It is my assertion that we cannot comprehend the love of God for his people nor can we fathom the hatred of God toward sin. If we solely focus on the first aspect and aspire to understand his love we invariably denigrate his justice. And it can look like this: If God loves the whole world (John 3:16) then it is a contradiction for Him to willingly sentence people (his loved ones) to hell and suffer his eternal wrath. Therefore, it is the fault of the people who can but choose not to turn to him for forgiveness and avoid his wrath. Thus permits an all loving but powerless God one who does, but not willingly, sentence people to hell.
This train of thought while understandable is biblically incomplete. It does not properly represent God’s character. God is not a God of fairness but justice. Everything God does is just. Perfectly. And this perfection is represented by his Holiness, a Holiness Isaiah regrettably encountered as he described his body being torn limb from limb (“coming undone” Isaiah 6:5, Hebrew literal translation). God’s hatred of sin stems from its complete opposite, his holiness. And from his holiness comes justice, the execution of judgment against all sin, i.e. sinners. God is perfectly just in sentencing anyone who has sinned to suffer his eternal wrath because his very nature is Holy.
All mankind, since Adam, has stood under this sentence of eternal wrath. For all of us together “are without excuse…no one is righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away they have become worthless; there is no one who does good not even one.” (Romans 1:19, Romans 3:10-12) Knowing this God did TWO unbelievable acts:
1. Romans 5:8-9 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have been now justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” He placed upon his own Son the wrath that was due to all who believe in him.
2. God enabled men to come to him. “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away…No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:37,44) Because of men’s sin, because of their wickedness none would choose God. All of them turned away. But God calls men out of darkness. He enables them to choose. God has the power. He conquers the sin in man. YET God is perfectly just, because of his Holiness, to judge all men who sin.
These two acts are the LOVE OF GOD. He loved you enough to die for your sin and take your wrath and was faithful to call you out of slavery to that sin. He freed you from it. He gets the glory. You and I are powerless. He is powerful.
“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:22-23)
Never forget, that though it is God who enables men, it is his plan to draw those men to himself through his church. You and I are the beautiful feet who bring the good news. (Romans 10:14-15) It is our duty according to Matthew 28 to preach to everyone. So know God’s love, know his justice and proclaim his message of salvation through Christ alone to all nations in all corners of the earth.
