"Finding Out" Study6-p24

THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST is a Gospel of love, and it contains much that would melt hard hearts and draw them to so loving and gracious a Saviour. But God does not choose to draw everyone by Christ’s love, though there is ample reason for them to be responsive to it.

God, in love, may often use fear to drive the unyielding and rebellious sinner to Himself. The message of judgement to come, with the Man of Love presiding as judge, has often been used of God to bend stubborn wills to the rule of Christ.

But, if neither love nor judgement moves the sinner to repent, he will be forced to face the Person whose love he so ungratefully spurned. What reason will you give on that day for your lack of response?

SUMMARY: Before Jesus finally left His disciples He told them to proclaim Him as the world’s future judge. This awesome truth was to be announced alongside the offer of salvation to those who would repent and believe.

It is astonishing to think that the very person ordained by God to save the world should return to judge it! And yet who is more fitting to do so?

Jesus often taught about His appointment as world judge. It was a supreme honour conferred on Him by His Father in Heaven. His judgement would be fair, but that is no consolation for the guilty!

Finally, we should not think lightly of what God has done for the salvation of sinful man. A careless indifference is offensive to God. We should respond and do so now.