The goodness and severity of God - Halifax Christadelphians · The Goodness and Severity of God 2 Peter 3 v 10 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the

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The Goodness and Severity of God

The goodness and severity of God


Romans 11 v 22

“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God : on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shaltbe cut off.”

Goodness & Severity

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What do we hope to achieve?

• Understand the ‘Goodness’ of God

• Understand the ‘Severity’ of God• Explore how they link to each other• Understand how they fit with God’s ‘Plan & Purpose’

The Goodness of God

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Examples of goodness:

• Creation• God’s character• God’s son• God’s people• God’s promises

The Goodness of God


“In the beginning God

created the heavens and

the earth”

God created the world

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• Day & Night• Sky• Land• Vegetation• Creatures of sea & sky• Creatures of land• Mankind

‘And it was good’


• Day & Night• Sky• Land• Vegetation• Creatures of sea & sky• Creatures of land• Mankind

“God saw all that he had made and it was very good”

‘And it was good’

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Exodus 34 v 6

God’s character


Exodus 34 v 6

“…..The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,”

God’s character

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Christ• God’s son• Example of God’s character• Example of goodness

Other Examples• Miracles• Saving the sick• Curing ailments

“God saw all that he had made and it was very good”

Other examples

The Severity of God

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The suffering of man• Natural disasters• Extreme weather• War• Disease and famine• Suffering of all types

The Severity of God


The suffering of man• Someone to blame• God is often blamed• It was an ‘Act of God’!

Why suffering?• Why does God allow it?• Isn’t God a god of love?

Is God responsible for all the suffering in the wor ld?

The Severity of God

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The intervention of God• Why flood the earth?• Why destroy nations?• Why allow Christ to die?• Why punish Adam & Eve

Does God show severity?

The Severity of God


“Behold, therefore, the goodness and severity of God” – Romans 11:22

Severity - ‘Decisiveness’

God demonstrates both ‘goodness’ and ‘decisiveness’

The Severity of God

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Goodness & Severity


Two are complimentary

Examples of:• Parent & Child• Teacher & Pupil• Employer & employee

Being ‘cruel’ to be kind?Being decisive when required

Goodness & Severity

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Noah’s Flood Example of decisiveness

• An evil world• World flooded• Population destroyed

• 8 men & women saved• God saved believers• Provided a new start

Goodness & Severity





Goodness & SeveritySeverity

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Goodness & Severity

Goodness


First born of Egypt

• Pharaohs refusal • First born killed • Army killed in Red Sea

• Israel had to be saved• Escaped plague• Passed through Red Sea

Goodness & Severity

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First born of Egypt


• Israel had to be saved• Escaped plague• Passed through Red Sea• Formed a nation - Israel

Goodness & Severity

Severity


First born of Egypt


• Israel had to be saved• Escaped plague• Passed through Red Sea• Formed a nation - Israel

Goodness & Severity

Goodness

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God’s plan & purpose


Plan & Purpose?

To understand the goodness and severity of God, we need to understand His Plan and Purpose

God’s Plan and Purpose

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God created the world:

• To be filled with His creation• To give Him pleasure• To create a world that lived in harmony with His ways

Creation – Why?


Revelation 4 v 11

Creation – Why?

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Revelation 4 v 11

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Creation – Why?


God’s instruction

Adam & Eve:• Allowed to live in Garden • Could eat from any tree• Except for one tree• They ate from that tree• The first ‘transgression’• Man had failed• Sin & Death introduced

Creation – Why?

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God’s instructions


Creation – Why?

Goodness


God’s instructions


Creation – Why?

Severity

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Romans 5 v 12

The consequence of sin


Romans 5 v 12

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

The consequence of sin

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John 3 v 16,17

God so loved the world


John 3 v 16,17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

God so loved the world

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John 3 v 16,17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son , that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


God so loved the worldSeverity


John 3 v 16,17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


God so loved the worldGoodness

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Jesus provides a way for mankind to be saved

Goodness – a way out for man

Severity – God was prepared to see His own son killed

Jesus Christ – The Saviour


Christ’s death:

• Jesus lived a perfect life• Overcame sin, & death • Provides hope to all • God has provided hope • Promise of a Kingdom• An everlasting Kingdom

Hope for mankind

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God’s instruction

The Bible:• God’s Plan & Purpose• Read it• Understand it • Believe in its message• Be baptised

Baptism – symbolic death and re-birth

Hope for mankind


God’s instruction



Hope for mankind

Severity

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God’s instruction



Hope for mankind

Severity Goodness


2 Peter 3 v 9

The Kingdom of God

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2 Peter 3 v 9

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

The Kingdom of God


The return of Christ

• Christ will return• Some will be saved• Some will not• Opportunity will be given to unbelievers

The Kingdom of God

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Severity – God will not save all

Goodness – God will save all who follow his ways

Goodness – God will provide a means for people to change their ways

The Kingdom of God


2 Peter 3 v 10

The Kingdom of God

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2 Peter 3 v 10

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”

The Kingdom of God


Severity – present ways and values will end

Goodness – everlasting life for those who follow

Goodness – an end to sin, suffering and death

The Kingdom of God

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Romans 11 v 22

“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God : on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shaltbe cut off.”

Goodness & Severity

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The goodness and severity of God - Halifax Christadelphians · The Goodness and Severity of God 2 Peter 3 v 10 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the