06/09/23 KNOW THE GOD OF THE BIBLE

06/09/23 KNOW THE GOD OF THE BIBLE

Some folks have an earthly father who is angry, vengeful, officious, unmoved by compassion, vindictive, self protective, self asserting and self serving. This is the supposed state of the god of the Old Testament, or if you subscribe to the Deformed religion, the supposed god of the New Testament.

Some folks have an earthly father who is soft, unprincipled, maneuverable. This is the supposed state of the god of the Bible as understood by folks who do not accept the holy, just, all powerful God of the Bible.

Actually, the God of the Bible is just and merciful.
God is made angry by rebellion, but He is redemptive, restorative and reconciling to those who have rebelled against Him.
He is not the angry, hostile, wrathful, narrow father some folks think Him to be.
God is loving, but He is not unprincipled.
He not only sees our sin, He made provision for all men to be saved from their sins.
He provided all that is necessary for life and godliness.
God is not hardhearted or soft headed.
His not quick to anger or retribution.
He is not self serving but is self giving, to the point of sacrificial death on the cross for all mankind.

Be careful of the father model that religionists promote concerning God.
The god of legalism is formal, demanding, unsympathetic,
The god of liberalism allows licentiousness.
The god of limited grace, limited atonement, limited love is neither gracious or just.

The God of the Bible (Father Son and Holy Spirit) is just and merciful, holy and loving, true and faithful.
The God of the Bible hates sin and those who cling to their sins.
The God of the Bible loves sinners.
The God of the Bible loves righteousness.
The God of the Bible prefers mercy and not our sacrifices.
The God of the Bible prefers a broken spirit, and a broken and contrite heart, more than religious and perfunctory sacrifice and ceremony.

The entire Bible is replete with God's desire for mercy, forgiveness, cleansing, renewal, restoration. Here is but one passage, which addresses this subject.

Yes, this passage finds literal and historical fulfillment in the Israel of the Old Testament, but the ultimate fulfillment is for believers and followers of Jesus Christ. 

Psalms 85:1-13
1 ...LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.