I just pictured a scenario which made me consider the function of mercy in the absence of sin, and in the presence of good deeds. Jesus has the power to forgive sins on earth (specifically he said the Son of Man, perhaps speaking of more than one here, as with "The Lord of the Sabbath", etc) Matthew 9:6 "'But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.' So he said to the paralyzed man, 'Get up, take your mat and go home.'" Mercy is the willing adjustment of the result of a judgement to the benefit of the one judged. Perhaps the mechanism God spoke of in the Old Testament, that included a benefit or blessing if his people did not sin, in addition to layers of curses if they did sin, were meant to demonstrate this mercy is valid, as a function of adjustment, even in the absence of sin. Deuteronomy 28:1-2 "If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your...
¤self referential gaze reference
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