This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3.21-26)
“God is always loving; the Bible can say that ‘God is love’ (1 John 4:8). But it is mistaken to think of God as always wrathful; there is no passage that affirms that ‘God is wrath.’ Even an affirmation such as ‘God is a consuming fire’ (Heb. 12:29, citing Deut. 4:24) lies within the context of encouraging faithfulness and perseverance, of warning against apostasy, unbelief, and disobedience. In other words, God’s wrath is the response (including an affective element) of his holiness to sin.” (D.A. Carson, “The Wrath of God,” in B. McCormack, Engaging the Doctrine of God, p. 49)
Prayer: Lord, we have heard of your fame; we stand in awe of your deeds. Renew them in our day, make them known in our time; in wrath remember mercy (cf. Habakkuk 3.2). In Jesus’ name, amen.
Let’s sing “Remember Mercy” (Vineyard). Click here.
–JP