God's Wrath ~~ do you believe this?

[Ceridwen]

In a chapter entitled "God the Judge" from his book Knowing God, J.I. Packer makes a statement about the nature of God's conduct:

Retribution
From what has been said, it becomes clear that the Bible's proclamation of God's work as Judge is part of its witness to his character. It confirms what is said elsewhere of his moral perfection, his righteousness and justice, his wisdom, omniscience and omnipotence. It shows us also that the heart of the justice which expresses God's nature is retribution, the rendering to persons what they have deserved; for this is the essence of the judge's task. To reward good with good, and evil with evil, is natural to God.

J. I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1993), p. 142 (emphasis and bolding in original).
​

I was wondering if you guys believe what J.I. Packer says here, especially the last sentence. Do you guys believe that God ever rewards evil with evil as Packer says? What does it mean for God to give evil? Thanks for considering this question!

 

[breakfastclub17]

In a chapter entitled "God the Judge" from his book Knowing God, J.I. Packer makes a statement about the nature of God's conduct:

Retribution
From what has been said, it becomes clear that the Bible's proclamation of God's work as Judge is part of its witness to his character. It confirms what is said elsewhere of his moral perfection, his righteousness and justice, his wisdom, omniscience and omnipotence. It shows us also that the heart of the justice which expresses God's nature is retribution, the rendering to persons what they have deserved; for this is the essence of the judge's task. To reward good with good, and evil with evil, is natural to God.

J. I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1993), p. 142 (emphasis and bolding in original).
​

I was wondering if you guys believe what J.I. Packer says here, especially the last sentence. Do you guys believe that God ever rewards evil with evil as Packer says? What does it mean for God to give evil? Thanks for considering this question!

I would have to disagree.

God does not commit evil nor does he create it.(I think James 1:13 explains part of it)

I do believe however, he can take away his grace from you.(I.E, if you are always giving into a sin, and forsaking God. God can take away his Holy Spirit's voice away from you, and let you have what you desire. Basically "you truly want it, you can have it".)

So he doesn't commit evil, but he can take away his grace and provision.(Also, he can justly punish people. Luke 13)

 

[Achilles6129]

"24Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. 25With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward." Ps. 18:24-26

Pretty simple.

 

[breakfastclub17]

I would have to disagree.

God does not commit evil nor does he create it.(I think James 1:13 explains part of it)

I do believe however, he can take away his grace from you.(I.E, if you are always giving into a sin, and forsaking God. God can take away his Holy Spirit's voice away from you, and let you have what you desire. Basically "you truly want it, you can have it".)

So he doesn't commit evil, but he can take away his grace and provision.(Also, he can justly punish people. Luke 13)

Also, I didn't explain this to the best I could have, so I may have to post again.

 

[breakfastclub17]

To reward good with good, and evil with evil, is natural to God.

​

Ah, just thought of something.

He probably should have put it more like this "To reward good with good, and evil with justice, is natural to God.

 

[HisdaughterJen]

Deu 30:19This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live


If you choose God's way, you automatically are blessed. If you choose the opposite, you reap nothing but curses.

Gal 6:7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

 

[Fireinfolding]

In a chapter entitled "God the Judge" from his book Knowing God, J.I. Packer makes a statement about the nature of God's conduct:

Retribution​

From what has been said, it becomes clear that the Bible's proclamation of God's work as Judge is part of its witness to his character. It confirms what is said elsewhere of his moral perfection, his righteousness and justice, his wisdom, omniscience and omnipotence. It shows us also that the heart of the justice which expresses God's nature is retribution, the rendering to persons what they have deserved; for this is the essence of the judge's task. To reward good with good, and evil with evil, is natural to God.​

J. I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1993), p. 142 (emphasis and bolding in original).​

I was wondering if you guys believe what J.I. Packer says here, especially the last sentence. Do you guys believe that God ever rewards evil with evil as Packer says? What does it mean for God to give evil? Thanks for considering this question!

In short

Its a righteous thing that God recompense and I do see Him doing this in the earth (into ones bosom)

Anguish and tribulation upon every soul of man that doeth evil, for the Jew first and then Gentile.

A Spirit of judgment is measured as I see it.

Peace

Fireinfolding

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

Ah, just thought of something.

He probably should have put it more like this "To reward good with good, and evil with justice, is natural to God.

