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Friday, September 27, 2024

Is God Champing at the Bit to Condemn and Punish Sinners?

Over the years, I've written several articles about the way that some folks view God as a harsh and angry entity who standing at the ready to ZAP sinners into oblivion. A classic example of this king of thinking is the famous sermon delivered by Jonathan Edwards back in the 18th Century entitled "Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God." Nevertheless, we have to ask: Is this a legitimate view of God? Is this view of God consistent with what is revealed in Scripture?

Let's consider just a few of the passages of Scripture which point to another view of God:

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15)

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Psalm 145:8)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17)

I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. (John 12:47)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39)

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (II Peter 3:9)

I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like someone who is champing at the bit to condemn sinners! Indeed, it sounds to me like "he" is ready and willing to forgive and forget! What do you think?

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