Faithful #7: Motivated By The Kindness And Severity Of God

Then appreciate the gracious kindness and the severity of God: to those who fell [into spiritual ruin], severity, but to you, God’s gracious kindness—if you continue in His kindness [by faith and obedience to Him]; otherwise you too will be cut off.

Romans 11:22 (AMP) 

GOD USES TWO PRIMARY, BUT 

UNEQUAL ATTRIBUTES TO MOTIVATE US: 

1. GOD USES LOVING KINDNESS TO MOTIVATE

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

Matthew 22:36-38 (NLT)

If you love me, you will obey my commandments.

John 14:15 (NIV) 

Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.

2 Corinthians 5:13 (MSG)

• In Hebrews, God uses the story of JESUS to invoke LOVE

“Their sins and lawless acts, I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:17-25 (NIV)

WHAT EFFECT SHOULD GOD’S

KINDNESS SHOULD HAVE ON MY LIFE?

• It should motivate me to SINCERELY DRAW NEAR to God

… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 10:22 (NIV)

• It should motivate me to be UNCOMPROMISING in my FAITH

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)

• It should motivate me to CONSISTENTLY CONNECT w/ others

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24, 25 (NIV)

NOTE: There must be a “ME”, if there is to be an “WE”

2. GOD USES THE FEAR OF CONSEQUENCES TO MOTIVATE ME

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul…

Deuteronomy 10:12 (NIV)

• In Hebrews, God uses ISRAEL’S STORY to invoke FEAR

WHAT EFFECT SHOULD GODS’ SEVERITY

HAVE ON MY LIFE?

• His severity should motivate me to ADMIT WHERE I AM

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?  For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 10:26-31 (NIV)

• His severity should motivate me to REPENT and RETURN

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.

Hebrews 4:7b (NIV) & Psalm 95:7-8 (NIV)