God's character informs the purpose of his justice

[St. SteVen]

AND your definition of God's purpose in justice defines the character you are assigning to Him.

We can say that God is both loving and just without demeaning His good character.

His justice CANNOT negate His love. - And his love CANNOT negate His justice.

Therefore, the purpose of God's justice MUST be love.

Let's discuss.

]

 

[St. SteVen]

I suppose this topic ties into this one.

Is Revenge a Sin?

Most readers would answer in the affirmative. Yes, revenge is a sin... for us, but not for God. For us, but not for God? Why? Does God operate at a lower standard than he holds us to? Many would bristle at that question. Why? We are required to love our enemies. Jesus taught this as godly...

www.christianityboard.com

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[St. SteVen]

From the OP.

God's character informs the purpose of his justice​

AND your definition of God's purpose in justice defines the character you are assigning to Him.

We can say that God is both loving and just without demeaning His good character.
His justice CANNOT negate His love. - And his love CANNOT negate His justice.
Therefore, the purpose of God's justice MUST be love.

Let's discuss.

--- ADDENDUM ---

Discussion questions:
- What is God's purpose in judgement?
- Is judgement even the right word?
- Judgement assumes condemnation, a sentence of punishment.
- Why is mercy not considered as an outcome?

... Mercy triumphs over judgment. - James 2:13 NIV

]

 

[Windmill Charge]

His justice CANNOT negate His love. - And his love CANNOT negate His justice

Justice and judgement implies that there are law breakers.
Mercy implies that there is a disagreeable outcome to judgement.

How one views these issues very much depends on whether one loo,s at it from a human viewpoint or whether one tries to see it from God's view point.

People all to often assume that they deserve heaven, God's blessing etc because in their sight they are good.

But when seen from God's angle, we are All, without exception enemies of God who hate him and his laws.

From this angle his sending of Jesus is gracious, loving and merciful.
We do not comprehend the extend of God's love in this.

But if this was love beyond d measure it follows that whoever does not respond to this love deserves entirely all of God's wrath in judgement.

 

[St. SteVen]

Justice and judgement implies that there are law breakers.
Mercy implies that there is a disagreeable outcome to judgement.

How one views these issues very much depends on whether one loo,s at it from a human viewpoint or whether one tries to see it from God's view point.

People all to often assume that they deserve heaven, God's blessing etc because in their sight they are good.

But when seen from God's angle, we are All, without exception enemies of God who hate him and his laws.

From this angle his sending of Jesus is gracious, loving and merciful.
We do not comprehend the extend of God's love in this.

But if this was love beyond d measure it follows that whoever does not respond to this love deserves entirely all of God's wrath in judgement.

What a tragic POV.

"Mercy implies that there is a disagreeable outcome to judgement." ???
(God's character = merciless?)

"People all to often assume that they deserve heaven, God's blessing etc because in their sight they are good." ???
(Christians often assume people are bad)

"But when seen from God's angle, we are All, without exception enemies of God who hate him and his laws." ???
(blame the victim mentality)

"... whoever does not respond to this love deserves entirely all of God's wrath in judgement." ???
(the consequence for not receiving a free gift? - incineration) What's free about that?

--- PARODY ---

Person #1: Receive the free gift of eternal life.
Person #2: No thanks.
Person #1: I said it was free.
Person #2: There must be some strings attached.
Person #1: Well, of course.
Person #2: It's not a free gift then, right?
Person #1: You had better take it... or else!
Person #2: Say what?
Person #1: Otherwise you will be incinerated!
Person #2: What sort of free gift is that?

Indeed.

]

 

[Windmill Charge]

What a tragic POV.

"Mercy implies that there is a disagreeable outcome to judgement." ???
(God's character = merciless?)

"People all to often assume that they deserve heaven, God's blessing etc because in their sight they are good." ???
(Christians often assume people are bad)

"But when seen from God's angle, we are All, without exception enemies of God who hate him and his laws." ???
(blame the victim mentality)

"... whoever does not respond to this love deserves entirely all of God's wrath in judgement." ???
(the consequence for not receiving a free gift? - incineration) What's free about that?

