Many people have trouble understanding how God can be so
loving and yet so seemingly harsh. Christians too sometimes have these
questions and certain passages of the Bible can seem confusing, even
contradictory when speaking about the character of God.
In regards to this, I was always taught a certain Biblical
principle that shed much light on the topic for me and really clarified things.
It is the principle of the Judge and the Father, and the difference between the
two.
It is clear from Scripture that mankind, although created
innocent, soon chose to rebel against their Creator. They chose the “knowledge
of good and evil” over their innocence and their trust and obedience to God. The
problem with the knowledge of good and evil is that they did not find in themselves
the capacity to do only good or the ability to always resist evil.
So their relationship with their Creator was severed , this nature of sin was born in them and they passed
down this nature throughout their descendants like spiritual DNA. To this day, the Bible teaches, each human is
born with a sin nature and also (as is quite observable) chooses to sin, to
rebel and to do evil (however small it may seem to us) and we are incapable of restoring that former
relationship with God on our own.
“…for
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of
God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
So God made a way to restore it Himself. And just like when
man chose to rebel, we must now choose to believe and accept this gift of
restoration.
Behold the perfect justice and perfect love of God.
How then does God reconcile His perfect justice and His
perfect love? By offering Himself as a sacrifice to bear the punishment, a
ransom to pay the debt. This is what we
know as the Gospel – Jesus’ birth, His life, His redeeming death and
resurrection.
"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.” John 3:16-17
Now perhaps we see
more clearly the principle of the Judge and the Father. If we have not accepted
(or even believed in the need of ) His offer of redemption and restoration then
our relationship with Him is still severed, and though we are still made in His
image, we are stained and tainted with sin. And , true to His perfect justice,
He must judge that sin.
However, if we do
believe and accept His offer, this “pardon”, then we are redeemed and
justified. Innocent again – though not in deed (the redeemed, of course, still have the capability of sinning), but in
the eyes of God and by His blood-bought forgiveness. The Bible refers to this
as being “born again” (John 3:7) into the family of God. The relationship has
been restored, He is once again our Father.
“But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He
gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of
man, but of God.” John 1:12-13
Prodigal, a wooden vase created by artist Charles Smalligan
Again, how can God be both just and loving? A judge and a father ? The same way any human
can hold the office of a judge in the courtroom and also be a parent to their
own children at home.
In the courtroom the human judge hands out punishment – for the worst sins it may be life in prison or even the death penalty.
But when that same person goes home to find out that their
child has misbehaved he doesn't throw them in prison. He will, however, discipline the child. He
does so in love and for the betterment of the youth and the youth in turn will
flourish under proper discipline ( although they may not like it at the time).
In the courtroom there is no personal relationship between the judge and the criminal but in the home the same judge’s
relationship with the “criminal” is no less than father and child.
And, although this family relationship can be soured, it can never be changed
or taken away. The child is his flesh and blood and its that simple.
In the courtroom scenario there is a once and for all “pardon”
given by God (the Judge) to the guilty who will receive it. In the home
scenario there is ongoing discipline and forgiveness from God ( the Parent ) and
confession of “relapses” (“I’m sorry
daddy”) and growing by the child.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If
we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
1 John 1:9-10
So Christians, when you come upon a difficult verse,
remember to look at the context and see if it is speaking of God as a Judge or
as a Father.
And to all -remember the
principle of the Judge and the Father and the choice you have to make.
We all need a father.
Shall not the Judge of all the earth do
right?" Abraham, Genesis 18:25b
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved
you; abide in My love.” Jesus, John 15:9
"And he arose and came to his father. But
when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and
ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” Parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15:20
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