Romans 1:18-20 “For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what
may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to
them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His
eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”
Continuing Pastor Kyle’s
message from the book of Nahum, he proclaims that the second of the comforting
divine characteristics of God that Nahum wants us to remember is that God’s vengeance
and wrath prove He is always just. About Himself, God says, “I am holy, just
and righteous. I am of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. The soul that sins
shall die”. God must punish sin because His laws declare that our sins must be
punished. Sin separates us from God and God will certainly punish all sin. If
He were only justice, then we would all be condemned. However, God is loving
and merciful. But, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to take our sins upon Himself
and to bear God’s wrath so that we could receive salvation through His atoning
sacrifice. The wrath of God is death and by Christ, we are saved from God’s just
wrath. As Revelation 6:16 -17 asks, When
the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand? God’s
justice is always there. We may live in a fallen world, but God is just and in
control. Justice shall prevail.
Psalm 103:8 “The Lord is merciful
and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.”
Pastor Kyle’s third of the comforting divine
characteristics of God that Nahum wants us to remember is that God’s slowness
to anger shows us that we can always run to Him. We live in the “Age of Grace”.
We are always able to run back to God when we fall. Our Father God waits for
us. Know that we are safe with our Heavenly Father. Commentator Matthew Henry
on this characteristic of God states; “He
is slow to anger, not extreme to mark what we do amiss nor ready to take
advantage against us. He bears long with those that are very provoking, defers
punishing, that he may give space to repent, and does not speedily execute the
sentence of his law; and he could not be thus slow to anger if he
were not plenteous in mercy, the very Father of mercies. Peter 3:9-10 tells us, The Lord is
not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he
is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. What does that
translate to us today? Well, that is the very next point.
Let’s continue Pastor Kyle’s
message from the book of Nahum in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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