Posted: 08/12/06

God's Wrath, God's Mercy

-by Patrick Burwell, OnlyJesusSaves.com

God's Love is not a motivation to the Lost. God wants us to mature to obedience in our love for Him, but this obedience begins with fearing His punishment.

It is a relief to know God is no longer angry with you, as you repent and submit to His Will, to be sure. But remember, it is God's fury over sin that motivates us to seek and save the Lost: God's anger with the unrepentant, not with us who have obeyed.
 

2 Corinthians 5:11 (WEB).
Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men...

I spoke to a very angry man in Newark when he responded bitterly to my preaching the Law of God, the Ten Commandments, explaining what his sin was. If I had appeased him with the love of God, failing to make clear God's wrath, he would not have been convicted. As it was, he refused to stop professing his own goodness and I had to let him run away angry over having his conscience stirred up. During that same sermon a young, drug addicted, prostitute repented publicly, in front of all, weeping profusely. She was so grateful, and she was so relieved, but it was fear that got her attention and made her evaluate herself by God's Law, to see if she would, indeed, be headed for Hell. Her gratitude came from being delivered from that fear in the Love and Mercy of God, through the sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross for her, but it was fear that broke her. Only one repented, but both were convicted.

God's love is perfect and his anger is perfect. He forgives, and it is forgiven forever, He is angry and His punishment is Eternal, because the transgression was against Himself, the Eternal One. He is willing for us to be injured, that we may repent, for He desires all to be saved, but God will not provide another way than to repent, surrendering our wills to His, believing that He is able to do that which He promises. By faith, Abraham was considered righteous, because Abraham believed God.

It is the same with the Death sentence in some states for criminals who murder. There is no greater deterrent to other criminals than a proven, resolute fulfillment of the Law on the Law breaker.

God wants us to mature to obedience in our love for Him, but this obedience begins with fearing His punishment.
 

We must understand this to preach this.

Without Fear being first, there is no Love to follow: "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6 (WEB). Without Hell there can be no Justice: "I tell you, my friends, don't be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into Hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." Luke 12:4-5 (WEB).

Without humility there is no obedience: "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." Luke 13:3 (NKJV)

God's Mercy is that He makes a Way where there should be no way. He provides a payment when what is right says He should have let us all be sent to Hell.

We all deserve Hell.

Psalm14:1 (WEB)

The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."

They are corrupt.

They have done abominable works.

There is none who does good.

But, God's love is that the Spirit of the Law is greater than the Letter of the Law: Mercy triumphs over Judgment.
The payment made by Jesus on the Cross is the triumphant Mercy God shows, but...There will be no other way. Be grateful there was any!

That is the message we must deliver.

To the Believer, the Cross is a daily reminder of how we must daily nail our desires there, that others may hear of the Mercy God has for them. We bear the mockery of the foolish means of preaching that others may know Jesus bore their cost that they may be rescued, if they will but repent and trust in His payment, as we have.

God's perfect love will cast out the fear of the humble that His perfect Law brings them with, to the foot of the blood-stained Cross, repenting.

Patrick Burwell
OnlyJesusSaves.com

If you do not desire to deliver the lost from Hell, then whose are you?
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By Patrick Burwell Click here for bio and archived articles