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[Note:\u00a0 <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 1<\/strong>\u00a0 page.]<\/span><\/p>\n The apostle Paul wrote: \u201cBehold then the goodness and severity of God\u201d (Rom. 11:22a). In context, Paul recounted that God was severe toward His chosen people, the Jews, because they \u201cfell\u201d in unbelief. In His goodness, however, He accepted the Gentiles because of their faith, but warned them that He would also reject them if they fell.<\/span><\/p>\n This historical account demonstrates a fundamental aspect of God\u2019s nature: The balance of mercy and wrath. Men tend to view God in extremes. Some depict Him as a mean, wrath-filled ogre Who makes arbitrary judgments and delights in our suffering. Others view Him as a cosmic Santa Claus who is utterly indulgent toward us, never calling anyone to account for his sins or errors. Both extremes are equally flawed. The Bible provides ample illustrations of both goodness and severity in the Divine Nature. <\/span><\/p>\n The Goodness of God\u2014 <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Severity of God\u2014 <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n God will be \u201cgood\u201d or \u201csevere\u201d to each one, depending on the response of each one to His revealed Word (John 12:48).<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0[Note: <\/strong>This article was written for and published in the Denton Record-Chronicle, <\/em>Denton, TX, May 8, 2009.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 0[Note:\u00a0 This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 1\u00a0 page.] The apostle Paul wrote: \u201cBehold then the goodness and severity of God\u201d (Rom. 11:22a). In context, Paul recounted that God was severe toward His chosen people, the Jews, because they…<\/p>\n\n
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