Category: God’s mercy

Iniquity Not Yet Full #9

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

“But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Genesis 15:16 KJV).

Today’s Scripture expressly declares why the God of the Bible “takes His time” when dealing with sinful mankind.

The Old Testament prophets (Psalm 2:4,5; Isaiah 2:12ff.; Jeremiah 25:29-33; Joel 2:30-32; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Zechariah 13:8–14:4; et cetera) foretold of God’s wrath, “the day of the LORD” (the seven-year Tribulation). John the Baptist (Matthew 3:7-12), Jesus Christ (Matthew chapter 24), the Apostle Peter (Acts 2:19-21), and the Prophet Stephen (Acts 7:55,56) warned of “the wrath to come.” God’s wrath on wicked mankind was expected to come within their lifetime!

Nearly 2,000 years later, and God has not poured out His wrath on Earth. Why? Was the wrath not real? Was God lying? Nay, He was gracious to implement a plan, a dispensation, He had devised long ago, but had kept secret until He revealed it to the Apostle Paul (Romans 16:25,26; Ephesians 3:1-11; Colossians 1:23-27). To “have mercy upon all” (Christ-rejecting Jews and Gentiles; Romans 11:32), God concluded all lost people “in unbelief.”

The Apostle Peter answered scoffers who asked where was Christ’s coming back in wrath (2 Peter 3:3,4): “[9] The Lord is not slack [careless, unreliable] 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. [15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; [16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (verses 9,15,16).

Notice, Peter instructed his audience to read Paul’s epistles (especially Romans chapters 9-11) to learn that God had paused Israel’s program, and was “longsuffering” so “all should come to repentance [trust Christ and get saved].” As Peter and Paul affirmed, Israel’s prophetic program (which involved God’s wrath) is currently postponed….

Iniquity Not Yet Full #8

Monday, May 19, 2014

“But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Genesis 15:16 KJV).

Today’s Scripture expressly declares why the God of the Bible “takes His time” when dealing with sinful mankind.

It was truly God’s wisdom and grace to take the Devil’s primary human vessel, Saul of Tarsus, and transform him into the Lord Jesus Christ’s chief human instrument. Never in human history had the Creator God of heaven and earth done something so unexpected, drastic, and amazing. He had paused Israel’s program (and delayed His wrath) indefinitely, when nothing but wrath should have instantly fallen on Christ-rejecting mankind! Rather than coming back in wrath, the Lord Jesus Christ returned in Acts chapter 9—in grace, mercy, and peace, to Saul. Rather than whisking off Saul into everlasting hellfire, the Lord Jesus Christ began and revealed a new program, the Dispensation of Grace, and saved him! The man who had imprisoned and killed more Messianic Jews than anyone else at the time, became God’s apostle of the Gentiles (Acts 9:15,16; Romans 11:11).

Saul, now the Apostle Paul, began preaching Jesus Christ as fervently as when he hated and blasphemed Him. The ascended Lord Jesus Christ personally commissioned Paul to preach to all people, every lost Jew and Gentile, “the Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24), the very grace of God that saved his wretched soul when he was an undeserving sinner (1 Timothy 1:13-16)! Paul’s Gospel, the good news Jesus Christ revealed exclusively to him on the road to Damascus (Romans 3:9–5:20; Romans 11:11,12; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Galatians 1:11-20; Ephesians 3:1-11; et al.), communicated that God’s grace was being offered to the entire world apart from Israel and her program. Everything that God could do for every lost and dying sinner—forgiveness of sins, justification, new life, deliverance from Satan, a home in heaven, et cetera—was all being offered to the world through Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; 1 Timothy 2:3-7; Titus 1:1-3; et al.).

For 2,000 years, God has offered to all people His grace through Calvary’s finished crosswork. While often scorned and rejected, His continued longsuffering keeps His wrath in abeyance….

Iniquity Not Yet Full #5

Friday, May 16, 2014

“But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Genesis 15:16 KJV).

Today’s Scripture expressly declares why the God of the Bible “takes His time” when dealing with sinful mankind.

Before Jesus Christ even came to Earth, He knew He would be in the midst of the very stiff-necked, sinful people with whom He Himself had dealt throughout the Old Testament economy. He came to the nation Israel, not in His wrath (Luke 9:51-56), but in His grace to her (John 1:17), the means by which she could escape her sin debt.

