Join the International Gospel Hour as we explore the oft-overlooked balance between the goodness and severity of God. Delving into Romans 11, we examine the implications of belief and unbelief and how they shape our relationship with the Divine. This episode challenges preconceived notions with enlightening scriptural insights.
00:12:20 Concluding Thoughts and Contact Information
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You know, friends, there are many that are ready to speak of the goodness of God, but what about the goodness and severity of God? Yes, friends, the Scriptures speak, and let us study this today. From the International Gospel Hour, please join us.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour.
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For 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through International Gospel Hour. You are about to listen to another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, starting now.
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I am bound for the promised land.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, greetings everyone, great having you with us, and we appreciate our J-Web and his kind words, and you will hear from Jay throughout our broadcast, as always. If you are a new listener to International Gospel Hour broadcast, well, please know we have a number of options for your listening pleasure and Bible study. Now, you are currently listening to our daily 15-minute broadcast that’s available five days a week, and we are thankful for you tuning in and for the station or platform to which you are listening. As I say at the end of the broadcast, friends, keep listening right here on this station or platform of your choice for International Gospel Hour. Now, we also have our weekly 30-minute program, and occasionally you may hear our shorter segments. Are you listening? 60 seconds for the Savior, and a couple of minutes for Christ. We also have a weekly TV broadcast via our YouTube channel that’s available worldwide. You simply go to YouTube, type in International Gospel Hour, and a number of over-the-air television markets also carry our broadcast. You can find our programming options at our website, internationalgospelhour.com. Scroll down just a bit and you will see all of our programs, even our Hispanic podcast, Cristiano’s Tales, with our friend and brother Marlon Ratana of SpanishBibleSchool.org. How thankful we are for every opportunity to speak the oracles of God, 1 Peter 4, 11, as we declare the counsel of God, Acts 20, verse 27. Thank you for joining us and stay right here where you listen to International Gospel Hour. Now our reading today is from Romans 11, beginning with verse 16 through verse 22. For if the first fruit is holy, the lump also is holy, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree. Do not boast against the branches, but if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches… he may not spare you either. Therefore, consider the goodness and severity of God. On those who fail, severity, but toward you goodness, if you continue in his goodness, otherwise you also will be cut off. Friends, there is a distinct difference between unbelief and belief. Now, verse 20, one more time of Romans 11. Well, because of unbelief, they were broken off. And you stand by faith. Now friends, that is clearly a choice. Believe it or not, obey or disobey. Now verse 22 is one of many scriptures about God the Father. One that will challenge many preconceived notions or conceptions about God. For the passage speaks of the goodness and severity of God. Now, folks, we see here a contrast, but it’s not contradictory. And yes, that statement will stir both love and fear. So today, let’s look at God’s goodness, God’s severity, and our decision. But first, a few words from our J-Web.
