Holiness, Love and a choice by Gary Rose

A long time ago, I remember someone telling me that The God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament were two very different God's. The God of the Old Testament Scriptures was harsh and very, very strict, while the God of the New was LOVE and very, very forgiving.

This is a twisted concept of God. God is one God!!! God has rules and without the intervention of Jesus, where could we find hope of ever being right with the Almighty? God is a pure being and HIS predominate characteristic is Holiness. To make God only LOVE is to miss the point; God is Holy and those who come to HIM must also be pure- and if you can perfectly keep HIS laws, fine; otherwise we NEED JESUS!

Consider the following Scriptures...

Isaiah, Chapter 6 (World English Bible)

  ¹ In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.  ² Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face. With two he covered his feet. With two he flew.  ³ One called to another, and said, 

“Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!” 

(notice the that holy is repeated three times for emphasis- Gary)

  ⁴ The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. ⁵ Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of Armies!”

2 Peter, Chapter 3 (World English Bible)

 ⁸ But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  ⁹ The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.  ¹¹ Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,(emp. added vss. 10f.)  ¹² looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?  ¹³ But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 

  ¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight.  ¹⁵ Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you,  ¹⁶ as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. (emp. added vs. 16) ¹⁷ You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness.  ¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen

Revelation, Chapter 19 (WEB)

  ¹¹ I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war.  ¹² His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself.  ¹³ He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called “The Word of God.”  ¹⁴ The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen.  ¹⁵ Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.  ¹⁶ He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (emp. added vss. 11-16)

Jesus is more than just love, HE is the LORD of Hosts (armies) and will someday meet out the fierce wrath of God. The good news is- to those who love and obey him, Jesus is loving, tender, compassionate and forgiving. The bad news is only for those who reject him. 

I do not know what you will do- as for me; I choose JESUS!!!