Characteristics of God

In junior high youth group last night we studied 3 different characteristics of God. And they are...

1. God is just (Deuteronomy 32:4)
This is often the picture of God in the Old Testament. When we say that God is just we mean that he gives each of us what we deserve. This sounds good initially, until we realize what we deserve. As humans we are full of sin. Romans 6:23 tells us that the punishment for that sin is death. Thus, God is just in that he gives each of us the death we deserve as punishment for the sins we've committed. This is very depressing, but true nonetheless.

2. God is merciful (1 John 1:9)
This one is easier to swallow after #1. This is often the picture of God in the New Testament. God is merciful in that he forgives us of our sins when we ask him to. He doesn't forgive us sometimes, or even most of the time...but all the time. He is a merciful God who does not want to see us suffer in hell apart from him.

The problem you may notice is...how can God be both? How can God punish our sins and yet still offer us forgiveness? The solution is in characteristic #3.

3. God loves us (John 3:16)
God loves us so much that he came to earth as a man, lived a perfect life, and offers to take our punishment that we deserve. He never committed a sin which is how he can offer to take our spot. We deserve to hang on the cross and die for our sins, but Jesus will do it for us if we let him. See how God is both just and merciful? He is just in that our sins still receive the punishment they deserve, but he is merciful in that he will take our spot which allows us to receive forgiveness and live eternally with him in heaven.

There is a kicker though. God will not force us off of the cross. It is up to us. Someone is going to pay the penalty for our sins. It can either be us or Jesus...our choice. God has given us free will and we must choose who takes our punishment. We can allow Jesus to take our place or we can hang on the cross ourselves and take what we deserve.

Where do you stand in this story? Have you allowed Jesus to take the punishment of death that your sins deserve? Or are you hanging on that cross receiving that death? The choice is yours. If you want to accept the gift of life Jesus offers to you...talk to him today and tell him that.