Searching the Scripture

Lesson 3 GOD is a Balanced Being.

Part 2

GOD is Faithful

I Corinthians 1:9 - God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Faithful means someone who can be totally trusted. Someone who is reliable and dependable. GOD is faithful because HE is honest and never changes. How great is the faithfulness of GOD?

Psalm 36:5 - Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

All GOD does HE does in faithfulness.

Psalm 33:4 - For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

GOD is Merciful

Psalm 103:8 - The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Deuteronomy 4:31 - (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

God is merciful and rather than inflicting pain and death as punishment for sin, HE gives us many blessings - health, comforts, and earthly possesses to both the saved and the lost.

Matthew 5:45 - That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

GOD is sovereign and can choose to whom HE will show mercy.

Romans 9: 15, 18 - For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Exodus 20:6 -And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

How great is GOD´s mercy?

Psalm 103:11,17 - For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

GOD extends mercy to those who trust HIM.

Psalm 32:10 - Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

When the repentant sinner comes to JESUS for forgiveness he does not come claiming his own worth, but throws himself on the mercy of GOD.

GOD is Just

Deuteronomy 32:24 - They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.

Psalm 19:9 - The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

GOD is just and righteous. HE will measure out fair judgment to each and every individual. Because GOD is just, righteous, and holy HE must act in a way that is just, fair, and upright.

Genesis 18:25 - That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

GOD will most certainly do right at all times. GOD as the just ONE will be the final JUDGE of all things.

I Kings 8:32 - Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.

How can GOD be loving and yet demand holiness at the same time? How can HE be merciful and just at the same time to a guilty sinner? The answer to both questions can only be found at Calvary. Calvary was the expression of not only GOD´s wrath against sin, but of HIS mercy toward the guilty sinner.

It is true that GOD is love, but GOD´s love is not a sentimental type of love that gushes over sin. GOD´s love is holy and just. If you want to truly understand GOD, HIS character and HIS nature, study Calvary. There you will begin to understand how GOD can hate sin and yet love the sinner. It was there at Calvary that the holiness and justice of GOD were satisfied by the fulfillment of all the laws requirements. It was there at Calvary that the repentant sinner is permitted to enter heaven legally.