3.3 Do you see God as Father or Judge
Christians either see God as Father or Judge. Sometimes they see God as both Father and Judge. It results in confusion. What do you see Him as?
Those who see Him as Judge fear Him. They feel a condemnation for their failures. They keep a safe distance. They feel uncomfortable in His presence. When they come before God in Worship, their worship is very solemn and heavy.
Those who see Him as Father feel secure with Him. They feel loved by their Father. They come into His presence to enjoy intimate fellowship. They are at ease. Their worship is joyful, lively and liberating.
Why are there two such contrasting images of God? How can we explain it? How can we prove from the Scriptures that today, God is our Father who loves us, and He is not holding a baseball bat ready to catch us in our shortcomings?
In the Old Testament, God revealed His justice. He is a righteous and holy God. Righteousness and justice is the foundation of His throne (Ps 89:14). Israel did not realize that they were an unrighteous people in covenant with a righteous God. In fact they were a proud and self-righteous group. So God gave them the law at Mt. Sinai. God showed Himself as lawgiver and judge (Isaiah 33:22). The law showed the people that they were sinners (Rom 3:20).
They feared Him and they kept their distance. They felt uncomfortable in His presence and asked Moses to talk to God instead. Their worship was always heavy and solemn. On the Day of Atonement, they had to ask for mercy before the judge. The justice of God demanded for the death of the sinner. The soul who sins shall die (Ezek 18:20). The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). It was the blood of the animal that covered their sins for a year and delivered them.
Therefore, no one addressed God as Father in the Old Covenant. He was revealed a lawgiver and judge. Today, those who do not have the revelation of our New Covenant in Christ will still see God as judge. We will not be able to experience His love as He wants us to. In the next lesson, I will show how Jesus has revealed God as our Father.
Those who see Him as Judge fear Him. They feel a condemnation for their failures. They keep a safe distance. They feel uncomfortable in His presence. When they come before God in Worship, their worship is very solemn and heavy.
Those who see Him as Father feel secure with Him. They feel loved by their Father. They come into His presence to enjoy intimate fellowship. They are at ease. Their worship is joyful, lively and liberating.
Why are there two such contrasting images of God? How can we explain it? How can we prove from the Scriptures that today, God is our Father who loves us, and He is not holding a baseball bat ready to catch us in our shortcomings?
In the Old Testament, God revealed His justice. He is a righteous and holy God. Righteousness and justice is the foundation of His throne (Ps 89:14). Israel did not realize that they were an unrighteous people in covenant with a righteous God. In fact they were a proud and self-righteous group. So God gave them the law at Mt. Sinai. God showed Himself as lawgiver and judge (Isaiah 33:22). The law showed the people that they were sinners (Rom 3:20).
They feared Him and they kept their distance. They felt uncomfortable in His presence and asked Moses to talk to God instead. Their worship was always heavy and solemn. On the Day of Atonement, they had to ask for mercy before the judge. The justice of God demanded for the death of the sinner. The soul who sins shall die (Ezek 18:20). The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). It was the blood of the animal that covered their sins for a year and delivered them.
Therefore, no one addressed God as Father in the Old Covenant. He was revealed a lawgiver and judge. Today, those who do not have the revelation of our New Covenant in Christ will still see God as judge. We will not be able to experience His love as He wants us to. In the next lesson, I will show how Jesus has revealed God as our Father.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 1:56 AM
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