John 3:16 -For God so loved the world
Many people today look at the Lord’s promised punishment for sin and think that a loving God could not possibly do such a thing. And since we know that God is loving, He couldn’t do such a thing. Let us examine the nature of God’s love and of His justice.
I John 4:7-19 -God is love
Yet, does not the Lord also love His Son?
Mark 1:9-11 -God’s beloved Son
II Peter 1:16-18 -God loves His Son
If, for those of you with children, someone repeatedly abuses your child, what is the course of love? Are you more loving if you ignore the abuse out of “love” for the abuser? Or are you more loving if you take action against it? How often have we seen on the news someone who knowingly allows their child to be continually mistreated in horrific ways? And how often have you heard someone say that it was because the person was “just so loving?”
Hebrews 6:4-6 -When we sin, we crucify Christ again
It is easy, in this self-centered world, to forget about others. God does not. He remembers His only begotten son. Would we then say that God must give us rewards, even though we have abused His Son in such a way, while ignoring the love He has for His Son? Do we presume to declare that we deserve such?
God’s love, even though we are undeserving
Romans 3:23 -All have sinned and fallen short
Romans 5:6-11 -While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
Titus 2:11-15 -Salvation through grace
-Notice that grace teaches and requires godly living!
God’s love is seen in that even though we do not deserve it, we are given grace: the opportunity to have eternal life. Salvation is not a “right” we have as human beings. It is something undeserved that has been offered to us.
God is a just God, which is love for those who follow Him
Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 -Wickedness instead of justice
Ecclesiastes 5:8 -Oppression of the poor and a perversion of justice
What do we have to say about betrayals of justice? Who is happy when a guilty person receives no consequences for their crimes?
Psalm 89:14 -Justice is a foundation of His throne
Isaiah 45:20-25 -The Lord is just
II Thessalonians 1:3-10 -Vengeance in recompense
His justice will be based on what we do
Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 -Do as you like, God will judge what you do
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 -God will bring every work into judgment
Colossians 3:23-25 -Repayment for the righteous and unrighteous
In His loving justice, there is much deserved punishment
Romans 3:8 -Their condemnation is just
Revelation 20:11-15 -Evildoers will be cast into the lake of fire
In His merciful justice, there is undeserved reward
Jude 1:21 -Keep yourself in His love, looking forward to eternal life
Revelation 21:1-7 -A new heaven and a new earth
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