BEHOLD THE GOODNESS & SEVERITY OF GOD – The Church Of Christ, 15 Grey Street, Warri

TEXT: ROM. 11:22.

BY: PETERS OBENTEY (EVANG).

INTRODUCTION

To work with God effectively we need to know His will, His character, and He acts and how he does things, because God’s ways are not man’s ways (Isa. 55:8-9).

In this sermon, we shall see God’s goodness to mankind and at the same time the severity of God.

To understand the subject better, it is important that we define the two key words: goodness and severity.

Definition:

Goodness: The quality of being good in any of its senses; excellence, virtue, kindness, benevolence.

So, God is good to the extent that He is excellent, virtuous, kind, benevolent, merciful, patience, forgiving, gracious etc.

God is benevolent. He provides for all our needs. He gives us rain, sunshine, oxygen, food, good health, money, riches whether we be sinners or righteous (Mt. 5:45).

God is merciful. The Psalmist says, his mercies endureth forever (Ps. 136:1-3).

God is Patience with mankind. The Apostle Peter says, God is patiently suffering long with man, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2Pt. 3:9).

God is ever forgiving. David said, if God were to mark the iniquities of man no man will stand before him (Ps. 130:3).

God is gracious. We are told that we are saved by grace and not by works lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:8-9).

To many of us it is only the goodness of God we want to hear and enjoy and nothing more.

We claim every good promise in the bible given by God, yet we are NOT willing or ready to put to practice many of his commandments.

This lesson is to let us know that God does not work that way. God’s way with man is conditional.

There is the other side of God. You cannot enjoy goodness, and escape from his punishment if you are not obedient to his commandment.

If it were possible some people will cut away/delete some parts of the bible that is not palatable to them.

There is severity with God.

Definition:

Severity: The quality or state of being severe. Gravity or austerity, extreme strictness; rigor, Anger, harshness, as the severity of reprimand or reproof, severity of discipline or penalties, cruel treatment, sharpness of punishment.

In the O.T we see how God severity was exhibited (Ezek. 33:12-15).

King Saul (1Sam. 13:8-14, 1 Sam. 15:19-23).

The sons of Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Nub. 16:18-33).

Moses and Aaron (Nub. 20:7-12, 23-29, Nub. 27:12-14, Deut. 34:4-6).

Angels (2Pt. 2:4).

People of Noah’s days (2Pt. 2:5).

Sodom and Gomorrah (2Pt. 2:6)

The Israelite as a nation (1Cor. 10:5-11, Jude 5).

In the N.T examples are abound.

Judas Iscariot (Mt. 27:3-5).

Ananias and Saphira (Acts 5:1-11).

The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23).

Judgment will start in the house of God (1Pt. 4:17-19)

The bible says, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31).

God is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29).

Judgement and hell fire is awaiting all the sinners (2Cor. 5:10, Mt. 25:41).

Summary and plea

Are you a Christian? Please keep yourself holy and faithful, for it is only those who are faithful to the end that shall be saved (Mk. 13:13, Heb. 12:14).

Are you here and you have not yet surrendered your life to Jesus Christ and be born again? Today is another opportunity for you to do so, for tomorrow might be too late (2Cor. 6:2).