"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life". God is truly a loving God to give His only begotten Son to die for us. That is the ultimate of love. Nothing could be greater.
Not only is God a loving God, but the Bible speaks of other aspects of God's nature. God is a vengeful God. In Hebrews 10:30-31 we read, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. And again, the Lord will judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God". Most people like to think of God as only a loving God, and nothing else; but this is not true. On the day of judgment, the majority of people will find out just how fearful, that it is to fall into the hands of the living God.
Not only is the Lord loving and vengeful, but he is also just. Jesus says in John 5:30 (KJV), "I can of my own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just". Yes, when we stand before the Lord on the Day of Judgment, he will be just. But justice demands that guilt be punished. Let me give you an example. Just suppose I went out and robbed a bank, and was caught. Also suppose that the judge and I were good friends. So the judge calls me up to his bench and whispers to me that he doesn't want to send me to prison for twenty years. He tells me, that if I will quietly walk out the back door, that he will tear up all the paperwork, nothing will be said, and I can go free. Would he be a just judge? No way. But God is a just God, and can be no less.
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Questions Lesson 5 The Nature of God
1) (John 3:16) God so loved the world that
He will not punish anyone.
He gave His Son to die for us.
He will allow everyone to go to Heaven.
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2) God does not love mankind.
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3) (Hebrews 10:30) Vengeance belongs to
God.
Man.
Those who are wronged.
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4) God will punish those who die in their sins.
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5) (Hebrews 10:31) To fall into the hands of the living God is
A comforting thing.
A good thing.
A terrible thing.
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6) God is too loving to punish anyone.
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7) (John 5:30) The judgment of Christ
Will be just.
Can be appealed.
Is not always right.
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8) Justice demands that the guilty be punished.