As we conclude our book, RC recalls the famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." In it, Edwards gives a vivid illustrations of the reality that it is only by God's grace that keeps sinners out of hell. This is an attempt to get people to awaken from their sleep and realize the great severity in God wrath that awaits them if they remain in their sin. A proper understanding of God's holiness will demand that God must punish sin, or he would not be just. If we are to properly understand God's holiness we need to realize his demands are perfection. If we trust in our selves then hell awaits, we need to trust in the only remedy, Jesus Christ, they perfect one who died for our sins. However, people today would rather go on rejecting God and then judge him, all while in reality God is holding them up being patient, which is meant to lead them to repentance. If we reject a God of wrath who judges sinners, then the God we worship is not a Holy God. RC states, '"if we say "My God is a God of love not wrath." But a God of love who has no wrath is no God. He is an idol of our own making as much as if we carved Him out of stone." We need to accept God on his terms and who he is. He adds, "We may dislike giving our attention to God’s wrath and justice, but until we incline ourselves to these aspects of God’s nature, we will never appreciate what has been wrought for us by grace." The only remedy is reconciliation through faith in Christ which is by grace alone. RC discuses the reality in this chapter. Have it read for tomorrow as we conclude the book study.
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