City Life Starter

I. The Word: Romans 11:22-24 (NLT):

22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. 23 And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. 24 You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.

Hebrews 13:8 (NLT):

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

By Aisha Darwesh

On Sunday, Pastor Chris talked about the seemingly differing nature of God in the Old and New Testament and how this perceived difference can be a hindrance to believing in God.

I really loved the point Pastor Chris made about how God’s Presence brings not only power but also judgment. Because God is holy, we must grasp the truth that God’s gentle kindness exists side-by-side with His rigid severity when it comes to sin.

God is just. God is merciful. God is gracious. These all seem to contradict, but we see how God’s justice, mercy, and grace are fully expressed and satisfied in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because God is just, He is unable to sweep sin under the rug. Sin must be judged. Because God is merciful, it is not His will that any should perish. Because God is gracious, He desires that all would have everlasting life.

The rich complexity of God’s holy nature works together in perfect harmony as displayed in the simplicity of the Gospel:

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. (Romans 3:23-26).

Prayer

Father, I am so grateful for Who You are. You are so good to me. Because of Your Love, You provided a way for me to be right in Your sight. His Name is Jesus Christ, my Lord & Savior. Now, I get to love You in return. In Jesus Name, Amen.