The goodness and severity of God Goodness & Severity Romans 11 v 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 1
What do we hope to achieve? Understand the Goodness of God Understand the Severity of God Explore how they link to each other Understand how they fit with God s Plan & Purpose The Goodness of God 2
Examples of goodness: Creation God s character God s son God s people God s promises The Goodness of God God created the world In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth 3
And it was good Day & Night Sky Land Vegetation Creatures of sea & sky Creatures of land Mankind And it was good Day & Night Sky Land Vegetation Creatures of sea & sky Creatures of land Mankind God saw all that he had made and it was very good 4
Exodus 34 v 6 God s character Exodus 34 v 6..The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, God s character 5
Christ God s son Example of God s character Example of goodness Other Examples Miracles Saving the sick Curing ailments Other examples God saw all that he had made and it was very good The Severity of God 6
The Severity of God The suffering of man Natural disasters Extreme weather War Disease and famine Suffering of all types The Severity of God The suffering of man Someone to blame God is often blamed It was an Act of God! Why suffering? Why does God allow it? Isn t God a god of love? Is God responsible for all the suffering in the world? 7
The Severity of God The intervention of God Why flood the earth? Why destroy nations? Why allow Christ to die? Why punish Adam & Eve Does God show severity? The Severity of God Behold, therefore, the goodness and severity of God Romans 11:22 Severity - Decisiveness God demonstrates both goodness and decisiveness 8
Goodness & Severity Goodness & Severity Two are complimentary Examples of: Parent & Child Teacher & Pupil Employer & employee Being cruel to be kind? Being decisive when required 9
Goodness & Severity Noah s Flood Example of decisiveness An evil world World flooded Population destroyed 8 men & women saved God saved believers Provided a new start Goodness & Severity Noah s Flood Example of decisiveness An evil world World flooded Population destroyed 8 men & women saved God saved believers Provided a new start Severity 10
Goodness & Severity Noah s Flood Example of decisiveness An evil world World flooded Population destroyed 8 men & women saved God saved believers Provided a new start Goodness Goodness & Severity First born of Egypt Pharaohs refusal First born killed Army killed in Red Sea Israel had to be saved Escaped plague Passed through Red Sea 11
Goodness & Severity First born of Egypt Pharaohs refusal First born killed Army killed in Red Sea Severity Israel had to be saved Escaped plague Passed through Red Sea Formed a nation - Israel Goodness & Severity First born of Egypt Pharaohs refusal First born killed Army killed in Red Sea Israel had to be saved Escaped plague Passed through Red Sea Formed a nation - Israel Goodness 12
God s plan & purpose God s Plan and Purpose Plan & Purpose? To understand the goodness and severity of God, we need to understand His Plan and Purpose 13
Creation Why? God created the world: To be filled with His creation To give Him pleasure To create a world that lived in harmony with His ways Creation Why? Revelation 4 v 11 14
Creation Why? Revelation 4 v 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Creation Why? God s instruction Adam & Eve: Allowed to live in Garden Could eat from any tree Except for one tree They ate from that tree The first transgression Man had failed Sin & Death introduced 15
Creation Why? God s instructions Goodness Adam & Eve: Allowed to live in Garden Could eat from any tree Except for one tree They ate from that tree The first transgression Man had failed Sin & Death introduced Creation Why? God s instructions Adam & Eve: Allowed to live in Garden Could eat from any tree Except for one tree They ate from that tree The first transgression Man had failed Sin & Death introduced Severity 16
The consequence of sin Romans 5 v 12 The consequence of sin Romans 5 v 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 17
God so loved the world John 3 v 16,17 God so loved the world John 3 v 16,17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18
God so loved the world John 3 v 16,17 Severity For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. God so loved the world John 3 v 16,17 Goodness For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 19
Jesus Christ The Saviour Jesus provides a way for mankind to be saved Goodness a way out for man Severity God was prepared to see His own son killed Hope for mankind Christ s death: Jesus lived a perfect life Overcame sin, & death Provides hope to all God has provided hope Promise of a Kingdom An everlasting Kingdom 20
Hope for mankind God s instruction The Bible: God s Plan & Purpose Read it Understand it Believe in its message Be baptised Baptism symbolic death and re-birth Hope for mankind God s instruction The Bible: God s Plan & Purpose Read it Understand it Believe in its message Be baptised Severity Baptism symbolic death and re-birth 21
Hope for mankind God s instruction The Bible: God s Plan & Purpose Read it Understand it Believe in its message Be baptised Severity Goodness Baptism symbolic death and re-birth The Kingdom of God 2 Peter 3 v 9 22
The Kingdom of God 2 Peter 3 v 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. The Kingdom of God The return of Christ Christ will return Some will be saved Some will not Opportunity will be given to unbelievers 23
The Kingdom of God Severity God will not save all Goodness God will save all who follow his ways Goodness God will provide a means for people to change their ways 2 Peter 3 v 10 The Kingdom of God 24
2 Peter 3 v 10 The Kingdom of God But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. The Kingdom of God Severity present ways and values will end Goodness everlasting life for those who follow Goodness an end to sin, suffering and death 25
Goodness & Severity Romans 11 v 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 26