{"id":1241,"date":"2022-01-22T21:28:07","date_gmt":"2022-01-22T12:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/203.170.86.202\/wildeden.com.au\/news\/?p=1241"},"modified":"2022-01-22T21:28:07","modified_gmt":"2022-01-22T12:28:07","slug":"a-side-of-god-you-may-have-never-heard-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wildeden.com.au\/news\/soul-food\/for-thought\/2022\/a-side-of-god-you-may-have-never-heard-about\/","title":{"rendered":"A side of God you may have never heard about"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are many places where you will hear about \u2018God\u2019, or at least one side of the entity that people believe represents Him\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n

At funerals, weddings, in movies, in some churches – you will hear all about God\u2019s incredible love and His undeserved mercy – His immense forgiveness. At times, you may have been left wondering \u2018how could God forgive *that* person??\u2019. You may know that the person being talked about was in no way a believer let alone a follower, but still the message is that this person is now in Heaven.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this is often simply not true and is presenting something very false about \u2018God\u2019\u2026 In fact, this \u2018god\u2019 has been made up – it is a non-existent \u2018god\u2019 – a figment of people\u2019s imagination and desires. Sure, they may use religious words or even particular scriptures to support their view, but regardless, it is false – beware!\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the other extreme – others focus on the total opposite\u2026 At least one large religion focusses on the other side of God: His apparent determination to torture everyone, with a long list of to-do\u2019s to try to avoid such a fate. Many of these to-do\u2019s will be about spreading the version of religion they are blinded by or trapped in, a never-ending list with consequences for failing to keep up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, both these extremes leave us with a totally false notion of God, who He is or what He expects\u2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To get a grasp on truth, as always, let\u2019s look what the Bible states\u2026it\u2019s the one thing that has not and does not change according to the culture, pressure or times. And lets\u2019 look at both \u2018sides\u2019 of what it states\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n

If a person does not repent,<\/em>
God will sharpen his sword;<\/em>
he will bend and string his bow.<\/em>
13 He will prepare his deadly weapons<\/em>
and shoot his flaming arrows.<\/em><\/p>\n

Psalms 7:12-13 (NLT)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This verse doesn\u2019t paint the nicest picture! It is very clear: God is coming after the sinner who refuses to repent. The Creator, with unlimited power, will sharpen His sword, string His bow and shoot His flaming arrows! God is ANGRY at sin!<\/p>\n

All through the Old Testament, the anger of God against sin is known and stated. But\u00a0*surely*<\/em> in the New Testament it is different?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Well, actually no! God doesn\u2019t change, nor does His attitude towards sin. Consider this verse:<\/p>\n

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.\u00a0Romans 1:18 (NLT) <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

So, what God does or thinks towards sinners is clear, but what about \u2018normal’ people?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Everyone knows John 3:16, (how God loves the world so much that He gave His one and only Son\u2026), but \u00a0just 20 verses later we read:\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Anyone who doesn\u2019t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God\u2019s angry judgment.\u201d John 3:36\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

God\u2019s angry judgment could be read: ‘the wrath of God.\u2019 That\u2019s right – the wrath of God rests on every person who does not obey the Son (Jesus)!!<\/p>\n

Not quite the happy clappy, ‘God loves everyone’ message at many \u2018churches\u2019 and funerals! In fact, all through the New Testament, this message of God\u2019s anger towards sin is re-iterated over and over.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a serious issue – sin. We live in a world where the target of the police changes day to day from speeding to seatbelts to not having the right needle in the arm, but for God sin has remained the same. Lying, stealing, hatred, lust \/ adultery, envy, not putting God first etc.\u00a0<\/p>\n

God wants you to repent:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cTherefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign LORD. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don\u2019t let them destroy you! 31 Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? 32 I don\u2019t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!\u00a0<\/em>Ezekiel 18:30-32 (NLT)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Not because He wants to spoil your fun – but so that your life lines up with His intended purpose\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n

BUT PLEASE BE CLEAR. This is where many religions, groups and cults pervert the truth of the situation\u2026They will tell you that you have to do x, y, z and then a, b, c. They re-frame the truth to serve their own purpose: trying to trap people into being their own religious zealots, trying to earn their salvation by serving their religion. \u00a0<\/p>\n

But Jesus made it clear: you can not do\u00a0*anything*<\/em> to earn your own forgiveness<\/strong>!
\"YouEffectively, you are doomed! But, instead of leaving you in that hopeless state, He willingly agreed to pay the price for\u00a0your sin. That\u2019s right – the only Son of God, the perfect and sinless lamb of God, gave up His place in Heaven – came to the earth He created and lived a perfect, sin-free life – avoiding all temptation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Then He was rejected, tortured and killed – His blood paying for the sins you and I committed!\u00a0<\/p>\n

This ever-so-powerful sacrifice, made it possible for God, (the One who is incredibly angry at sin), to say things like:\u00a0<\/p>\n