GOD'S CHARACTER - Justice with a side note of vengeance

A mere human, I will fall short on presenting God’s character so … please be sure to check out the “verses” tab and read His words.

Some ideas when we think of justice?

         Fairness – Equity – Impartiality – Objectivity

         Honesty – Righteousness – Morality

And vengeance defined as:

Punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong that is done.

But God’s character of justice is a million times bigger and more perfect than ours will ever be and unlike us … He actually pulls it off … always.

God’s justice is nourished by wisdom as He stands outside the confines of time. He knows what has been and what is to be …  God holds our hearts and motives in His hand and examines them with care.

God doesn’t just talk about justice … He acts in justice … sending His own Son into the world … bringing us a justice wrapped in mercy and love.

Perfectly able to incorporate “an eye for an eye” with “turning the other cheek” …

We can wind up mired in sin when we take revenge into our own hands … but God knows how and when to bring justice with vengeance – He does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.

God will not turn His back on true repentance … but will bring a justice of forgiveness to those who seek Him.

A patient, perfect justice

     That cloaks a world of sin

Our God of mercy watches

      To see who will come in

To a kingdom with an entrance

         Narrow - but open to all

Designed before the world

         To answer a sinner’s call.

A patient, perfect justice

         That can’t be found on earth

Except as He walks among us

         And we receive new birth.

GOD'S CHARACTER - FORGIVING AND MERCIFUL by Lauren Lindsey

With the passing of Easter,

now is a great time to talk about God’s forgiveness.

It is first important to know the definition of forgiveness:

A term used to indicate pardon for a fault or offense;

an excuse from payment for a debt owed.

In the Bible, some synonyms for this are Nasa’, salach, or aphiemi.

1 John 1:19 and Mark 1:4 are both verses which state

that we are to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness.

But how do we know we will be forgiven?

Why should we be forgiven?

This is where the Crucifixion and Resurrection become important.

If you are unfamiliar with the story, check out Luke 23 & 24

Romans 5:8 explains it pretty clearly.

When Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit,

It cursed them and all their offspring.

God’s first attribute, as you may have read last week,

Is that he is Holy.

There is no place for sinfulness near God’s holiness.

So how are we ever supposed to gain eternal life?

I like to think about a song I know when addressing this:

“You didn’t was Heaven without us,

So Jesus you brought Heaven

My sin was great, your love was greater.

What could separate us now?”

-What A Beautiful Name by Hillsong Worship

While I realise that this is now combining God’s forgiveness and love,

I don’t think you can talk about one without the other.

John 3:16-17 is a good example of that.

Colossians 1:13-14 elaborates on the fact that through Christ,

We can be forgiven.

Matthew 26:28 is Jesus speaking to his disciples as they sat together

for his last meal with them on Earth.

Jesus’s blood was poured out to forgive us.

God didn’t want Heaven without us.

So he sent his only son down to save us.

Our SIN is great,

But His LOVE is still greater.

WE know we can be forgiven because Christ’s blood was shed to do so.

Now while saying all of this, it is very important to note the unforgivable sin

in Mark 3:29 and Luke 12:10

Psalms 32:5; 65:3; 78:38 are all statements of God forgiveness as well.

It is important to know God if we are going to serve him.

His first attribute is that he is Holy.

And he is such a forgiving God.