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SPEAKER 01 :
Let’s talk about the goodness of God. You know, I am thankful for a compassionate, loving God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3, verse 16. When we were enemies, when we were against God, when we were sinners, He died for us. Romans 5, 6-10. I am grateful for the compassionate, loving Father God. He is also one of great patience and forbearance, bearing with us that we may come to repentance, Romans 2, verse 4, and 2 Peter 3, 9. As the God of love, 1 John 4, verse 8, He is forgiving. His goodness comes forth through His forgiveness. He forgives the one who will come unto Him, Matthew 11, 28-30. He forgave those on the day of Pentecost who had crucified Jesus, both Lord and Christ, Acts 2, verse 36. When they asked what they should do in Acts 2, verse 37, the Bible says in Acts 2, verse 38, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Verse 41 tells us that they did that. They gladly received his word and were baptized. And the same day there were added unto them about 3,000 souls. To what were they added? To the church. Acts 2 verse 47. He is forgiving to the one that will come unto him. He’s forgiving to the one who will return unto him. Great lesson of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15. That when we come back to God, he is there to receive us. Have you ever thought how He is forgiving to the one that continually walks in His way? Of those like who obeyed the gospel on the day of Pentecost, He will forgive those who walk in His way, the faithful. That teaches us such in 1 John 1, 7-9. You know, verse 9 says, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But friends, He is not talking to the individual who is not a Christian. He is not commanding them to confess their sins, but rather to the Christian. That goes back to verse 7 of those that are walking in the light. And the entire chapter of John 1, or 1 John 1, deals with the Christian. How can one not be thankful for the compassion of God? And to see a loving and merciful God, the Heavenly Father, in one’s life, should keep one pressing onward because of His goodness. But number 2 says, We cannot ignore His severity. Now, man is reluctant to dwell on that point. Some view God as an old, kind grandfather who will make everything just right. However, God does not ignore sin, friends, for that is against His nature. It was sin that sent His Son to the cross. The word severity in this passage is here in this passage only. It means to cut off from. It has the strength of sharpness. In other words, you find wrath and vengeance placed in these attributes of God. I mean, consider early in the Old Testament how Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 and Cain in Genesis 4, how they felt the severity of God. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, Hebrews 10, 31. And think of the horror for many when Christ returns, according to 2 Thessalonians 1.8, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. So as the joy of the goodness of God brings gratitude, to speak of the severity of God should bring fear. How can one not change his or her life knowing this? We do not want to die and face the severity of God. Therefore, we need to make the decision. Again, Romans 16, 22. On those who fell, severity. But toward you, the Christians to whom he’s writing at Rome, goodness. If you continue in his goodness, otherwise you also will be cut off. Dealt with severely. Now we see what is said of God. Now what is man’s decisions? Man should be obedient and continue in the goodness of God, and not a soul wants to abide one nanosecond in His severity. But note this, friends. Whatever we see of God, whether His goodness or His severity, such is man’s choice. And our reply to Him should be obedience when we consider His goodness and His severity. That’s why, as I mentioned moments ago on the day of Pentecost, men and brethren, what shall we do? They believed in God, for after all they had assembled on Pentecost. They repented of their sins, what they had done to the Christ. And they were baptized into Christ for the remission of sins, for their sins to be remitted. That parallels with what Jesus said in the command to go into all the world and preach the gospel in Mark 16, 15. And the result, he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. He that believes not shall be condemned. These are the words of Christ, and they match perfectly with the goodness and the severity of God. And how on the day of Pentecost they were added to the church, they were saved individuals. Friend, I know we’ve prompted some things for you to think about here. Maybe it’s time for you to make the right decision. May we encourage and help you with our online study of the Bible through our friends at the World Bible School. Here is our J-Web with those details.
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How about an online study of the Bible? That’s right. The World Bible School has a free online Bible study available. Just go to worldbibleschool.org and register. A study helper will assist you in answering questions and provide feedback for your lessons. That’s the free online study at worldbibleschool.org. Sign up today. Tell them the International Gospel Hour has sent you.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, friends, as we think about the goodness and the severity of God, yes, it is our decision. What will we do? When we behold the goodness and severity of God, Paul makes it very clear. If you continue in His way, in His goodness, that’s great. But if not, you and I will face the consequence. That’s why, friends, we want to share with you information to help you in a study of God’s Word, to seek out those things, to challenge yourself that where you worship, are they carrying forth the matters according to God? Are you hearing things on our broadcast in light of Scripture that you’re thinking, I need to look that up? Well, we want to encourage you to do so. And everything we offer from our broadcast is absolutely free. And if we can help you further in your study of the Word of God, you can send us an email at internationalgospelhour.com or call us toll free at 855-444-6988 and say, send me some study material. We’ll be glad to help. I’m Jeff Archie. Thank you for joining me today on our broadcast from International Gospel Hour. And friends, as always, keep listening.
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Thank you for listening to our broadcast today. To God goes all the glory, and we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. To listen to it again, or our other broadcasts, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com.
