God, Sin and You!
George Gritter was scripturally sound when he observed (and passages are given to verify that fact):
God is holy; He hates sin; (I Pet. 1:15f; Prov. 6:12-19)
God is just; He condemns sin; (Deut. 32:4; Prov. 12:2)
God is sovereign; He punishes sin; (I Chron. 29:11f; Isaiah 13:11)
God is gracious; He forgives sin!”¹ (Tit. 2:11-14; Lk. 24:44-47; Rom.5:6-11)
What a verification of God’s goodness and love in that brief survey. Take another look, noting that one moves from what God hates (sin) and what He condemns and will punish, to His graciousness to forgive sinful souls . When we further observe that all have sinned (Rom. 3:23; I John 1:8-10)— including you and me— just think of the enormity of His grace that extends hope to each and every one of us (II Cor. 5:21; I Pet. 2:21-24). God has been gracious to sinners for a long, long time!
Further, recognize that God’s consistent mission from before the creation of the earth has been to offer salvation for sinners like us. Paul makes that clear when he wrote; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself...the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses (sindk), according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:3-7).
Just think about it. God has been involved in this sin-cleansing business for 6000 years (4000 years before Christ came and for 2000 years since He returned to heaven). If God has been interested and active, making it a priority, to save people from sin for 6000 years, isn’t that positive proof you and I need to make it a priority in our planning and pursuit??
How are things at this hour between you and God relative to sin? I implore you to not allow yourself to indifferently relate to that question! Before God, do not assume things are all right, if they are not. Remember, God knows! All things are “open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:12,13).
If you have questions, or if you long to know about the status of Your soul before God, I would rejoice to help you, study with you, open up God’s Word with you. Let’s get together— with God! Call me at any hour (405-736-0714).
¹Albert M. Wells, Jr., Inspiring Quotations, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1988, #992, p. 79.