“For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore, consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again” (Romans 11:21-23).
A caricature is an image or description which so exaggerates one aspect of a person or thing it results in a perversion of reality. None has had more caricatures than Jehovah has.
God is love. God is gracious. God is merciful. God is good. No truer statements can be made. If, however, this is all a person knows or chooses to believe about the God of the Bible, then he has embraced a caricature of Jehovah.
God is righteous. God is holy. God is a consuming fire. God is severe. No truer statements can be made. If, however, this is all a person knows or chooses to believe about the God of the Bible, then he has embraced a caricature of Jehovah.
The word “and” in Paul’s inspired imperative (to “consider the goodness and severity of God”) is supremely significant. It demands the proper balance essential to avoiding a caricature of Jehovah.
Because of His severe justice and impartiality, Jehovah did not spare the Jews who rejected their Messiah and refused to obey His gospel. Because of His severe justice and impartiality, Jehovah will cut off any Gentile Christian who fails to continue in His goodness.
Because of His goodness and mercy, Jehovah did graft the Gentiles into His tree of blessings. Because of His goodness and mercy, those Jews who obey the gospel Jehovah will graft back into His tree of spiritual blessings.
Beware of Satan’s perverse caricatures of Jehovah.
Consider the goodness and the severity of God.
