Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Phil. 4:8
We often refer to God as being just, but I started thinking about it, and that didn't make sense. "The wages of sin is death..." I sinned, so I should die. Revelation 21:8 says, " But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, the murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake of fire and sulfur, which is the second death." That's me. I've been a coward when it comes to proclaiming the gospel, I've been faithless, my ways detestable, and I've told my fair share of lies. Not only that, but Romans 1:18 says, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." God's wrath is no joke. It's bad. It's what caused him to swallow people into the ground, set fire to cities, and exempt people from the paradise he made. He directs his wrath at sin and I am sinful. So, how on earth am I going to get to heaven?
Christ.
God is justice. He created man, but they sinned. They had to die. That was the deal. But God still wanted them, even in their imperfect and sinful state. Someone had to die to rid mankind of sin so that they could remain in the presence of God. God's immense wrath had to be directed toward something. He chose to direct it at himself - his son. He humbled himself from everything to nothing and came to earth so that he might live a perfect life and be a perfect sacrifice for all. He was an outcast living in poverty who was tortured and endured indescribable agony though he was totally and utterly blameless. Christ came to earth in order to save our souls from death. He bore the wrath reserved for us though he was not in any way deserving. He came so that terribly imperfect beings could spend eternity in a perfect paradise in the light of God's glory. Romans 5:9 says, "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved from the wrath of God." Justified. Just as if we'd never sinned. God is the righteous judge who doesn't let sin slide. When he looks at humanity he sees their sin. But when he looks at Christians he sees that they have opened his "free gift....of eternal life in Christ Jesus." When he looks at my soul, he doesn't see something sin-stained, worldly, and hopeless. He sees Christ- who is perfect and worthy of heaven. That's God's justice.
God is truth. God and all he has created and all he has done for us is deserving of utmost honor. God is justice. Think about these things.
"The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He."
Deut. 32:4
We often refer to God as being just, but I started thinking about it, and that didn't make sense. "The wages of sin is death..." I sinned, so I should die. Revelation 21:8 says, " But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, the murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake of fire and sulfur, which is the second death." That's me. I've been a coward when it comes to proclaiming the gospel, I've been faithless, my ways detestable, and I've told my fair share of lies. Not only that, but Romans 1:18 says, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." God's wrath is no joke. It's bad. It's what caused him to swallow people into the ground, set fire to cities, and exempt people from the paradise he made. He directs his wrath at sin and I am sinful. So, how on earth am I going to get to heaven?
Christ.
God is justice. He created man, but they sinned. They had to die. That was the deal. But God still wanted them, even in their imperfect and sinful state. Someone had to die to rid mankind of sin so that they could remain in the presence of God. God's immense wrath had to be directed toward something. He chose to direct it at himself - his son. He humbled himself from everything to nothing and came to earth so that he might live a perfect life and be a perfect sacrifice for all. He was an outcast living in poverty who was tortured and endured indescribable agony though he was totally and utterly blameless. Christ came to earth in order to save our souls from death. He bore the wrath reserved for us though he was not in any way deserving. He came so that terribly imperfect beings could spend eternity in a perfect paradise in the light of God's glory. Romans 5:9 says, "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved from the wrath of God." Justified. Just as if we'd never sinned. God is the righteous judge who doesn't let sin slide. When he looks at humanity he sees their sin. But when he looks at Christians he sees that they have opened his "free gift....of eternal life in Christ Jesus." When he looks at my soul, he doesn't see something sin-stained, worldly, and hopeless. He sees Christ- who is perfect and worthy of heaven. That's God's justice.
God is truth. God and all he has created and all he has done for us is deserving of utmost honor. God is justice. Think about these things.
"The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He."
Deut. 32:4
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