Who Is God Really?

Introduction

There’s a verse that I would like you to mark in your Bible and thus mark it in your mind permanently, if I could get you to do that. John 17 and verse 3 would be one of those verses. John 17 and verse 3, which really serves as a basis for what I’m going to say in the introduction this morning. This is eternal life. And whatever follows a statement like that, you really need to pay attention to in the prayer that Jesus prays the night of his betrayal. And this is eternal life that they might know you, the only true and living God. And Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. It’s our attempt this morning to help you, to help us all better do that. To know the true and living God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Because when I ask the question, who is God really? You need to be able to answer that question. Eternal life hangs in the balance. So many are ignorant of who God is really. And amazingly, they are ignorant as well of who Jesus is. Who was God in human flesh? We have this record of his life and his claims and his teaching. And yet, so often it is the spiritual killer of our time. People are ignorant of exactly what he claimed and what he demands of those who would be his disciples. But equally unknown to Emmanuel, God with us, is God generally, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the minds of many. The love of God is so abounding and limitless that virtually no one is going to be lost.

And certainly God is love. And we’ve sung about the love of God. And we can talk about the love of God for hours if every stalk on earth were a quill and every man a scribe by trade. We could ride and ride and write. We could drain the oceans dry, document after document about the love of God, and never really get to ultimately how great the love of God is. This aspect of his character. And certainly, 1 John 4 says in a number of verses, God is love and what the love of God has done for man. But some then conclude the love of God is so great and so extensive and so abounding and limitless that nobody’s going to be lost. And while the depth of God’s perfect love exceeds comprehension.

There are some things the scriptures tell us that we would do well to know about God, and that is that God’s love does not exclude wrath toward evildoers. Everybody is not going to be saved because God is love. We talked about that last week in Matthew chapter 7. There’s a broad gate and a broad way that leads to destruction, and many are going in thereat. And Jesus is the one who taught that. The fact that God’s nature is that of love, a love that we can hardly fathom, does not mean that people are not going to be lost, that this somehow excludes wrath toward evildoers. It does not mean that God is going to save everybody regardless. If that were the case, why would I even be preaching here this morning?

Everybody’s going to be saved regardless. So why sweat any of the details? It is not even a love that saves everyone who claims to know and love Jesus. Not everyone who says unto me, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus says in Matthew 7 and verse 21, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. And he goes on to say that many will say to me in that day, I know you. I knew you. And he says, No, I don’t know you because you practice lawlessness. You’re not living according to the law of God. And so we learn from that text very clearly. Even those who claim to know and love Jesus, those claims alone are not sufficient to save.

And what else, one other thing that I think is important in this regard about what the love of God is and is not.

As Peter talks about the trial of our faith, which is more perishable, which is imperishable. Gold perishes, but that our faith being refined may result in praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. And he says in chapter 4 that it is with difficulty that the righteous are saved. And then he says, Entrust your soul to a faithful creator in doing what is right. And yet so often, sometimes when Christians experience any kind of difficulty or upset or disappointment, some severe circumstance in their lives, it’s like, well, God must not really love me.

1. God's Amazing Love Is Evidenced by His Patience

If God was truly a God of love, then he would be noticing my discomfort and pain. Oh, he notices. But again, he speaks of the trial of our faith and even his chastening, but that’s another whole sermon. But I want to affirm to you, yes, the love of God is amazing. And one of the ways in which the amazing love of God is evidenced is in his patience. So I want to speak to you for a moment this morning about the patience of God as an evidence of God’s love. And in 2 Peter chapter 3, that’s precisely the point Peter is making when some are looking at day after day after day, but didn’t the Lord promise to return? Where’s the promise of his coming? And these are the scoffers that ask this question.

God has said he’s going to come, but hasn’t come yet. And he hasn’t come to this day. We’re all still here. But Peter affirms, just like the world was destroyed with a flood, water destroyed the earth, the present earth is reserved for a fiery end, he goes on to say in that context. And the reason why it is not yet occurred, first of all, is a day with the Lord is a thousand years, and a thousand years is one day. He doesn’t work on any timetable we might want to impose upon him. And a day is a thousand years, a thousand years is one day, sort of incorporates a long period of time, doesn’t it? Possibly. And why is it that he is not yet come?

Verse 9 of 2 Peter 3 says, He is not willing that any should perish. It’s not that he relishes the ideas we said last week of people who are walking the broad way to destruction. He doesn’t want that for anybody. He’s not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Oh, there’s some change that’s going to be involved. Even though God is love, we’ve got to come to repentance to know the blessings of his salvation. And he says, but some won’t. The day of the Lord is going to come as a thief in the night. And when that happens, the elements are going to be destroyed with fervent heat, he goes on to say. And then he says, what manner of persons ought you to be?

