Goodness and Severity of God


Some preach “hell, fire and brimstone” to put the fear of God in their listeners.  As a result, those who hear them are motivated by fear to obey God and live their lives in great fear of His punishment if they sin.  On the other hand, others preach that God is love and goodness.  As a result, those who hear these preachers can be motivated by love to please God. The truth is that there are two sides to God.  Romans 11:22 “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.”

Let us consider the goodness and severity of God – first, the severity.  When Adam and Eve sinned, they were cast out of the Garden of Eden and the man and the woman and the serpent each received curses.  Death came as a result of their sin.  In the book of Genesis, we read of the great wickedness of the city of Sodom and how the Lord rained down burning sulfur on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, totally destroying them.  God instructed the Israelites under Moses to completely destroy the cities of Canaan; many times they killed men, women and children, leaving no survivors because He saw their wickedness and idolatrous ways.  God allowed the city of Jerusalem to be destroyed, first by the Babylonians, and later by the Romans because of the sins of His people Israel.

We are told what will happen when Jesus returns to earth for those who don’t know God or obey the gospel.  2 Thessalonians 1:7b-10 “When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” We are also told what will happened to those who knew the truth but turned and sinned willfully. Hebrews 10:26-31 “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.  Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?  For we know Him who said, ‘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.”  This passage talks about the fearful expectation of judgement from God and His fiery indignation.  We are encouraged to avoid sin and the fire of hell because of what will happen there.  Mark 9:47-48 “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire —  where ‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’”

Next, consider the goodness of God.  John 3:16-17 “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.   For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”  Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Ephesians 2:4-7 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” There are wonderful things prepared for those of us who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10a “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.”  We may not know exactly what God has prepared for us, but we can be sure it is wonderful.

The contrast between the goodness and the severity of God was demonstrated to the Israelites.  Moses spoke to the people in Deuteronomy 11:26-29 “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.  Now it shall be, when the Lord your God has brought you into the land which you go to possess, that you shall put the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.”  The Israelites did as Moses commanded them as recorded in Joshua 8:30-35.  When they came into the land, half of the people stood before Mount Gerizim and the blessings of God were pronounced.  Then the other half of the people stood before Mount Ebal and the curses of God were pronounced for those who disobeyed God.  I believe that this blessing on one mountain and curses on the other mountain graphically illustrate the goodness and severity of God.

The Bible is filled with examples of the severity of God as well as the goodness and kindness and mercy of God.  These are the two sides of God. As a true believer, He will give you His goodness.  But Romans 11:22 warns us “if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.”  My encouragement to you is to continue in the goodness of God.  Jesus told the church in Smyrna in Revelation 2:10b “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” My encouragement is that you be faithful until death.


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