Goodness and Severity

Before I get going, I want to recognize one of my sponsors—Reformed Roasters. Reformed Roasters makes excellent coffee to the glory of God! They have a wide range of coffees that are fresh roasted and delivered to your doorstep. New customers can use my code “CHyde” and get 10% off their first order. Support small Christian businesses and drink coffee to the glory of God!

Every day we get on this planet is due to grace. We all deserve to be in hell right now. The fact that you’re reading this here in this moment means you’re experiencing God’s grace in this very moment. Each day is more than we should have had. These are things with have to keep on our minds as we discuss God’s goodness and severity.

I know I’ve experienced far more grace from the Lord than I deserve. He’s been so good to me. He’s been so patient with me. I am astounded at how kind God has been in light of how wretched I have been.

Certainly though, there are people that question God’s goodness. They look at the world and wonder if God exists. They may think that if he exists then he certainly isn’t good. However, they don’t see the big picture or hold they hold to what Packer calls a "Santa Claus theology" meaning they think God is only good and always favorable to humans. They disassociate God from the tragic things of the world and rob him of his omnipotence and lordship (160).

God is more good than we can possibly imagine. We can’t fathom all the ways in which he has blessed us. Even in hardship and trials, God is working for the good of those who love him. Packer says, "Generosity is, so to speak, the focal point of God’s moral perfection; it is the quality which determines how all God’s other excellences are displayed" (162).

God is also perfectly severe. He is rightly just. To those who reject his goodness—especially as given in the death of His Son—he rightly withdraws his goodness because he cannot leave sin unpunished. Packer goes on to say, "…behind every display of divine goodness stands a threat of severity in judgment if that goodness is scorned. If we do not let it draw us to God in gratitude and responsive love, we have only ourselves to blame when God turns against us" (164). 

We should be so thankful for the grace of God. In his grace, he is good, patient, kind, and even disciplines us. We should not take these things for granted. We should remind ourselves of how God has personally been good and patient with us. Likewise, we should lead others to this good God and warn them of his severity.