As a result of the judgment that’s coming. And then verse 15. And account the long suffering or the patience of our Lord as salvation. That’s an important verse. God’s love is evidenced in the fact that you and I are still breathing oxygen today. He awaits more people to be saved. This present earth moves ever closer to its fiery end. And the only reason that it is not yet happened is because of the love of God demonstrated in his patience. We’re here today because God’s patient.

The egregious atrocities that men commit against his righteousness on a daily minute by minute basis. I want you to think about in God’s patience as he waits presently for more individuals to repent before he ultimately sets this globe on fire and destroys everything. That day after day and minute after minute, the egregious acts, the atrocities, the sinfulness that he has to endure. People demanding not just the toleration, but the approval of homosexuality. As if anyone who stands opposed to the practice of homosexuality is of necessity a hater. Well, God must be a hater then. Because he’s opposed to the practice of homosexuality. People that have read the Bible know this. It’s not that he hates homosexuals. And look, I’m not a hater because I’m opposed to homosexuality any more than I’m a hater because I’m opposed to some heterosexual relationships.

We ought to be equally indignant about fornication and adultery that are opposed to the righteousness of God. I’m opposed to some marriages between man and woman that are considered adulterous before God. That doesn’t make me a hater. All homosexual unions are immoral. I must be opposed to that. This is not to be equated with race. You know, you know it’s really what’s being done. Homosexuals are being treated as a race, as in terms of some ethnicity or skin color thing in our culture. Unbelievable.

Profane words spew forth from wicked hearts. I just, I’m appalled when I hear about a movie like The Wolf on Wall Street that contains 700 words of profanity. Were there any script writers for this thing? Could we come up with some actual meaningful dialogue? 700 profanities, one particular word that gets noticed by those who give the ratings 500 times, 500 of the 700 words. Not to mention the sexual indecency in the film. And if you need to know about films, plugged in online tells you what the content is of these films. These kinds of egregious acts. Why hasn’t the Lord ended all of this? When the general movement seems to be further and further away from God. The only reason must be is that some souls in some places are still coming to repentance.

2. God's Compelling Love Is Extended by His Mercy

The gospel is still changing lives. And so our business as God’s people is to assist in God’s desire for more people to come to repentance. And I’ll tell you this about that against the canvas of a dark world, Christians can shine ever more brightly. And I will conclude with this that each day that we live is evidence of the patience of God. God’s amazing love is evidenced by his patience. But secondly, God’s compelling love is extended by his mercy. And I want to make sure I have everything on my notes that I express this, so I’m going to be looking at my notes. The sentence all sinners deserve from the judge of all the earth. The sentence that every last one of us deserve. Everyone in this assembly this morning, what we deserve is eternal banishment.

Away from the presence of the Lord and his righteousness and holiness. That’s what we’ve earned. That’s what we deserve, every one of us. But God. I love that in Titus chapter 3. In Titus chapter 3, where Paul is explaining to Titus the wonders of our salvation. When we were once foolish ourselves. This is us, folks. Foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. Remember, that’s the way where we were. Let’s not be there now. We were once these things, all of us. He says, but when the kindness of God, our Savior, and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us. Not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

And thus we need to be careful to engage in good deeds, to be ready for every good deed. It says in Titus 3 and verse 1 and 3 and verse 8. That’s the sentence we all deserve. Secondly, considering we deserve that sentence. The opportunity for the likes of us to come into fellowship and to enjoy the blessings of his favor.

Makes me a tremendous debtor.

That’s what I love about the parable of Matthew chapter 18. Remember when Peter said, How often should I forgive my brother? Seven times. So generous. Jesus said up to 70 times that. And then he tells the story, the parable of the guy who owes 10,000 talents. That’s a sum of money that a fellow could never repay. And what’s amazing to me about that parable and about that story is that’s you and me in the story. That’s everyone who’s been forgiven by the grace and mercy of God. That immeasurable sum that could never be repaid. I know the story goes on to talk about a fellow who owed him a lot lesser amount of money, and he mistreats that guy, and thus his forgiveness is revoked. I understand where that story goes.

But the person in the story initially that has forgiven this amazing debt that could never be repaid, that’s all of us. That’s us. We need to never lose sight of the fact of our indebtedness to God. And I would say this, point number three. We would likely never transgress again. If we understood fully the love and grace of God toward us. Simple gratitude. Simple gratitude should compel a loving and faithful and obedient and sinless response to God. And that’s why John says, I write these things that you sin not. 1 John chapter 2 and verse 1. But if any man sins, we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous. God fully understands our folly. And that’s exactly what it is. It’s folly. Every time we transgress, every time we sin.

