How Do Verses Describing God’s Judgments Fit With God’s Love?

Episode 14 Show Notes

From the Show

Christianity is a gospel, it’s an announcement. And that announcement has to be proclaimed. Of course, good news is proclaimed. But, as we live in the light of that gospel, we also create an environment in which people can actually point to the Christian community and say, “Look at how they recognize that they’re sinners. They don’t just say “we’re sinners.” They confess that they’re sinners every week. Look at how they have a Savior, how they are liberated from the tyranny as well as the guilt of their sins, and look at how they love each other. How they take care of each other. They love us, they look out for our needs and speak up for the weakest among us.” And I gotta say, Adriel, I’m not sure that that’s how people think of the Christian community today….We are not demonstrating a good witness when we give the impression that we are a political block that is pushing our own agenda over-against other people. It just gives people the impression that Christians are angry, and just another voting block in society, not the kingdom of God in this dying age.—Michael Horton

Questions in this Episode

1. What does it mean to be a good witness to our non-Christian neighbors? What are some of the best ways to show people that Jesus loves them?

2. In James, it says that “faith without works is dead,” but in Galatians Paul says “by works of the law no one will be justified.” Are James and Paul contradicting each other? And if “faith without works is dead,” what kind of works do I need to have to know my faith is not a dead faith?

3. How do the prophet’s call for judgment fit with the character of God as loving?

4. How can you tell if you are being too picky when choosing a church?

5. Is it true that we are not saved by works but faith working through love?

6. I feel like Paul in Romans 7:15 where he says, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” Is there any way to get unstuck from this situation?