corrupt. In God, the two exist in perfect equilibrium.
2. The Nature of Divine Justice
Abraham’s intercession for Sodom expresses one of Scripture’s most profound affirmations of divine fairness:
“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25).
Here Abraham assumes, not questions, the moral reliability of God. Divine justice, in biblical understanding, is not a detached legalism but the expression of God’s own righteous nature (Psalm 89:14). God judges according to truth and proportion: He weighs intent, knowledge, and capacity. His judgment is described as “according to light received”—those who know more are accountable for more (Luke 12:47–48).
In this sense, divine justice is relational rather than merely retributive. It arises from covenant faithfulness (hesed) and holiness (qadosh). God’s justice maintains moral order while preserving the possibility of reconciliation.
3. The Nature of Divine Mercy
Mercy is the divine counterpart to justice, not its contradiction. Throughout Scripture, mercy (eleos in Greek; hesed or rahamim in Hebrew) flows from God’s compassion toward the weak and undeserving. The psalmist proclaims:
“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” (Psalm 145:8–9)
Mercy, therefore, is intrinsic to who God is, not merely a reaction to human failure. When justice demands judgment, mercy provides the path of restoration. The Cross itself embodies this union: God remains just by judging sin, yet merciful by bearing that judgment in Himself (Romans 3:25–26).
4. Knowledge and Accountability
A central biblical principle is that culpability corresponds to understanding. Jesus taught that servants who knew their master’s will but disobeyed would receive a harsher outcome than those who did not know (Luke 12:47–48). Paul echoed the same moral logic: “Where there is no law, sin is not imputed” (Romans 5:13). This does not deny universal sinfulness, but it affirms proportional justice.
Consequently, individuals who lack moral comprehension—such as infants or the severely mentally disabled—cannot be judged as deliberate rebels. Divine justice takes account of their incapacity. Where understanding is absent, punishment would contradict God’s own righteousness.
5. The Harmony of Justice and Mercy
Biblically, justice and mercy are never in competition; they are two expressions of one holy will. Psalm 85:10 declares: “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” In God’s government, every act of mercy is consistent with truth, and every act of judgment is tempered by compassion.
The prophetic vision of Micah captures this balanced calling:
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
Humans reflect divine likeness when justice and mercy co-operate rather than compete.
6. Practical Implications
- No Injustice with God:
Even when circumstances seem cruel—such as the death of an unborn child—God’s judgment will ultimately prove righteous (Deuteronomy 32:4). - Grace Extends to the Helpless:
Divine mercy ensures that those who cannot comprehend or choose are not excluded from His compassion (Psalm 103:13–14). - Responsibility Proportional to Revelation:
The more clearly a person knows truth, the more serious it is to ignore it (John 9:41). - Christ as the Fulfilment of Both:
At Calvary, justice and mercy converge perfectly: sin judged, sinners offered grace (Romans 5:8–9).
7. Conclusion
God’s justice and mercy are not rival attributes but harmonised dimensions of His holiness. He judges rightly because He knows perfectly; He shows mercy because He loves perfectly. For those who cannot act in faith or understanding, His justice ensures they are not condemned unjustly, and His mercy ensures they are not forgotten.
This foundational truth prepares us for the next part of the series, which considers how that harmony of justice and mercy operates toward those who die before moral awareness—infants, the unborn, and the incapable.
Key References
- Calvin, J. (1559/1960) Institutes of the Christian Religion, trans. H. Beveridge. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
- Piper, J. (2006) Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ. Wheaton: Crossway.
- Sproul, R. C. (1996) The Holiness of God. Wheaton: Tyndale.
- Wright, N. T. (2007) Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. London: SPCK.
- Holy Bible, New International Version (2011). London: Hodder & Stoughton.