Particularly when you consider what we know as God’s people and what we came from, as we read about in Titus chapter 3 and verse 3, considering that we are in the know as God’s people and understand his great plan to save us and have turned from sin to follow the true and living God and to walk in his ways and yet still struggle with sin. It’s folly every single time. It’s never good for us. It’s never in our best interests. It is never elevating of the quality of our lives, even though we think it is. And God knows that temptation will prove difficult for us. His amazing love, Jesus comes to the aid of his brethren. He comes to the aid of the tempted. Hebrews 2 18.

Our sympathizing high priest knows our weakness. And we are able to come boldly to the throne of grace to find help in a time of need. Wow. Oh, the mercy of God. And that should suggest that we should never ever take a cavalier attitude toward the commission of a single sin. And presume upon God’s mercy in the light of our rebellion. The commission of sin should always be attended with great remorse, a sorrowful plea for forgiveness, and a determination to a better and nobler course with the intent to overcome. Pray for one another, that you may be healed. James says in chapter 5 and verse 16, confess your faults one to another. But in the end, despite our most valiant and diligent and sustained efforts, and let me stop right there.

3. If We Spurn His Love, We Shall Receive His Wrath

Our most valiant, diligent and sustained efforts, despite those, let’s make sure we’re giving that. Despite our most valiant, diligent, and sustained efforts in the fight of faith, our most excellent attempts to defeat the adversary. None of us will deserve what God has promised his people. And that’s why Paul prayed, despite the excellence of Onociphorus in 2 Timothy chapter 1, I pray for mercy on him and on his house. Now, God’s love is evidence in his amazing patience, and God’s love is compelling as we receive his mercy for our foolishness. But if we spurn his love, we shall receive his wrath. I told you I was going to talk about the wrath of God. This is it. Well, in the Old Testament, God got angry a few times.

The flood, when the thoughts of man’s hearts were evil continually, in Genesis chapter 6, he said, I’m not going to strive with man forever. 120 years shall be man’s days, and Noah builds the ark, and the whole world is destroyed by a flood. Eight souls. God was angry. His patience had run out. Genesis 19. The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah was so great. He goes to the few righteous within that city, a handful, Lot, his wife, and two daughters, say, Whoever you have in this place, get out of here. God is going to destroy this place. And God brings fire and brimstone. And homosexuality was one of the sins that was rampant in Sodom and Gomorrah. And he, his patience runs out and he destroys Sodom and Gomorrah.

And when I started thinking about God’s wrath in the Old Testament, this one, I could, I could reference a lot. We don’t have time. I could reference a lot, but this one came to mind for some reason, 2 Kings chapter 1. I love this story. It’s sad, really, in a way, but it’s fascinating to me. Ahaziah, not a good king, falls through the lattice. And he’s wondering if he’s going to recover. And so he inquires of Baal Zabub, the God of Ekron, as to whether he’s going to survive. Big mistake on his part. Elijah the Tishbite is informed about it. And Elisha says, Is there? Sends message to the king and says, there’s no God in Israel. That you’re going to turn to Baal for your answers.

And the king says, Who was that fellow that sent that message? And they described Elijah to him. He’s hairy. He’s got this girdle about his loins. Said, it’s Elijah the Tishbite. Elijah is considered a foe to Ahaziah. And he sends his captain of the 50s, a man in his 50 that he is over, to retrieve Elijah. And Elijah’s sitting on a hill, and they say, Come down, man of God. Because if I’m a man of God, fire is going to come down from heaven and consume you. 51 people gone. Incinerated. Wow. That’s a compelling story, isn’t it? And so Ahaziah is not eternal. He sends another man, a captain of his 50s, to Elijah. Come down, man of God. The king wants to have an interview with you.

If I’m a man of God, fire is going to come down from heaven. Boom. 102. Burnt. Ahaziah. What a stubborn man. Sends another captain of 50s. And this man is smart. Oh, man of God. Have mercy. He doesn’t start with, come down, man of God. Have mercy on us. You’ve destroyed a captain of 50 in 250s already. Please have mercy on us. And God says, Elijah, you can go down. Smart God. Well, that’s a God of the Old Testament, this God of wrath. What about the New Testament? Some people think surely God was a God of wrath. He was a little more feisty in Old Testament times. Really?

