There are many places where you will hear about ‘God’, or at least one side of the entity that people believe represents Him…
At funerals, weddings, in movies, in some churches – you will hear all about God’s incredible love and His undeserved mercy – His immense forgiveness. At times, you may have been left wondering ‘how could God forgive *that* person??’. You may know that the person being talked about was in no way a believer let alone a follower, but still the message is that this person is now in Heaven.
Unfortunately, this is often simply not true and is presenting something very false about ‘God’… In fact, this ‘god’ has been made up – it is a non-existent ‘god’ – a figment of people’s imagination and desires. Sure, they may use religious words or even particular scriptures to support their view, but regardless, it is false – beware!
At the other extreme – others focus on the total opposite… At least one large religion focusses on the other side of God: His apparent determination to torture everyone, with a long list of to-do’s to try to avoid such a fate. Many of these to-do’s will be about spreading the version of religion they are blinded by or trapped in, a never-ending list with consequences for failing to keep up.
Unfortunately, both these extremes leave us with a totally false notion of God, who He is or what He expects….
To get a grasp on truth, as always, let’s look what the Bible states…it’s the one thing that has not and does not change according to the culture, pressure or times. And lets’ look at both ‘sides’ of what it states…
If a person does not repent,
God will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
13 He will prepare his deadly weapons
and shoot his flaming arrows.
Psalms 7:12-13 (NLT)
This verse doesn’t paint the nicest picture! It is very clear: God is coming after the sinner who refuses to repent. The Creator, with unlimited power, will sharpen His sword, string His bow and shoot His flaming arrows! God is ANGRY at sin!
All through the Old Testament, the anger of God against sin is known and stated. But *surely* in the New Testament it is different?
Well, actually no! God doesn’t change, nor does His attitude towards sin. Consider this verse:
But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. Romans 1:18 (NLT)
So, what God does or thinks towards sinners is clear, but what about ‘normal’ people?
Everyone knows John 3:16, (how God loves the world so much that He gave His one and only Son…), but just 20 verses later we read:
“Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” John 3:36
God’s angry judgment could be read: ‘the wrath of God.’ That’s right – the wrath of God rests on every person who does not obey the Son (Jesus)!!
Not quite the happy clappy, ‘God loves everyone’ message at many ‘churches’ and funerals! In fact, all through the New Testament, this message of God’s anger towards sin is re-iterated over and over.
It’s a serious issue – sin. We live in a world where the target of the police changes day to day from speeding to seatbelts to not having the right needle in the arm, but for God sin has remained the same. Lying, stealing, hatred, lust / adultery, envy, not putting God first etc.
God wants you to repent:
“Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign LORD. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! 31 Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? 32 I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live! Ezekiel 18:30-32 (NLT)
Not because He wants to spoil your fun – but so that your life lines up with His intended purpose…
BUT PLEASE BE CLEAR. This is where many religions, groups and cults pervert the truth of the situation…They will tell you that you have to do x, y, z and then a, b, c. They re-frame the truth to serve their own purpose: trying to trap people into being their own religious zealots, trying to earn their salvation by serving their religion.
But Jesus made it clear: you can not do *anything* to earn your own forgiveness! 
Effectively, you are doomed! But, instead of leaving you in that hopeless state, He willingly agreed to pay the price for your sin. That’s right – the only Son of God, the perfect and sinless lamb of God, gave up His place in Heaven – came to the earth He created and lived a perfect, sin-free life – avoiding all temptation.
Then He was rejected, tortured and killed – His blood paying for the sins you and I committed!
This ever-so-powerful sacrifice, made it possible for God, (the One who is incredibly angry at sin), to say things like:
- I love you 1Colossians 3:12-13 (NLT) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
- I love to forgive you 2Micah 6:6-8 (NLT) What can we bring to the LORD?
Should we bring him burnt offerings?
Should we bow before God Most High
with offerings of yearling calves?
7 Should we offer him thousands of rams
and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
to pay for our sins?
8 No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God. - I will remove your sin as far as the east is from the west. 3Psalms 103:11-14 (NLT) For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
13 The LORD is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust. - I will cleanse you and make you holy. 41 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NLT) God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.” 51 Corinthians 6:11 (NLT) Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
- I want you to be my wife! 6Isaiah 61:10 (NLT) For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation
and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding
or a bride with her jewels. - I want to adopt you 7Galatians 4:5-7 (NLT) God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
- I will not allow anyone to even accuse you! 8Romans 8:33-34 (NLT) Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
- I want you to live with me forever. 9Psalms 23:5-6 (NLT) You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the LORD
forever. 10John 14:2-3 (NLT) There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 111 Thessalonians 4:17 (NLT) Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
To summarise:
- God created everything, gave life to all.
- God chose what sin it, it is clearly defined and recognised by His law.
- God hates sin, we are born in it, love it, choose it, revel in it and are condemned by it.
- God should let His anger burn against us in full. We all deserve hell.
- God loved us so much, He sent his Son to pay for all our sin.
- Jesus agreed, Jesus fulfilled His mission, sin free, He was tortured and died on a cross, becoming the payment for all who would trust.
- Jesus rose again, returned to Heaven where He rules the universe for Eternity.
- God gives some people the chance to believe and repent: to understand and trust that Jesus has paid for their sin, so they turn to Him and away from the sin that He hates.
- A new relationship with God is opened for this person and God starts a life-long relationship and process of change within the persons heart. The person becomes an adopted son of God – a brother / sister of Jesus!
- The desire to please God, worship Him, serve Him and share about Him continually grows within the heart of the person.
- Despite hardship and sacrifice, the person has hope, joy and peace and their love for others (especially other Christians) increases seasonally.
- When the physical life of said person ends, they are accepted into God’s very house – Heaven – forever.
#trustJesus
Lord, have Your way in us, open our eyes to what grieves you – sin – and convict us so we truly hate what you hate. Help us to experience Your love and grace and may we respond with love – love towards You and for others.
Footnotes:
- 1Colossians 3:12-13 (NLT) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
- 2Micah 6:6-8 (NLT) What can we bring to the LORD?
Should we bring him burnt offerings?
Should we bow before God Most High
with offerings of yearling calves?
7 Should we offer him thousands of rams
and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
to pay for our sins?
8 No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God. - 3Psalms 103:11-14 (NLT) For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
13 The LORD is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust. - 41 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NLT) God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.”
- 51 Corinthians 6:11 (NLT) Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
- 6Isaiah 61:10 (NLT) For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation
and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding
or a bride with her jewels. - 7Galatians 4:5-7 (NLT) God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
- 8Romans 8:33-34 (NLT) Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
- 9Psalms 23:5-6 (NLT) You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the LORD
forever. - 10John 14:2-3 (NLT) There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
- 111 Thessalonians 4:17 (NLT) Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.