For three years, the Lord Jesus preached to Israel, diligently attempting to convert her, as a shepherd seeking His lost sheep (Luke 15:1-10; cf. Isaiah 53:6). The abundant miracles He performed right before her eyes, over and over and over and over again, demonstrated that He was their God/Messiah/King (Isaiah 35:3-10; Isaiah 53:4a; Matthew 8:16,17; et al.). It was impossible to accidentally miss who Jesus was—anyone who did not see who He was did not want to recognize Him.

In a parable in Luke 13:6-9 (which you should study for yourself), Jesus describes the situation. Israel is spiritually barren, destitute of the works God wanted accomplished; she is lost, captive to Satan, and has nothing but sinful deeds to offer to God. For three years, God (in the Person of Jesus Christ) came looking for any spiritual fruit in Israel; there was nothing! Jesus Christ tells God the Father to grant Israel one additional year, a one-year extension, to repent, and trust Him as Messiah.

After Jesus was rejected, crucified, buried, and raised again, He ascended back to heaven as a royal exile (Acts chapter 1). Thus, God provides Israel with a one-year extension, a renewed opportunity of repentance, His last offer to Israel to trust Jesus as Messiah/Christ. For the next year, Israel’s 12 apostles preach Jesus Christ, with some 8,000 Jews responding positively, but Israel still overwhelmingly rejecting Him. By Acts chapter 7, that one-year extension is moments from expiring: Israel is quickly approaching her limit of sin again. God’s wrath is drawing nigh….

Iniquity Not Yet Full #4

Thursday, May 15, 2014

“But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Genesis 15:16 KJV).

Today’s Scripture expressly declares why the God of the Bible “takes His time” when dealing with sinful mankind.

Imagine your “pet peeves,” every thing that annoys you. Now, visualize the other seven billion people in the world carrying them out, right in front of you! Billions upon billions of people doing exactly what you hate, for you to see and hear, essentially “rubbing your nose in it!” How long could you handle it? A few seconds, at the most? (Unlike God, who has seen and heard more offensive words and deeds than you will ever see or hear in your earthly life, you could not handle 6,000 years of it!)

The God of Scripture is often slanderously decried as being a cruel, bloodthirsty, tyrannical sadist (Someone who enjoys bullying humanity and takes pleasure when they suffer). All the people whining in this regard have never bothered to consider exactly what horrendous occurrences He witnessed before He inflicted such punishments as described in the Old Testament. These Bible critics never pause to ponder the days, decades, centuries (!), and millennia (!), that His wrath was held in abeyance. They never bother to realize that His mercy and grace was free to anyone who wanted it.

Previously, we saw six instances of God’s longsuffering in the Old Testament. Today’s Scripture demonstrates how He gave the Amorites 400 years to reform (today’s Scripture). By the way, God says He evicted them and installed Israel in their land because the Amorites never improved (Exodus 23:23-25)! Those who complain about a “cruel” Old Testament God need to hush and read the Bible, lest they continue to “speak evil of those things which they know not” (Jude 10).

After 4,000 years of dealing with sinful man, JEHOVAH God came in human flesh, Jesus Christ. He preached to Israel for three years, but they mostly mocked and ignored Him (He knew they would ultimately crucify Him). Israel did not want anything to do with Him. Again, He could have wiped them all out with one quick spoken word, but, again, His grace and mercy delayed His wrath….

Iniquity Not Yet Full #3

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

“But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Genesis 15:16 KJV).

Today’s Scripture expressly declares why the God of the Bible “takes His time” when dealing with sinful mankind.

