Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; (30) Whisperers, slanderers, hateful to God, insolent, arrogant, boasters, inventors of evil things... (32) Who, though fully knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death...
God is a righteous God. Hence, while it is easy for Him to condemn man, it is not easy for Him to forgive man. Suppose a very righteous man sees someone sin. It would be easy for him to judge the other according to righteousness, but it would not be easy for him to forgive the other. Anyone who sins perishes; this readily manifests God's nature and righteousness. But it is much more difficult for God to forgive a sinner and, at the same time, manifest His nature and righteousness. We must remember that in preparing a salvation for us, God faced one great problem. On the one hand, He wants to forgive man's sins. But on the other hand, He must do it in a way that matches His nature. This makes things very difficult for Him. If God did not have to act according to righteousness, it would be very simple. All He would have to do is forgive.... We have sinned, and we should perish. God wants to save us, yet He cannot be unrighteous. When we put these four things together, it presents a big problem. God wants to save us, but He cannot lower the standard of His righteousness. On the one hand, He wants to save us. On the other hand, He has to do it in a righteous way. On the one hand, God wants to have mercy on us. On the other hand, He has to judge our sins.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, Central Messages, pp. 190-191. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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