The gospel of God has evolved from 'God is holy' to 'God is love' with nothing in between -- especially in the American culture. But, let's think of the Old Testament writers. When they talked about God they understood that God was holy and just; that He was omnipotent, and that He pulled no punches when He gave instructions. When He said do something -- He meant it. When He said don't do something -- He meant that, too.
But in today society there is not much talk about a holy God. As a matter of fact, the very mention of the wrath of God as part of God's nature is unwelcome in most religious circles -- including the churches -- and unfortunately in many of what used to be "full gospel" churches. You will hear about the God of love, the God of generosity, and even a God of good works -- but rarely is the other side of God taught -- the side of wrath, justice and judgement. The truth of the love of God has so penetrated the consciousness that many think that God's wrath is so inconsistent with His love that they will reject the same gospel to which they learn of the love of God.
But think about this. Without anger at sin and disobedience - would God be holy? First of all, Numbers 23:19 tells us that God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent.
God would not be a Holy God if He did not are whether a person was good or bad. He would not be a holy God if His holiness were weakened with the passions of fallen man. I believe that if there is no wrath or anger there is no love, conversely, if there were no love there be no wrath. I am glad to believe in a God who is angry with me when I sin, but yet know that He loves me -- even though He cannot look upon sin -- rather than believe in a God who does not love righteousness enough to hate sin -- so that He would ignore the rod of correction and hate me.
See, love and anger combined could be compared with gold. Gold alone is soft and essentially, not very useful, but when it is mixed in perfect proportion with an alloy the gold becomes firm and strong and yet malleable enough to form into precious items.
So, how do we handle the commandment that tells us to sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy; for I am the Lord your God. This is found in Leviticus 20:7 and over 150 other times in the Bible. So, knowing that God is not a man that He should lie, don't you think that He intends that this verse e obeyed. Of course, He does! Elementary school English students learn that this sentence is in the imperative form.
God is making a definitive command or order here -- and He means it! It is to be obeyed! And when God gives an order and it is disobeyed there are always consequences -- because He is a loving father. As any loving parent He desires that His children be perfect. And God (who is not a man that He should lie) tells us what happens to His obedient children in Luke 21:36, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. "These things that shall come to pass" are some pretty awful things., but Jesus, Himself, says that we might be accounted worthy to escape them -- if we stay 'prayed up and worthy.'
And He tells us what happens to His disobedient children -- (Col 3:6) "for which thing' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:" Would God do this to His children? Well -- He is not a an that He should lie, and He does not threaten and not follow through. He talks about his judgement in Matthew 25:41-46 to disobedient 'children.' 2 Peter 2 corroborates this and talks about these children who disobeyed as "accursed children" in verse 14.
But in today society there is not much talk about a holy God. As a matter of fact, the very mention of the wrath of God as part of God's nature is unwelcome in most religious circles -- including the churches -- and unfortunately in many of what used to be "full gospel" churches. You will hear about the God of love, the God of generosity, and even a God of good works -- but rarely is the other side of God taught -- the side of wrath, justice and judgement. The truth of the love of God has so penetrated the consciousness that many think that God's wrath is so inconsistent with His love that they will reject the same gospel to which they learn of the love of God.
But think about this. Without anger at sin and disobedience - would God be holy? First of all, Numbers 23:19 tells us that God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent.
God would not be a Holy God if He did not are whether a person was good or bad. He would not be a holy God if His holiness were weakened with the passions of fallen man. I believe that if there is no wrath or anger there is no love, conversely, if there were no love there be no wrath. I am glad to believe in a God who is angry with me when I sin, but yet know that He loves me -- even though He cannot look upon sin -- rather than believe in a God who does not love righteousness enough to hate sin -- so that He would ignore the rod of correction and hate me.
See, love and anger combined could be compared with gold. Gold alone is soft and essentially, not very useful, but when it is mixed in perfect proportion with an alloy the gold becomes firm and strong and yet malleable enough to form into precious items.
So, how do we handle the commandment that tells us to sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy; for I am the Lord your God. This is found in Leviticus 20:7 and over 150 other times in the Bible. So, knowing that God is not a man that He should lie, don't you think that He intends that this verse e obeyed. Of course, He does! Elementary school English students learn that this sentence is in the imperative form.
God is making a definitive command or order here -- and He means it! It is to be obeyed! And when God gives an order and it is disobeyed there are always consequences -- because He is a loving father. As any loving parent He desires that His children be perfect. And God (who is not a man that He should lie) tells us what happens to His obedient children in Luke 21:36, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. "These things that shall come to pass" are some pretty awful things., but Jesus, Himself, says that we might be accounted worthy to escape them -- if we stay 'prayed up and worthy.'
And He tells us what happens to His disobedient children -- (Col 3:6) "for which thing' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:" Would God do this to His children? Well -- He is not a an that He should lie, and He does not threaten and not follow through. He talks about his judgement in Matthew 25:41-46 to disobedient 'children.' 2 Peter 2 corroborates this and talks about these children who disobeyed as "accursed children" in verse 14.
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