  • Through the Prophet Jonah, JEHOVAH warned wicked Assyrian capital city Nineveh that His judgment was coming in 40 days; Nineveh quickly repented, changed their behavior, and God postponed His wrath (Jonah 3:4-10). (Historically, during the next few centuries, Nineveh returned to its wickedness. It took a long time, but God’s wrath came—the Babylonians and others invaded and overthrew it!)
  • For 200 years, JEHOVAH tolerated the sins of the kings of Israel (the northern kingdom). Jeroboam, the northern kingdom’s first king, introduced false idols (pagan religion) into Israel’s land. From 1 Kings 12:26 to 2 Kings 17:18, some 16 of the 20 kings of the northern kingdom led “God’s people” to worship heathen idols! As per the Mosaic Covenant (Leviticus 26:27-39), this progressively worse behavior of Israel caused JEHOVAH to allow the Assyrians to defeat, capture, and deport the northern kingdom to Assyria circa 722 B.C. (2 Kings 17:6-23).
  • JEHOVAH, for 300 years, tolerated the sins of the kings of Judah (the southern kingdom). Unlike the northern kingdom, Judah had JEHOVAH’S Temple (in Jerusalem), so there was less apostasy there; however, pagan idolatry gradually infiltrated the southern kingdom. God was bound by His Word to chastise them just as He had judged their northern counterpart (Leviticus 26:27-39). From 606 to 586 B.C., JEHOVAH permitted the Babylonians to defeat, capture, and deport the southern kingdom to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:5-21; Jeremiah 52:1-34).

When godly kings arose, or when wicked kings reformed, God delayed the Jews’ punishment for their sakes (1 Kings 21:25-29; 2 Kings 8:17-19; 2 Kings 22:15-20). Finally, however, there came a time when JEHOVAH instructed the Prophet Jeremiah not to pray for Israel, for He would not listen to intercessory prayer for Israel (7:16). A closing verse of 2 Chronicles summarizes, “But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy” (36:16).

God had finally had enough….

Iniquity Not Yet Full #2

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

“But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Genesis 15:16 KJV).

Today’s Scripture expressly declares why the God of the Bible “takes His time” when dealing with sinful mankind.

The God of the Bible is very orderly; He is organized and does not act on haphazard whims. On one hand, His justice demands that sin be punished in full, and His wrath inflicts a punishment to satisfy His offended righteousness (ultimately, everlasting hellfire, banished from His presence forever). On the other hand, His mercy, love, and grace provide a means so that the sinner can escape that wrath via substitutionary atonement (ultimately, the sinner can come by faith alone in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork, where Christ suffered God’s wrath on our behalf, and be accepted of God). Whether operating in wrath or in grace, the God of the Bible is completely fair and wise in every deed.

Certain limits must be breached before God’s wrath falls on the sinner, and while only God Himself knows those parameters, the entire Bible’s canon demonstrates that this is how He deals with wicked humanity. For example, consider three major events of sin in the book of Genesis:

  • God could have destroyed Adam and Eve immediately after they sinned; however, He responded to them in mercy and grace, seeking them while they hid from Him, and then killing animals to cover them physically with those skins, as well as clothe them spiritually with animals’ blood (a type of Jesus’ blood which was shed millennia later) (Genesis 3:21).
  • Before the Great Flood of Noah’s Day, some 1,700 years after creation, God gave sinful mankind 120 years to straighten up (Genesis 6:3), and then His judgment came and swept them all away (excluding Noah and his family on the ark)!
  • It was not until Sodom and Gomorrah had reached their limit of sin that God finally sent two angels to destroy those two wicked cities (Genesis 18:20,21; Genesis 19:13).

Let us continue skimming the Scriptures for other instances of the longsuffering, yea, the patience, of God…

Iniquity Not Yet Full #1

Monday, May 12, 2014

“But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Genesis 15:16 KJV).

Today’s Scripture expressly declares why the God of the Bible “takes His time” when dealing with sinful mankind.

“Where is the promise of Jesus Christ’s coming?” From believers still asking in faith (cf. Matthew 24:3) to scoffers still asking in ridicule (cf. 2 Peter 3:3,4), it has been queried ad nauseam. How sad a commentary—it is one of many questions to which the Bible already gave answers many, many centuries ago!

In the context of today’s Scripture, Abram—whom God will rename “Abraham” in chapter 17—is nomadic, travelling and camping throughout the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, much of today’s Middle East. Here, JEHOVAH God personally and formally deeded that real estate to Abraham and his descendants, the nation Israel, as an everlasting possession (Genesis 15:1-21; cf. Genesis 17:8).

Moreover, God informs Abram of the future: “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (verses 13-16, today’s Scripture within its immediate context).

God tells Abram that his seed, the nation that will come from his bowels, cannot inherit and dwell in the Promised Land yet. Israel must spend 400 years down in Egypt, most of that time in slavery. Entering Egypt as a tribe of less than 100 people, Israel will return to Canaan (the Promised Land) as a nation of some two million! Why this four-century delay? God’s Word could not be plainer—the original inhabitants of Canaan had not sinned enough yet for Him to displace them and install the Jews (today’s Scripture).

