A Balanced Understanding of God
Today, we will try to answer a question many often ask. How can God be a God of love and a God of judgment at the same time? Why can we just not pick the one we like best (love or judgment), and lead a mature Christian life?
Complete this sentence: God is ___________________________________.
Generally, how would you characterize God in the Old Testament?
Generally, how would you characterize God in the New Testament?
What do we know about God?
God is holy and just:
Habakkuk 1:13 Isaiah 6:3 Matthew10:28
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Hebrews 10:31
God is love and mercy:
I John 4:8 Psalms 103:8 Exodus 20:6
John 3:16 Ephesians 2:13
What do we know about God’s will?
God’s will is both perfect and permissive. How can that be? How do you know if you are in God’s perfect will or not? How can you know if you are in God’s permissive will?
Can you define God’s perfect will? Can you give an example?
II Peter 3:9
Can you define God’s permissive will? Can you give an example?
Genesis 16:1-4
Why is it necessary to understand God’s will to understand God’s character? Because, they are one and they are the same. God’s perfect will for us is holy, just, loving, and merciful. God’s permissive will for us is the same. God’s standard is the same, and so is His character, unchanging.
We will sum up with this example: Revelation 20:11-15. In the New Testament, known for God’s love through the provision and sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, we also see judgment. This is reality. God is holy, loving, just, and merciful. Regardless of how you define fear (either as respect or as genuine fear), it is wise to heed God’s command to fear Him and keep His commandments. This is a wise and balanced, mature Christian view.