The other side of the Gospel

Do you know that love includes accountability? A good parent requires discipline of his son, even though it causes conflict. A devoted wife pursues her husband and will not tolerate other loves in his life. Our permissive culture resists the idea that God could love people and yet be their Judge. One of the FAQ’s I encounter is; how could a loving God allow that to happen to people? It is precisely because He loves that He holds us accountable to Himself! The prophets reminded God’s people that their actions would have sure consequence. "The Lord... will cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains by a spirit of judgment that burns like fire." (Isaiah 4:4, NLT) He has a standard that we ignore to our peril. "The Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer." (Amos 7:8, NIV)

If you believe that judgment is just a first covenant idea, consider one of the most familiar passages in the Bible. Most people can quote John 3:16 or at least some fragment of it that declares God’s love for the world. Now take a look at the complete thought. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. “There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil." (John 3:16-19, NLT) That’s the other side of the Gospel! Accept it and live; refuse it and the very Good News becomes a writ of judgment!

Christians ought to be deeply grateful for the grace of God that removes judgment and gives life. They should not confuse His willingness to forgive, however with an inability to hold them accountable. If a disciple chooses to live disobediently, to ‘sin and grin,’ the seeds he is planting will produce a harvest. The letter to the Galatians rips into the false teachers who misled those Christians into a religion based on their own goodness, who placed them under a heavy load of ‘law.’ And yet, near the conclusion of this letter of grace, the Spirit makes this appeal. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:7-9, NIV) A deep appreciation of the favor and love of our Father does not lead us to permissive, self-expression. If we love Him, we obey Him and from our obedience grows a rich crop of blessings!

(A caution is in order here. He is Judge, I am not; nor are you. Be careful about quickly concluding that when a fellow Christian is suffering, it must be because he has sinned and is being judged by God! I know He can and He does, but judgment is reserved for Him. We must love and encourage. He is a father who reminds his children that he can handle the discipline in the household.)

Here’s a word from the Word. It reminds us of the other side of the Gospel. May we have the faith to receive it joyfully.  

"If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death, what do you think will happen if you turn on God’s Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit? This is no light matter. God has warned us that he’ll hold us to account and make us pay.

He was quite explicit: “Vengeance is mine, and I won’t overlook a thing” and “God will judge his people.” Nobody’s getting by with anything, believe me." (Hebrews 10:28-31, The Message)