Threat and Promise

Sharing Options

The Bible describes God has one who sometimes repents, sometimes changing His mind (Gen. 6:7). The Scripture also describes God as one who does not do so (1 Sam. 15:29). How are we to harmonize this? We know that with regard to His eternal decrees God freely and unalterably ordains whatsoever comes to pass. But in the course of our stories, within human history, from our vantage point, how are we to understand this?

One way of processing this is to realize that God relents when it comes to His threats, as the inhabitants of Nineveh discovered. But God never relents with regard to His promises. If God made the promise, and you are the recipient of it, then it is going to happen. God’s word of grace always stands sure.

This is the Table of promise. We have here the bread and wine, the body and blood of Jesus. What are these, if not all the promises of God? And are they for you? God receives everyone who comes to Him, trusting in His promises.

But don’t come here double-thinking yourself. Distinguish doubts from questions. If you commune while thinking what if you really don’t mean it, that is a doubt and should be banished. But if you commune while wondering if this is consistent with all your lying, cheating, stealing, and fornicating, well, then, that would be a question. And a good one too. Answer it in repentance, and come.

 So come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments