Exhortation and Repentance
The Wages of Sin Are Death
4 min read, approximately
“God is a righteous judge, Yea, a God that hath indignation every day. If a man turn not, he will whet his sword; He hath bent his bow, and made it ready; He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; He maketh his arrows fiery [shafts]. Behold, he travaileth with iniquity; Yea, he hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He hath made a pit, and digged it, And is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, And his violence shall come down upon his own pate.” (Psalms 7:11-16)
In many places we see posters saying ‘God is love,’ and that is true. Yet this is often used as an excuse to do wrong and believe God will forgive us in the end, which is not entirely true. Let us review what God’s Word says: \1. Repentance or God’s judgment?
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his works:” (Romans 2:4-6)
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.” (James 4:8)
\2. God is merciful, but if we act wickedly, we will be destroyed:
“All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell for evermore. For Jehovah loveth justice, And forsaketh not his saints; They are preserved for ever: But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.” (Psalms 37:26-28)
\3. If God is great and omnipresent, do we still believe we can do wrong without him noticing?
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8)
\4. God is willing to forgive us, but are we willing to stop doing wrong?
“Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)
\5. Is it clear to us that the wicked will go into the fiery furnace?
“So shall it be in the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the righteous, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:49-50)
So today, let us turn away from evil, repent from the heart, and:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)
God is good, but he is also just!
May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
I invite you to stop by the Songbook