Last week, we concluded our blog series on the attributes of God. If you haven’t gotten the chance to read through them, then please do. Few topics of study can spur one’s admiration and affection for God than the study of His divine attributes.
There is at least one mistake, however, that we should try to avoid when meditating on God’s attributes.
We need to remember that God is fully perfect in all of His attributes.
Sounds simple, right? You would think. But some will love that God is gracious and loathe that He is righteous. We don’t get to pick which of God’s attributes we like and ignore others.
He is also not more of one attribute and less of another. He is not part love and part holiness with a dash of grace. He is love. He is holy. He is gracious. He is complete, perfect, and full in all His mercy, in all His goodness, in all His sovereignty. His character has no limits.
It would be a mistake to assume that God’s mercy balances out His justice. God is not the happy middle of the two attributes. He is fully merciful and fully just. When we get this wrong, bad theology is born.
For example, some might argue that the New Testament God of mercy trumps the Old Testament God of justice. However, when we look at the cross of Jesus, we see both attributes fully at play (Romans 3:23-26). God is not only the just One who punished sin, He is also the merciful One who absorbed that punishment Himself. How much more marvelous is that?
As we study the attributes of God, may we wholeheartedly continue to seek after Him in His Word (Jeremiah 29:13).
Brandon Kagel says
September 27, 2015 at 8:57 amThis is a great post! I just wonder why it seems that in posts. bogs, sermons, ect people seem so reluctant to include that the wrath of God and the display of His righteousness will be poured out on those who refuse to believe the gospel. That there is a wrath still to come. Light reading of this post, Including God’s Justice and Righteousness, would leave one to assume Jesus absorbed all of it, even for those who refuse to repent. I know this particular post was not about my point in case. However, once again, the most vital part of the gospel is left out. If we leave out God’s COMING wrath then we have no need of a Savior. Those who have been forgiven much, LOVE much! Tell them what is to come, how God delivers men from it, and men will respond with adoration. Until then, a small view of grace will lead to a small view of God. – PS. I hate to sound negative as this sight is such blessing to me and so many others! Bless you guys!