Knowing God by J.I. Packer

Author:J.I. Packer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780340863541
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 2011-10-26T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Goodness and Severity

‘Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God,’ writes Paul in Romans 11: 22 (KJV). The crucial word here is ‘and’. The apostle is explaining the relation between Jew and Gentile in the plan of God. He has just reminded his Gentile readers that God rejected the great mass of their Jewish contemporaries for unbelief, while at the same time bringing many pagans like themselves to saving faith. Now he invites them to take note of the two sides of God’s character which appeared in this transaction. ‘Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness.’ The Christians at Rome are not to dwell on God’s goodness alone, nor on his severity alone, but to contemplate both together. Both are attributes of God – aspects, that is, of his revealed character. Both appear alongside each other in the economy of grace. Both must be acknowledged together if God is to be truly known.

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