The Bible teaches two major truths — judgment and forgiveness. Everything else falls under one of these headings. Allow me to illustrate:

Hebrews 9:27 teaches that it is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment. Now, God did not plan for man to sin, but God knew that man was going to sin. God said sin must be punished. Romans 6:23 states that the wages of sin is death. But, thank God, the last part of that verse says the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus!

You see, God is love, but He is also just and perfect. Therefore, since God is just and perfect, He cannot allow sin to exist. The only way to get sin out of the picture is through judgment. God is a just God. Our sin must be punished because God is just and perfect — He cannot look upon sin.

John 3:16 tells us that God loved us so much that He gave His only son, and whosoever believes on Him, will not perish but will have everlasting life. While Jesus was hanging on the cross, some of His last words included: “My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me!” The reason it appeared that God had forsaken Jesus is that Jesus had taken all of our sins upon Himself, and God is holy and cannot look upon sin.

The first paragraph above lists two major truths. We just talked about judgment. The other truth is forgiveness. Romans 6:23 (mentioned above) says the wages of sin is death, But the gift of God is eternal life! Also, look again at John 3:16: God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whosoever believes on Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life!

You see, it is almost impossible to talk about God’s judgment without also talking about His mercy and forgiveness. God designed it this way. The Bible has much to say about God’s greatness, majesty, and power. The Bible also has much to say about God’s mercy and forgiveness.

The Bible teaches us that man is God’s prize creation, and II Peter 3:9 states that He is not willing that any should perish. God gave His only son so that we do not have to perish.

I ask you: have you asked Jesus to forgive you for the sin and transgressions, and for the judgment that HE suffered on the cross to save you? If you have not, if you were to die right now, you would have to face God’s judgment. It is your choice — judgment or forgiveness.

Rev. Graham Tucker