--- PARODY ---

Person #1: Receive the free gift of eternal life.
Person #2: No thanks.
Person #1: I said it was free.
Person #2: There must be some strings attached.
Person #1: Well, of course.
Person #2: It's not a free gift then, right?
Person #1: You had better take it... or else!
Person #2: Say what?
Person #1: Otherwise you will be incinerated!
Person #2: What sort of free gift is that?

Indeed.

]

As you said what you posted is a parody of the mercy, love and grace that God lavished upon us.

 

[St. SteVen]

As you said what you posted is a parody of the mercy, love and grace that God lavished upon us.

On the contrary.
It was a parody of how poorly we present it to the world.

Not to make fun of God, but to make fun of you.

[

 

[St. SteVen]

From the OP.

We can say that God is both loving and just without demeaning His good character.

His justice CANNOT negate His love. - And his love CANNOT negate His justice.

Therefore, the purpose of God's justice MUST be love.

Let's discuss.

]

 

[Windmill Charge]

God has shown how vast his love for us is, by his sending of Jesus to redeem us.

Yet God is not a doormat to be trampled underfoot. There is a consequence in rejecting God's offer of salvation.
Jesus told us clearly in John5:
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.

 

[St. SteVen]

From the OP.

God's character informs the purpose of his justice​

AND your definition of God's purpose in justice defines the character you are assigning to Him.

We can say that God is both loving and just without demeaning His good character.
His justice CANNOT negate His love. - And his love CANNOT negate His justice.
Therefore, the purpose of God's justice MUST be love.

Let's discuss.

--- ADDENDUM ---

Discussion questions:
- What is God's purpose in judgement?
- Is judgement even the right word?
- Judgement assumes condemnation, a sentence of punishment.
- Why is mercy not considered as an outcome?
... Mercy triumphs over judgment. - James 2:13 NIV

]

 

[St. SteVen]

God's character informs the purpose of his justice​

AND your definition of God's purpose in justice defines the character you are assigning to Him.

We can say that God is both loving and just without demeaning His good character.

His justice CANNOT negate His love. - And his love CANNOT negate His justice.

Therefore, the purpose of God's justice MUST be love.

Let's discuss.

]

 

[St. SteVen]

God's character informs the purpose of his justice

AND your definition of God's purpose in justice defines the character you are assigning to Him.

We can say that God is both loving and just without demeaning His good character.

His justice CANNOT negate His love. - And his love CANNOT negate His justice.

Therefore, the purpose of God's justice MUST be love.

Let's discuss.

]

 

[St. SteVen]

God's character informs the purpose of his justice​

AND your definition of God's purpose in justice defines the character you are assigning to Him.

We can say that God is both loving and just without demeaning His good character.

His justice CANNOT negate His love. - And his love CANNOT negate His justice.

Therefore, the purpose of God's justice MUST be love.

Let's discuss.

 

[lforrest]

God's character informs the purpose of his justice​

AND your definition of God's purpose in justice defines the character you are assigning to Him.

We can say that God is both loving and just without demeaning His good character.

His justice CANNOT negate His love. - And his love CANNOT negate His justice.

Therefore, the purpose of God's justice MUST be love.

Let's discuss.

It would seem that God's justice establishes fairness. As revealed in the parable with Lazarus and the rich man. "But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish."

This fairness appears to be in accordance with God's interest in maintaining cosmic order. This order appears to be related to the economy of blessings. All owe a debt to God for the blessings given to us. Our sins against God or anyone else also indebt us further. He expects the blessings we have to be used to lift up those who are poor and oppressed. Not to tip the scales further in our favor in this life.

Chief among our blessings is the gift of his Son Jesus Christ. By the Son our debt to God is paid by the profound injustice he suffered.

When we act independently of God, it seems his blessings count as debts. But when acting in accordance to his will, the blessings are not debted against us because we are as his agents. The saved are the sons and daughters of God, our interests are to do the will of the Father in blessing others. Sons and daughters do not owe debts.