Saturday, January 7, 2012

Repentance and Judgment

I enjoy using the "One Year Bible" reading plan each day. Today's reading included Psalm 7 which contained an interesting and very true principle.

It's found in Psalm 7:12-13.

"If anyone does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has strung His bow and made it ready. He has prepared His deadly weapons; He tips His arrows with fire."

To be sure, this view of God isn't common or popular among the masses. Many, including some who proclaim themselves "Christian," want to believe in a god that is love ... and ONLY love.

While God certainly is loving (more than a few passages in Scripture make this clear), it is also true that He is holy and just.

The same Bible that tells us that God loves the world (see John 3:16; 1 John 4:8, 16; etc.) also tells us that He is incensed at those who engage in sin (see Ephesians 2:3; Romans 9:22; etc.). As sin is a violation of His holy law, He MUST exercise justice (Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Nahum 1:3; etc.)

Thus, we come to understand passages like Psalm 7:12-13. God is pictured as a warrior "preparing His deadly weapons."

Specifically, in this text we see who He is against. We see who He is out to get. We see who He will certainly overthrow. It's given at the beginning of verse 12: "anyone (who) does not repent."

The one who has sinned and refuses to make it right sets himself/herself at odds against God.

But the very clear implication in this text (and what is proclaimed in the rest of Scripture) is that when we repent, God is no longer against us. He is more than willing to cover the offense with the blood of Christ. He is more than willing to allow Jesus to take our punishment for us. (That's exactly what He did on the cross.)

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

That leaves each of us with a choice, doesn't it?

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