Probably. And J.I. Packer isn't stupid, I'm sure if you pressed him, he'd agree.

"Rewards good things with good things, bad things with bad things."

And please, no one correct the man that God is a forgiving God. He's a Calvinist theologian- he of all people knows that nothing we do merits the grace of God.

 

[WhoeverLovesGod01]

Evil can be a loaded word. God will never cause calamity to someone, unless it is righteous. See, the difference between God and Satan is that God mets out justice and Satan mets out injustice. So both can cause a form of harm, except Satan's isn't justified. So although this was probably not the clearest set of terms, I think it's quite accurate.

 

[GodsChild07]

In a chapter entitled "God the Judge" from his book Knowing God, J.I. Packer makes a statement about the nature of God's conduct:

Retribution
From what has been said, it becomes clear that the Bible's proclamation of God's work as Judge is part of its witness to his character. It confirms what is said elsewhere of his moral perfection, his righteousness and justice, his wisdom, omniscience and omnipotence. It shows us also that the heart of the justice which expresses God's nature is retribution, the rendering to persons what they have deserved; for this is the essence of the judge's task. To reward good with good, and evil with evil, is natural to God.

J. I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1993), p. 142 (emphasis and bolding in original).
​

I was wondering if you guys believe what J.I. Packer says here, especially the last sentence. Do you guys believe that God ever rewards evil with evil as Packer says? What does it mean for God to give evil? Thanks for considering this question!

It is based on a literal interpretation of scripture. No, I don't believe it and I don't take the entire Bible literally either.

 

[FenderElctrc]

Nothing evil is of God.

 

[Fireinfolding]

Heres a few examples of evil as it pertains to the Lord

Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.


Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.


1Sam 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.


Peace

Fireinfolding

 

[leothelioness]

Heres a few examples of evil as it pertains to the Lord

Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

That should put to rest any misconceptions about God's role for evil in this world.

 

[Ceridwen]

Awesome thread! Great answers so far, let's keep them coming. What's your view?

 

[Fireinfolding]

Awesome thread! Great answers so far, let's keep them coming. What's your view?

View on what Ceridwen? Your superman pic?

Peace

Fireinfolding

 

[SpiritDriven]

No one speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it. It is from the mouth of the Most High that both good and evil go forth. No living mortal, or any man, should offer complaint in view of his sins (Lam. 3:37-39).

All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the Host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, "What hast Thou done" (Daniel 4:35).

When the earth experiences God’s judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness (Isaiah 26:9).

Note! for the purpose of learning righteousness...so as to become a part of it.

The Lord will not reject forever, for if He causes grief, then He will have compassion according to His abundant lovingkindness (Lam. 3:31).

Note. The result of learning righteousness

All nations whom the Lord hast made shall come and worship before Him; and they shall glorify His name (Psalms 86:9).

Note, for the purpose of this end result.


Peace

 

[holo]

In a chapter entitled "God the Judge" from his book Knowing God, J.I. Packer makes a statement about the nature of God's conduct:

Retribution
From what has been said, it becomes clear that the Bible's proclamation of God's work as Judge is part of its witness to his character. It confirms what is said elsewhere of his moral perfection, his righteousness and justice, his wisdom, omniscience and omnipotence. It shows us also that the heart of the justice which expresses God's nature is retribution, the rendering to persons what they have deserved; for this is the essence of the judge's task. To reward good with good, and evil with evil, is natural to God.

J. I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1993), p. 142 (emphasis and bolding in original).
​

I was wondering if you guys believe what J.I. Packer says here, especially the last sentence. Do you guys believe that God ever rewards evil with evil as Packer says? What does it mean for God to give evil? Thanks for considering this question!

God is LOVE, not justice.

 

[SpiritDriven]

God is LOVE, not justice.

All nations whom the Lord hast made shall come and worship before Him; and they shall glorify His name (Psalms 86:9).


Indeed God is LOVE, not justice

 

[vekarppe]

God is love, of cource, but there is no injustice (Rom. 9:14) or darkness (1 John. 1:5) in God. He is holy, righteous, and justice!

 

[FenderElctrc]

Psalm 7:11-13:
11 God is a just judge,
And God is angry with the wicked every day.
12 If he does not turn back,
He will sharpen His sword;
He bends His bow and makes it ready.
13 He also prepares for Himself instruments of death;
He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.