God's Grace Expressed in Judgment
From Eco-Bible 1
These are notes for an incomplete "Concept" page.
- Information is being added as the Bible Pages are added. In the end, everything will be compiled, further information added (as necessary), broken links connected, etc.
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Parent topic: Judgment.
God waits until no other options remain - and to delay further would be a denial of his own righteous character.
- This means there will be times that people don't get what they deserve right now. If they continue to reject God's kindness and refuse to repent of their sins, they will get what they deserve at the final Day of Justice.
God gives warnings, so that people have the opportunity to repent: Warnings of Judgment: An Opportunity to Repent
- (If they do repent, he may withdraw or postpone the threatened judgment.)
God's grace - undeserved kindness - is also evident when he allows some of the people to survive... even though they deserved total destruction.
Scripture Pages that Link to Here
- Gen 15:16 :In the fourth generation they [Abraham's offspring] will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full." Note God's grace: Judgment is withheld until the people are so wicked that it is no longer possible to hold it back. There would be 400 more years of increasing wickedness, before they reached the "point of no return."
- After Sodom (etc.) was destroyed: For the rest of the region, this destruction was an act of grace. The other cities had not yet become as corrupt as had Sodom and its neighbors. (It would be 400 more years before they reached that irreversible condition - compare with Genesis 15:16.) There was still time for them to heed the warning and to repent of their ways. And if they didn't, they knew what they deserved. (Even the New Testament describes this event as a warning - see 2 Peter 2:6 and Jude 1:7.)
- Many times, rebellious Israel deserved instant death. But God didn't give it to them; he knew that they were here for just a short time. (They will, however, get what they deserve at the final Day of Justice.)
- Psa 78:38-39 But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity, and didn't destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, and didn't stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes away, and doesn't come again.
- Another reason that God sent the children of Israel to Egypt (in addition to preserving them through the famine): The sins of the Canaanites weren't great enough to require their total destruction. God would graciously wait 400 years, until their wickedness reached the "point of no return."
- Considering what Israel deserved, the fact that there were survivors is a demonstration of God's grace - his undeserved kindness.
- Instead of totally destroying Israel, God would use their judgment to purify them. Since they deserved total destruction, this is an act of grace. (It is also a demonstration that God keeps his promises - promises he made to their ancestors.)
Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.
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