God is now viewed as the indulgent grandfather who will tolerate nearly anything in the people that he loves. After all, it eats the fountain of living waters. Jeremiah 2.13 says that, but he is also a consuming fire. Hebrews 12, Hebrews 10 29. Or 12 29, it is. I had it right the first time. What does the New Testament say? And I want to look at these passages very quickly with you. Romans chapter 1 and verse 18. I want you to mark these. These are New Testament passages. The wrath of God, Romans 1.18, is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and righteousness of men who suppress the truth and unrighteousness. Romans 1.18. Romans 2, 5 through 8. Those who do not obey the truth, verse 8, but obey unrighteousness, wrath, and indicate indignation.

1122, behold the goodness and the severity of God. Ephesians 2 and verse 3 talks about those who persist in a course of sin before they became converted to the Lord. He says, They are by nature, those who formerly lived in the lusts of the flesh are by nature children of wrath. He says, Ephesians 5 and verse 6, let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things, the wrath of God. This doesn’t sound like just an old testament concept, does it? The wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. What about specific acts of disobedience? In Colossians chapter 3, Christ is our life. We will be revealed with him in glory, Paul says in Colossians 3 and verse 4. Thus we need to consider the members of our earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

For on account of these things. For on account of these things, Colossians 3 and verse 6, the wrath of God will come. That’s not all. 1 Thessalonians 1 and verse 10. We talked about the Thessalonians last week, how that they turned from idol to serve a living and true God, and what wonderful people they were, these Christians in Thessalonica, who wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. The fact is, we are more privileged as the recipients of grace. And if in old times every act received a just recompense, the Hebrew writer says in Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 2. He says, How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

We must pay much closer attention to what we have seen and heard, lest we drift away from it. Now, Hebrews 10 and verse 29 that says, How much severer punishment do you think he will receive who is trampled underfoot the Son of God and considered unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified and has insulted the Spirit of grace. Rocks fall upon us. Save us from the wrath of God. It’s one of the cries in Revelation chapter 6, verses 16 and 17.

4. God's Wrath Is an Expression of His Holy Love

The wrath of God is not a contradiction to the love of God. There is much more to God’s anger than man’s.

You know, an axe is a dangerous instrument. And you’re wielding an axe, and the axe head comes, whatever’s in the path of that axe head, better watch out. And it flies, and when it comes off the handle, guess what? You’ve lost all control. It’s not like I can make it go right. It’s going there. Whatever direction it’s headed, it’s out of my control. So we talk about people flying off the handle. That’s not the nature of God’s wrath. His wrath is with purpose and direction and control. Sin is incompatible with his righteous nature. Nelson’s illustrated Bible dictionary says God’s wrath is an expression of his holy love. If God is not a God of wrath, his love is no more than frail, worthless sentimentality. The concept of mercy is meaningless.

And the cross was a cruel and unnecessary experience for his son. The more I read that, the more I realize what a great definition that is. God’s wrath is actually an expression of his holy love. And if God is not a God of wrath, his love is just sentimentality. Mercy is meaningless, and the cross was cruel. Why die on a cross? Unless God is trying to save us from the wrath that is to come. Tempered by his great patience and amazing mercy, God’s wrath is reserved for the time that God says, I’ve had enough. And that time comes. I tell you, we’re given glimpses of this, even in the earthly ministry and life of Emmanuel. God with us. Remember when he overthrew the money changers? When he took that scourge, that cord, and ran them out because they were turning the house of God into a place of merchandise, taking advantage of people in the house of God.

And he overturned their tables. He wasn’t, it wasn’t a fit of rage where he flew off the anger like I talked about that we often do. It was calculated. God had enough of this. We see the wrath of God even in Emmanuel, who loves everyone so much that he would die on the cross for us. We see it in Matthew 23. Let me go back there. Matthew 23. Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. You brood of vipers, you bunch of snakes, he says. Very scathing. Denunciation in Matthew 23. But you know what he says at the end of it? Oh Jerusalem, how I would have gathered you under my wings like a mother hen would her chicks. He loved them. After he denounced them, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites over and over again.

Conclusion

How often I would have gathered you under my wings as a mother hen would her chicks. And he says, You were unwilling. And your house is laid to you desolate. I want to conclude in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 9. Again.

Be so thankful for the love of God and his patience and his mercy. For God has not destined us for wrath. We can be delivered from the wrath of God that is to come. For God has not destined us for a wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Because he has just said earlier, but since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. Have you put on the breastplate of faith and love? Have you put on Christ? Have you been immersed into him, rising to walk in newness of life, so that you can escape the horrible wrath of God that is to come, that will come as a thief in the night.

He is the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey him. Take advantage of his amazing patience while there’s time and opportunity. Let’s stand and sing.