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| The Bible — all of it — is written to tell us about God! |
Every description of history in the Bible,
from the origins of humanity to the law and pilgrimage of Israel, and its constant conflict with its own prophets,
is given in all its detail to help us understand God's values, character, perspective, and the depth of His relationship to all humanity.
from the origins of humanity to the law and pilgrimage of Israel, and its constant conflict with its own prophets,
is given in all its detail to help us understand God's values, character, perspective, and the depth of His relationship to all humanity.
unparalleled panorama of the Creator's involvement in His creation, beyond His righteousness which shames us all, there is a perspective that gives us an understanding of His majesty beyond measure. It is the transcendent nature of His mercy.
Mercy by its nature is in conflict with justice, or righteousness, in our sinful world. Righteousness-applied means that you get what you deserve. Mercy-applied means that you do not get what you deserve.
This intrinsic conflict came together in the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. By His rejection before God in the anguished cry – "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" (Mk.15:34) – our sin, all our sin beyond measure, was atoned for so that the Unrighteous might be declared righteous (2 Cor.5:21).
| "Surely His salvation is near to the ones fearing Him, for glory to dwell in our land. Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace kissed each other." |
of this atonement of God in Jesus Christ comes more than forgiveness; far more than a turning of the clock back to before our transgressions separated us from Him.
To illustrate, one of the greatest tragedies in all human history is the rejection of Jesus by Israel. As His disciple John put it –
| "He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him." |
Bible says concerning this situation –
| "So I ask, did they [Israel] stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion [in God's grace] mean! ... For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? [resurrection]" |
–beginning, God made mankind to fellowship with Him and enjoy access to the Tree of Life which neutralised the natural process of aging and death so that humanity would live forever and multiply as God's representatives within His creation.
| See: Image of God |
Sin (distrust toward God) ended this, but God's forgiveness does not turn the clock back. God is bigger than that!
The forgiveness of God goes beyond the removal of guilt. It deals with more than shame and unworthiness,
The forgiveness of God takes the broken material of our failure and turns it into the raw material of newness – beyond restoration.
In God's hands —
| • | weakness | becomes | sensitivity; | ||
| • | vulnerability | becomes | empathy; and, | ||
| • | our disability | becomes | a demonstration of His sufficiency! |
as Adam was never meant to die, but to live forever within the biological framework of God's human design; that failure in God's hands of mercy becomes a resurrection-body far beyond any earthly limits for those who believe –
to express that glory of God at an inter-galactic level forever and ever. Halleujah!
FOR YOU!
