Archive for the 'Bible Studies for Life' Category
The God Who is Just
There is a wave across churches today, calling for followers of Jesus to be more concerned about justice in our world. The long battle against abortion, human trafficking, exploitation of the poor, and other important issues are being evaluated apart from politics. Christians are recognizing that God’s character is being disregarded in our society. His righteous standard is being ignored.
Injustice is not new
Much of the Old Testament deals with injustice. God repeatedly sent prophets to warn the people of Israel and other nations about their treatment of widows, orphans, and the poor. Sometimes, even the spiritual leaders were involved in exploitation, leaving their calling as “shepherds” to act like wolves.
Equal accountability for all
One facet of God’s justice is His call to personal, individual obedience and righteousness. God does not condemn one person based on the sin of another. Each man, woman, boy, and girl are responsible for their own sin. As Freddy Cordoza writes in the Summer 2014 unit of Bible Studies for Life, “God is fair in the sense that His justice holds everyone equally accountable for their actions. God is completely just, but He is also merciful, showing mercy to those who choose to turn to Him.”
The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel was commissioned by God to rebuke his people during some of the spiritually roughest days in the history of Israel. Yet, God demonstrated willingness to have mercy on those who trusted Him, “‘Now if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will not die. None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. He will live because of the righteousness he has practiced. Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?’ This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. ‘Instead, don’t I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?’” (Ezekiel 18:21-23, HCSB).
God is just and merciful
The same sentiment is reflected in the New Testament when Jesus teaches, “I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance.” The “one sinner” is neither condemned nor saved due to the 99 righteous. The one must repent before God. When that happens, God hears and forgives.
The justice of God is not merely an expression of His wrath toward wrong. It is God’s willingness to show no partiality based on gender, age, race, tribe or social standing, His mercy in offering salvation to all, His grace in extending salvation to those who respond in faith, and His righteous judgment on those who do not believe that God’s justice is fully seen.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church General Editor, Bible Studies for Life
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
The God Who is Love
Love makes the world go round. All you need is love. Love, love, love. The greatest of these is love. A lot is said about love in our culture.
Humans want to experience love and humans need to love. People love for various reasons: to gain love in return, because they experienced love from someone else, because they have a great appreciation for something or someone, and other reasons. People grow into maturity having experienced love from parents, family, and friends.
Still, sometimes we find it difficult to love, especially those who have hurt us in some way. The Bible reveals that God is love, and He enables us to love.
You cannot miss love in the Bible
The emphasis in the Bible placed on love is nearly impossible to miss. From the beginning to the end, we see the love of God for the world. We see the loving sacrifice of Jesus for sinners, the love we are commanded to have for each other, and the love we should have for those who do not know God. This love flows from the God who is love. The Scripture tells us, “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God…God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.” (1 John 4:7, 9, HCSB).
All true, non-manipulative, lasting, sacrificial love originates in God. This refers to God’s nature, not merely His activity: God is love, not simply, God loves.
How can we love?
According to John, we can love because we have been born again from the God who is love. We love because God transforms us into people of love. When God is controlling our spirit and emotions, we love in a way that reflects His love. When our love is like His, it will not be fickle or subject to change. It will not wear thin.
In loving others, we relay the love of God we have experienced, the pinnacle of which was the gift of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote, “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” (Romans 5:8, HCSB) It is this love that should compel us. It is not without reason that the first Christlike virtue listed in the fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22). Our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ and our love for those outside the body of Christ are primary indicators of our holiness.
No one has ever been hated into the kingdom of God, but thousands have been loved into it. The God who is love enables and empowers those who are His to love. “This is one of the greatest truths of the Bible: God loves us. We do nothing to make God love us; He just loves us. Our response is to love Him and love those He loves.”1
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
General Editor, Bible Studies for Life
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.