infinite debtor

The Glory of God

The Bible teaches us that “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”¹. Contrary to the unthinking assertions of some, the universe is not a causeless effect. Everything did not come from nothing. Just as the existence of a building demands a builder, and art points to an artist, so creation requires a Creator². God created all that is, whether visible or invisible³, and sustains everyone and everything effortlessly⁴. God was the creative force behind all that is, while He Himself was neither caused nor created⁵, but exists eternally⁶, outside of time (which is part of His creation)⁷. God alone is the Creator; none other rightly bears that title.

God is your Creator as well⁸. As your Creator, you belong to God, meaning He has every right to breathe life into you and take it away, to set limitations and define His expectations for you, to give commandments and hold you accountable for your obedience to them. Because God is your Creator, it is right that you would live your life with gratitude before Him in an attitude of absolute humility, reverence, and obedience. Your life has a purpose – you were created to worship and give thanks to your Creator – the One who has given you life and every good pleasure you have ever enjoyed⁹, sustaining you to this very day.

The Bad News

When God finished His creation, He said that it was “very good”¹⁰. God and man dwelt in perfect fellowship with one another. There was no death or suffering in the world; it was perfectly sustained by God in a flawless state. But man rebelled against God¹¹ and the world was plunged from its “very good” state into darkness and decay¹². Since Adam’s first act of disobedience, every one of his descendents has inherited death¹³ and a sinful nature¹⁴ that continues his rebellion against God. It is because of that broken and unsound sin nature that you love what you should hate (sin)¹⁵ and hate what you should love (righteousness)¹⁶.

To show us our sinful state, God has given us His Law (the Ten Commandments)¹⁷. God has commanded us to love Him supremely¹⁸ by worshiping only Him¹⁹, reverencing His name²⁰, and honoring His holy day²¹ – commandments that most people’s sinful hearts, contrary to all virtue and reason, drive them to break constantly. God has also commanded us to love our fellow man²² (who is made in His image²³) by honoring our parents²⁴, not committing murder²⁵ (God considers hatred to be murder²⁶), or adultery²⁷ (God considers lust to be adultery²⁸), and not stealing²⁹, lying³⁰, or being greedy³¹ – commandments that most people unreasonably break every day.

God is reasonable and just to command these things and it is sane and right for you and I to obey them. Our disobedience to God’s commands is no small thing. Disobedience is high treason against our Creator, and that throws contempt upon His infinite glory. Since God is infinitely worthy of our love, any sin is infinitely offensive; therefore our just Creator will give the correct punishment for it – infinite, eternal destruction in the fires of hell³². Breaking God’s Law shows us that we are sinners, in desperate need of a Savior. Have you broken your Creator’s Law? Will you be found innocent or guilty on the day of judgment?

The Good News

The truth is bleak; however there is amazingly good news for guilty sinners! The Bible says that because God is kind and merciful, it was His will to save for Himself a people. God can offer all sinners forgiveness because His Son, Jesus Christ, Who is of the same essence as the Father³³(fully God yet fully man), entered time, came to earth, lived the sinless life³⁴ no one else was able to live³⁵, and gave Himself up as a sacrifice for sin³⁶. Jesus allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross where the Bible says He took upon Himself the sins of every man, woman, and child who will turn from their sin and trust in Him alone as Savior and Lord³⁷. As He hung on the cross, He was crushed under the full weight of the wrath of God that rightly belonged to His people³⁸. Jesus died forsaken of the Father³⁹, was buried⁴⁰, and rose again three days later⁴¹, giving proof the He is God, and that His sacrifice was accepted.

The sacrificial death of His Son was the only way God could forgive our offenses without being a corrupt judge who perverts justice by “justifying the wicked⁴²” without their due penalty being paid⁴³. If you will trust Christ’s work as your only hope for a right standing before God⁴⁴, on the day when you’re judged⁴⁵, it will be seen that justice has already been served – the penalty for your sin will be considered as paid by Jesus⁴⁶. In fact, God will treat you as though you had lived Jesus’s perfect life⁴⁷, and will take you into His glorious kingdom for all eternity⁴⁸! Repent and believe the Gospel today⁴⁹! You might not have a tomorrow⁵⁰.

“Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.” (Deuteronomy 32:35)

¹ Gen. 1:1; ² Heb. 3:4; ³ Col. 1:16; ⁴ Acts 17:22-31, Ps. 104:27-30, Job 12:10, 34:14-15, Col. 1:17, Heb. 1:3; ⁵ Is. 43:10; Rev. 4:11; ⁶ Ps. 90:2; ⁷ 2 Pt. 3:8; ⁸ Ps. 89:47; ⁹ Jam. 1:17; ¹⁰ Gen. 1:31; ¹¹ Gen. 2:16-17, 3:6; ¹² Rom. 8:19-22; ¹³ Rom. 5:12; ¹⁴ Rom. 3:9-18; Eph. 2:3; ¹⁵ Jn. 3:19-21; ¹⁶ Jn. 3:19-21; ¹⁷ 1 Tim. 1:9-11; Rom. 3:19; Gal. 3:24; ¹⁸ Mk. 12:30; ¹⁹ Ex. 20:1-6; ²⁰ Ex. 20:7; ²¹ Ex. 20:8-11; ²² Mk. 12:31; ²³Gen. 1:27; ²⁴ Ex. 20:12; ²⁵ Ex. 20:13; ²⁶ 1 Jn. 3:15; ²⁷ Ex. 20:14; ²⁸ Mt. 5:28; ²⁹ Ex. 20:15; ³⁰ Ex. 20:16;³¹ Ex. 20:17; ³² Lk. 12:5; ³³ Col. 2:9; ³⁴ Heb. 4:15; ³⁵ Rom. 3:10, 23; ³⁶ Is. 53:5-6; ³⁷ 1 Pt. 2:24; ³⁸ Is. 53:10-11; ³⁹ Mk. 15:34; ⁴⁰ Lk. 23:52-53; ⁴¹ Lk. 24:1-8; ⁴² Prv. 17:15; ⁴³ Rom. 6:23; ⁴⁴ Rom. 5:1-2; Eph. 1:12; Heb. 3:6; ⁴⁵ Acts 17:30-31; Ps. 9:8; ⁴⁶ 1 Jn. 4:10; ⁴⁷ Phil. 3:9-10; ⁴⁸ Mt. 25:34; ⁴⁹ Mk. 1:15; Acts 3:19; ⁵⁰ Jam. 4:13-16