How patient is our God….

God’s Grace on Parade

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

“…But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20 KJV).

Today, especially here in southern Louisiana, the Catholic festival of Mardi Gras takes advantage of God’s grace. God’s grace abounds even when drunkenness, lasciviousness, and gluttony are committed overtly on our streets for religion. Because we live in the Dispensation of the Grace of God, they can flaunt their sin without being consumed by fire from heaven!

“Mardi Gras,” French for “Fat Tuesday,” is a day when religious people—professing “Christians”—lose self-control (excess alcohol, food, and partying). The following day, Ash Wednesday, they promise to live “holy” for the next 40 days (Lent). A priest will then place ashes on their foreheads proving that God forgave them for that riotous living. Blasphemy!

Regardless of all its biblical allusions (illusions!), Mardi Gras is still evil and anti-God. It was never Christian, originating from pagan Roman festivals, Saturnalia and Lupercalia (interestingly known for riots, drunkenness, gluttony, and fornication, and subsequent repentance).

The Holy Spirit, speaking through the Apostles Peter and Paul, was clearly against Mardi Gras reveling and drunkenness (Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 4:3). So why do professing Christians engage in the very activities that God the Holy Spirit condemned?! As Christians, we should “deny” the activities of Mardi Gras (Romans 6:11-15; Titus 2:11-15).

If I appear offended, I am. Mardi Gras, despite its godly façade, is offensive to the great God and my Saviour Jesus Christ! God’s grace continues to tolerate such foolishness from mankind. Man parades his sin, and God parades His grace, holding back wrath.

Are you a Mardi Gras reveler? I declare unto you the wonderful Gospel of the Grace of God. God did for you at Calvary what you could never do: “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Jesus Christ shed His sinless blood and died to put away all of your sins, Mardi Gras revelry included.

If you rest in Christ Jesus alone as your Saviour, God will save you forever, make a trophy of His grace, and then YOUR life will be God’s grace on parade!

*Adapted from a larger Bible study with the same name. The Bible study can be read here or watched here.

A Holy Nation #11

Thursday, January 30, 2014

“For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45 KJV).

Today’s Scripture summarizes a book most burdensome to many.

When resurrected and ascended Jesus Christ returns to earth (His Second Coming), to Israel, the people who killed Him 2,000 years ago, He will forgive them and make them a “holy nation,” a nation they could never be in their own strength (today’s Scripture).

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

Hebrews 8:13 affirms, “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”

We read of Israel’s future in 1 Peter 2:9,10: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

Israel will then be a “holy nation,” not because of her obedience, but only because of JEHOVAH’S grace….

A Holy Nation #2

Tuesday, January 21, 2013

“For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45 KJV).

Today’s Scripture summarizes a book most burdensome to many.

Atheists, Bible skeptics, and agnostics frequently ridicule the Bible because of the “cruel” God of its Old Testament, His strict laws and merciless chastisements. (Evidently, they seem to miss Old Testament passages such as Exodus 34:6,7: “The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin….”)

Once JEHOVAH delivered Israel from Egypt, He immediately gave the Jews a series of three tests. The Bible says, “He proved [tested, evaluated] them” (Exodus 15:25)—the bitter water He made potable for them. Again, “…That I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no” (Exodus 16:4)—the manna He gave them to eat. In chapter 17, He miraculously gave them water to drink. Still, they complained constantly, and Moses became increasingly irritated with them. Within those three chapters, the Bible makes reference to ungrateful Israel’s “murmuring” some ten times. And God heard every complaint those two million Jews made… and provided for them anyway!

Sinful Israel demonstrated that she could not follow God’s directions. The Jews doubted God’s provisions (they said they preferred returning to Egyptian bondage, according to Exodus 16:3!), and when He did provide for them, they disobeyed His instructions when collecting the manna (Exodus 16:16-20, but especially 25-28). They “tempted” (or, irreverently challenged) Him to see what He would do when they lacked potable water in Exodus 17:1-4.

After all this, about two or three months after deliverance from Egypt, in Exodus 19:5,6, God instructed Moses to tell Israel, “If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” God is now offering to make Israel’s blessings contingent upon her performance.

Let us see what Israel will decide….