Knowing GodKnowing God

JI PackerJI Packer

Chapter 16Chapter 16

Goodness and SeverityGoodness and Severity

The Last Two Chapters:The Last Two Chapters:

14 God the Judge14 God the Judge

15 The Wrath of God15 The Wrath of God

It would seem we already know It would seem we already know about the Severity of God.about the Severity of God.

The Two Previous Chapters:The Two Previous Chapters:

13 The Grace of God13 The Grace of God

12 The Love of God12 The Love of God

It would seem that we also know It would seem that we also know about God’s goodness.about God’s goodness.

The QuestionThe Question: :

Why did Packer feel it necessary Why did Packer feel it necessary to add this chapter on the to add this chapter on the goodness and severity of God?goodness and severity of God?

Because of Romans 11 and specifically Because of Romans 11 and specifically verse 22.verse 22.

““Behold therefore the goodness and Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s goodness, severity, but to you, God’s goodness, if you continue in His goodness; if you continue in His goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off.”otherwise you also will be cut off.”

Romans 11:22Romans 11:22

Paul wants the Paul wants the churchchurch to to know that it must not dwell know that it must not dwell on God’s goodness alone, on God’s goodness alone, but on His severity as well. but on His severity as well.

Context of verse 22.Context of verse 22.

Deals with 2 groups of Deals with 2 groups of people, not 2 individuals. people, not 2 individuals. Apostate Jews and Reborn Apostate Jews and Reborn Gentiles.Gentiles.

Israel (a branch) was cut off Israel (a branch) was cut off (“those who fell due to (“those who fell due to unbelief”) the olive tree, so that unbelief”) the olive tree, so that God’s goodness would graft in God’s goodness would graft in non-Jews (a wild olive branch, non-Jews (a wild olive branch, gentiles) into the olive tree. gentiles) into the olive tree.

11: 19 You will say then, “Branches were 11: 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted broken off so that I might be grafted in.”in.”

2020 Quite right, they were broken off for Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear.faith. Do not be conceited, but fear.

2121 For if God did not spare the natural For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, branches, He will not spare you, either.either.

Now What is Paul’s Point?Now What is Paul’s Point?

Is it likely that he is trying to cause Is it likely that he is trying to cause true believers to doubt their true believers to doubt their salvation? To make them fearful of salvation? To make them fearful of being cut off from Christ?being cut off from Christ?

Rom. 5:1-2, 11; 8:1, 38-39; Phil. Rom. 5:1-2, 11; 8:1, 38-39; Phil. 1:61:6

By-Path MeadowsBy-Path Meadows

Doubting CastleDoubting Castle

In the DungeonIn the Dungeon

ofof

Giant DespairGiant Despair

What’s this?What’s this?

More likely, the “cutting off” of More likely, the “cutting off” of Rom. 11:22 is primarily a Rom. 11:22 is primarily a

warning to the churchwarning to the church..

Rev. 2: 5 Rev. 2: 5

In many Churches today one finds In many Churches today one finds doctrine that matches the desires of the doctrine that matches the desires of the people.people.

The prevalence of liberal false doctrine: The prevalence of liberal false doctrine: Santa Claus Religion:Santa Claus Religion:

God is infinitely forbearing and God is infinitely forbearing and kind, a sort of celestial Santa Claus in kind, a sort of celestial Santa Claus in whom all find love and acceptance whom all find love and acceptance without need for the redeeming work of without need for the redeeming work of Christ on the cross.Christ on the cross.

How have these serious errors come about?How have these serious errors come about?

1. Leadership teaches superficial 1. Leadership teaches superficial knowledge of the Word.knowledge of the Word.

2. Modern people, many think all 2. Modern people, many think all religions equal.religions equal.

3. What sin? Liberal church glosses over 3. What sin? Liberal church glosses over it. Cease to recognize its reality in their it. Cease to recognize its reality in their lives.lives.

4. Because only His goodness is taught, 4. Because only His goodness is taught, People disassociate from His severity, not People disassociate from His severity, not wanting or able to reconcile the two.wanting or able to reconcile the two.

