Have you ever heard someone say, “God is a God of love, but He is also a God of justice?” Usually this is said in the context of a discussion on hell. You might object to the idea of torturing people forever in hell as being not very loving, and the other person might say, “Well, you know, God is a God of love, but He is also a God of justice.”
In other words, God wants to forgive, but He must be just. He must punish sin. It this true? Must God punish people for their sin? Does God punish people for sin? While it is true that God is both merciful and just, both forgiving and just, the question is “How?”
This is what we discuss in this study of Jonah 4:7.
The Text of Jonah 4:7
But God prepared a worm at the rising of the dawn the next day to attack the vine so that it withered.
In this discussion of Jonah 4:7 we look at:
- The worm that God sent to attack the plant
- Why the rising of the sun hints at justice
- Why Jonah wants justice
- Why God does not want justice
- Why God cannot both forgive AND give justice
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Downloadable Podcast Resources
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Hi Jeremy,
Just wondering about one thing after listening to this Jonah 4:7 podcast.
If God’s forgiveness is the expression of his justice, as you say they are linked, then what did the death of Jesus Christ achieve? If forgiveness is God’s decision, based on his justice, then why did he have to send J.C. to die in order to make this decision of forgiveness? What did Jesus accomplish by giving himself up?
You are, it seems, not a proponent of the substitutionary atonement, but so far that is what I have believed. That Jesus died to pay for sins- thus whoever believes in him and accepts this payment has eternal life. The only dilemna I have always faced is this: that if Jesus actually died to pay for all sin, of all people through all time, then what exactly sends a person to hell? I realise that to answer this dilemna I must re-examine how i understand justification and my understanding of Hell and Heaven and Judgement in particular! which I can see has been flattened out in evangelical thought very much, in contrast to the role of a Jewish Judge- to set things right again (not like our courtrooms…).
Great questions. You are right that I am not a proponent of substitutionary atonement. I argue against it and propose an alternative in my book “The Atonement of God.”
As for why people spend eternity separated from God, it is not because their sins are not forgiven, but because they don’t have the righteousness of God. Even though God forgives all people of all their sins, this doesn’t mean that all receive the positive righteousness of God, or eternal life. This is received when people believe in Jesus for it.
I need help and a friend and God in my life ! Im so ready to give up . Just need someone to talk to ! I have nonone i can talk to and relate about my situation in life and im scared
How is your situation now?
Do you still need someone to talk to?