In Romans 11:22 we read: “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Romans 11:22.
A strange combination - the goodness of God - the severity of God. We understand the meaning of the goodness of God; but this word “SEVERITY” means “decisive action.”
This is the same combination we find in Romans 1:18 and in Romans 5:8 and Ephesians 2:4 and 5: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” “But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved).”
So much is said in the Bible concerning the wrath of God and yet we read in I John 4:8, “for God is love.”
All through the Bible God is revealed as a holy, just and a righteous Judge Who declares that every disobedience and transgression shall receive a just recompense of reward. (Hebrews 2:2).
But God is also revealed as a merciful, compassionate, long suffering, gracious loving Saviour, even the God of all grace (I Peter 5:10), Who is not willing that any should perish but will have all men to be saved. (II Peter 3:9 - I Timothy 2:4 to 7). In Titus 3:4 we read: “After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.” Then we read in Romans 2:4, “the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.”
Here is a very solemn fact recorded in Romans 14:12: “So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God.” Let us consider God’s kindness, and love, and goodness, grace and mercy.
And hear these words from the heart and mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ in John 5:22: “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” This is confirmed in Acts 17:31: It was Christ who said when He was going to the cross, “Now is the judgment of this world.” John 12:31 to 33. Dealings with the Lord Jesus Christ are inescapable. Every individual must meet Him here as Saviour and receive eternal life or meet Him hereafter as Judge and receive everlasting punishment. (Romans 6:23 - Revelation 20:10, 14 and 15). Every knee shall bow to Christ and acknowledge His Deity. (Philippians 2:5 to 10).
Read and believe John 3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
Hear God’s warning to Gentiles in Romans 11:21: “For if God spared not the natural branches (the Jews), take heed lest He also spare not thee (the Gentiles).”
But this is nothing to compare with the awful judgment of God that is going to fall upon the present evil age when II Thessalonians 2:1 to 12 is fulfilled, when the political and religious world heads up under Satan’s beast and false prophet: “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Now read Hebrews 10:28 to 31 , comparing the law-breakers, who died without mercy under the reign of law, with the foolish sinners in this age and reign of grace, who despise God’ grace and spurn His love and treat the blood of Christ as something unholy. Judgment-vengeance. But for believing sinners read I Thessalonians 5:9. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Even a superficial reader of the Bible knows that the Bible clearly and definitely teaches that the human race is divided into two groups, “living saints” on the way to eternal glory and “dead sinners” on the way to eternal conscious perdition. It is for every person, either the blood of Christ or the lake of fire.
How
God Saves Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read
Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
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