Grace And Judgment
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I was compelled to be very harsh on one of my sons recently; and for the next few days he avoided me. It was as if he thought I hated him. I hated what he did, but not him! Humans have always had problems distinguishing between hatred for the action; and hatred for the actor; between hatred for the sinner; and hatred for the sin!
Marcion of Sinope, a man who lived around 85 AD and 160 AD, had the same problem too. He said many of the teachings of Jesus were incompatible with the actions of Yahweh, the judgmental God of the Hebrew Bible, after studying the Hebrew Scriptures, along with received writings circulating in the early Church. This led Marcion to develop a ditheistic (two-god) system of belief around the year 144 AD.
I have heard such arguments recently; someone asking how such a bloodletting God in the Old Testament can be the God full of love and grace in the New Testament. But Jesus also talked about judgment (Matthew 10:14-15).
God, being holy, hates sin; but being love, loves the sinner. He has not changed!
READ Hebrews 1:1-4
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
(Hebrews 1:1-4 NKJV)
God created man for close communion with Himself; and is the reason He created man in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). But this relationship was marred when the serpent caused Adam and Eve to disobey God (Genesis 3). God has since been on a mission to redeem mankind, using all kinds of ways to demonstrate the ultimate fate of man if he does not repent. This culminated in the destruction by the flood, in Genesis 7!
When that failed to get sin out, He gave judges, prophets and kings; and finally sent His son Jesus! Everything God did was to bring man back to Himself as outlined in the text we just read.
His call is still open, even today. His grace is available to all; and always precedes His judgment!
His holiness cannot stand sin; but His love beckons the sinner.
He sits in judgment to those who harden their hearts; and exudes grace to those who receive Him.
MEMORY VERSE
“The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of Judgment.” (2 Peter 2:9)
QUESTIONS
1. Have you been confused about God’s love, and His judgment?
2. Do you know that God gives a lot of grace; but when grace expires, judgment comes?
PRAYER TIP
Father of all grace; may we not take Your grace for granted and end up tasting your judgment.
Written by:
BENNY MALM
For:
TESTIMONY DEVOTIONAL
URGENT CALL
By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!
But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for guidance if you want to make that decision.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.
God richly bless you
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
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Solace Ninyeh
Thank you Jesus for being our kinsman redeemer!!!