To understand better what we discussed in the last two weeks – how Christians who are workers of iniquity will not make it into the kingdom of God – we must know that God is not only good, but also severe. Yes, we must “consider (both) the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness” (Romans 11:22).
Many Christians today over emphasize the goodness of God to the extent of saying that God has no issues with Christians who without remorse sin day in and day out unrepentantly. That teaching presumes on the grace of God without acknowledging the severe consequences from God as clearly stated in the Bible.
On the 13th of November, two days after I first preached on this subject, I had a dream from God by which He affirmed that my sermon was of Him. I dreamt I was in Rwanda with my friend who lives there and who is so passionate with the grace gospel. He gave me his car to drive. In order to start the engine, I had to obey meticulously some instructions. I was also given strict traffic rules to follow so I don’t get in trouble with the Rwanda traffic police. When I awoke, God told me that that is how His grace for us is supposed to be handled. There are laws that govern grace! If we do not abide by them, that grace is of no benefit – the car will not start. If it starts, we will eventually get in trouble with God.
Many Christians today are abusing the grace of God thinking that no matter how ungodly their lifestyles are, they will go to heaven. Some of them even demonstrate the gifts of the Spirit. They only know the goodness of God, and not His severity. They totally ignore the “laws” of grace. To such, Jesus had this to say: “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).
I advise all of you, even those who have done so already, to read the book Angels on Assignment by Charles and Frances Hunter, as told by Roland Buck. It is one of the best, if not the best book, that demonstrates how much God loves us and how His grace has been lavished upon us. In chapters 8 and 9 in particular, the Archangel Gabriel taught Roland Buck from the Bible that Christians can tread on thin ice and eventually drift outside the atonement covering of the blood of Jesus into hell. Please read that book, this time especially chapters 8 and 9 because they wonderfully address the needed balance of the goodness and severity of God. You needn’t stupidly go to hell.
God bless you.