So the church is warned of being “cut off,” So the church is warned of being “cut off,” the lampstand removed.the lampstand removed.

Pastor Robert Schuller built the Pastor Robert Schuller built the church — an architectural marvel church — an architectural marvel with 10,000 windows and room for with 10,000 windows and room for nearly 3,000 worshippers and nearly 3,000 worshippers and 1,000 musicians — in 1980, a 1,000 musicians — in 1980, a decade after he began decade after he began broadcasting his sermons on the broadcasting his sermons on the "power of possibility thinking" into "power of possibility thinking" into the homes of millions of the homes of millions of evangelical Christians each evangelical Christians each Sunday. Sunday.

The Rev. Robert Schuller The Rev. Robert Schuller Reportedly Ousted from Crystal Reportedly Ousted from Crystal Cathedral Ministries Cathedral Ministries PUBLISHED PUBLISHED JULY 04, 2011JULY 04, 2011

Crystal Cathedral to become Crystal Cathedral to become Catholic Catholic Church, June, 2013Church, June, 2013

Schuller focuses on what he believes Schuller focuses on what he believes are the positive aspects of the are the positive aspects of the Christian faith. He deliberately avoids Christian faith. He deliberately avoids condemning people for sin, believing condemning people for sin, believing that Jesus "met needs before touting that Jesus "met needs before touting creeds.”creeds.”

On the December 23, 2007, edition of On the December 23, 2007, edition of Fox News SundayFox News Sunday, host Chris Wallace on , host Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday brought up Osteen's Fox News Sunday brought up Osteen's lack of Scripture reference in his lack of Scripture reference in his sermons, as well as his hesitancy to sermons, as well as his hesitancy to discuss sin as an integral part of life. discuss sin as an integral part of life. Osteen says that he chooses to focus on Osteen says that he chooses to focus on the goodness of God rather than sin.the goodness of God rather than sin.

Osteen's sermons and writings are Osteen's sermons and writings are sometimes reproached for their use of sometimes reproached for their use of the concepts of prosperity theology, or the concepts of prosperity theology, or the prosperity gospel, a belief that the prosperity gospel, a belief that wealth and power are rewards for pious wealth and power are rewards for pious Christians.Christians.

Rom. 11:22 1st aspect of the warning is Rom. 11:22 1st aspect of the warning is to the churchto the church

2nd aspect of the warning is to the 2nd aspect of the warning is to the individuals within the church: individuals within the church:

Christians:Christians: The Father’s The Father’s discipline.discipline.““Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline;

therefore be zealous and repent.”therefore be zealous and repent.”

Revelation 3: 19Revelation 3: 19

Unbelieving ProfessorsUnbelieving Professors: Removal: Removal Matthew 13: 24 - 30 Matthew 13: 24 - 30

Our ResponseOur Response

Appreciate the goodness of GodAppreciate the goodness of God

Appreciate the patience of GodAppreciate the patience of God

Appreciate the discipline of GodAppreciate the discipline of God

Never forget the promises of GodNever forget the promises of God

God’s GoodnessGod’s Goodness

Exodus 34: 6-7Exodus 34: 6-7

Generosity: “the focal point of God’s Generosity: “the focal point of God’s moral perfection, it is the quality which moral perfection, it is the quality which determines how all God’s other determines how all God’s other excellences are to be displayed.”excellences are to be displayed.”

Grace (free favor):Grace (free favor):

Common grace: to allCommon grace: to all

Special grace: gift of salvationSpecial grace: gift of salvation

Romans 11:22 “Wild” gentiles Romans 11:22 “Wild” gentiles grafted into His olive tree.grafted into His olive tree.

God’s SeverityGod’s Severity

Meaning of Severity: Cutting off… a Meaning of Severity: Cutting off… a withdrawal of His goodness from those withdrawal of His goodness from those who have spurned it.who have spurned it.

““Therefore my beloved,…..work out Therefore my beloved,…..work out your salvation with fear and your salvation with fear and

trembling.”trembling.”

Philippians 2: 12Philippians 2: 12