THE TWO EDGED SWORD

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:30

God is love, full of mercy and grace. He is patient and kind. We can all say “amen” to this I hope. If you have been in church lately, chances are that most of the messages or sermons you have heard have been centered on this wonderful truth that we all so fully embrace.

However, if we believe that our faith as Christians is to be formed and defined by the Bible, and not by modern culture, then we must recognize that most churches these days have not been telling the whole story about what the Scriptures teach about God. The love, grace, and mercy are only one edge of a two edged sword.

I have heard many people say, “I just don´t like that fire and brimstone, repent or go to Hell kind of preaching!” Well, let me ask you, when was the last time you heard any?

You see, the same New Testament that declares that God is loving, kind, merciful, patient, and full of grace, also speaks of His holiness, wrath, and judgment. Yes, there is a Heaven, but there is also a Hell. Actually, if you do an exhaustive study of the New Testament, you will find that it speaks even MORE of the latter than the former!

So which is it? Is God merciful and loving, or severe in His wrath and judgments? The answer is, of course, both. In fact, one can only be understood in the light of the other. God is so holy and loves so much, that His very nature cannot tolerate sin and evil- they must be dealt with. This is the other edge of the sword.

At the the cross of Calvary both are seen: the severe judgment and wrath of God against sin, and the extreme love and mercy of God extended to the sinner.

Obviously, no one wants to hear only about God´s wrath, judgment, and Hell. If that is all we heard or believed the results would be a warped view of God and a great hindrance to entering into the loving relationship that He desires to have with us. Also, viewing God in only this way will lead to an obedience and service that springs from the wrong motives.

However, presenting or believing in a God that is only love, grace, and mercy is also not without problems. Such a God is not the God the Bible presents, and often leads to a lax attitude towards sin, the heresy of universalism, and in other cases…atheism.

Atheism? Yes, Let me explain…

Believing in a God that is only love and never wrathful, that forgives everyone unconditionally and never judges or condemns guilty, unrepentant sinners flies in the face of His holiness, justice, and righteousness. Such a “god” fails to take into account and explain the existence of evil, injustice, and death. It would be like an unrepentant man that killed the person you love the most and in spite of his proven guilt, is set free by the judge without any consequences whatsoever. Just imagine if the murderer said in court,

“Judge, I admit, I did it. I killed in cold blood. But I believe you are so good and so loving that you won´t do anything to me except let me go, free of all charges!”

Just imagine. But then again, if the judge is a good judge, he must reply,

“You are right about one thing, I am good, and I am loving. As a matter of fact, I am so good and so loving that I am going to make sure justice is served by condemning you to the maximum sentence of the law. Guilty of all charges!” This alone is the sentence that would bring a sense of righteousness and justice, especially to the person that suffered the murder of the loved one.

The Bible declares, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.” Psalm 89:14 God is so good and so holy that his very nature requires that evil be dealt with severely. This is why God did not ignore Adam´s original sin in the Garden or even extend him a “second chance.” His holiness demanded the death of the sinner, and that very day the first man and woman died spiritually by being cast out of God´s presence and the process of physical death began in their bodies. Yes indeed, a holy God will judge and condemn sinners. (Unless, of course, someone without sin could pay the penalty for us vicariously! Oh, who could that be?) If we remove this divine trait from God, we are left with a hollow theology and a lot of confusing questions and very few answers.

It is because this has been the “god” that has been presented in the post-modern church, that so many young people are now going through what is known as the “deconstruction of faith,” such as Jonathan Steingard, former lead singer of the contemporary Christian band Hawk Nelson, who could find no way to reconcile the “God of love” that he always believed in with a world full of suffering and cruelty.

Perhaps the two edged sword was never presented to him. If Mr. Steingard would simply understand that all suffering is directly or indirectly the result of mankind´s rebellion against God: that little word we call “sin,” perhaps things would make more sense to him and many others that have been deceived. This is especially true when we realize that the biblical God reacts severely against this terrible three letter word that always leads to death. In fact, He is so severe in His judgment against it that He sent his only begotten son to “become sin for us,” and to “taste death for every man.” Yes indeed, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” who “died for our sins according to the scriptures.”

God´s word clearly declares that the day is coming when He will bring one, final judgment of purifying fire. Satan, sin, suffering, and death will be no more. Unrepentant sinners, who spurned God´s mercy and grace shown on Calvary´s cross will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Then He will say,

“Behold, I make all things new!” The redeemed will live in that city where the Lamb is the light, where there will only be eternal love, joy, and peace. This has been the eternal hope of true, Bible believing Christians for two millennium.

During a recent search of the New Testament, I copied every verse I could find that spoke of God´s wrath, judgment, condemnation, and Hell, and let me tell you , there were a lot!Before you reject my thesis, please read through the passages below. If you believe the Bible is Holy Spirit inspired, you will be obligated to admit that it presents a God that is indeed loving and merciful, but also severe in His wrathful judgment against unrepentant sin and sinners. Only when we affirm both edges of the sword can we make sense of sin, suffering, and death. Only when we wield the two edged sword can we say with assurance that the God we profess and the faith we proclaim are true, because they spring from the very source that the Almighty left us to determine such things: the Holy Scriptures. The results will be evident, because God blesses that which is true. He cannot bless that which is not.

Yes, in spite of today’s ungodly culture that seeks in vain to re-create a false god and gospel after its own imagination, the true God continues to reign over his creation. Perhaps it is time that we start believing and preaching both edges of that sharp, two edged sword again. The results will be evident, for His word will not return void.

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New Testament passages regarding God´s wrath, judgement, and Hell

Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 5:29-30 If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 13:41-42 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 23:33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

Matthew 25:30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:41 Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.

Matthew 25:46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

Mark 9:43-48 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Mark 9:47-48 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Luke 12:4-5 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Luke 13:24-28 “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; and He will say, ‘I tell you; I do not know where you are from; depart from me, all you evildoers.’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out.

Luke 16:19-31 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 5:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

John 15:6 If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Acts 5:3-5 But Peter said, “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and gave up the ghost. And great fear came on all those who heard these things.

Acts 12:22-24 And the people gave a shout, saying, “It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!” And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory; and he was eaten by worms and gave up the ghost.

Acts 13:9-12 Then Saul (who also is called Paul), filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him and said, “O, full of all guile and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.” And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness, and he went about seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Romans 2:2-11. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, you foolish person who passes judgment on those who practice such things, and yet does them as well, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will repay each person according to their deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life; but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of mankind who does evil, for the Jew first and also for the Greek, but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God

Romans 5:8-9 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 9:22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,

Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Colossians 3:5-6 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

II Thess 1:7-9 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Hebrews 10:26-31 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

2 Peter 2:4 “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;”

2 Peter 2:9 Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,

2 Peter 2:17 “These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.”

Jude 1:5-7 Now I want to remind you, though you know everything once and for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. And angels who did not keep their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling place, these He has kept in eternal restraints under darkness for the judgment of the great day, just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these angels indulged in sexual perversion and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

Jude 1:13 “They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.”

Revelation 2:20-23 Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He that searcheth the reins and hearts; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works

Revelation 6:16-17 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb,

Revelation 14:9-11 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Revelation 16:19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.

Revelation 19:11-15 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Revelation 20:10 “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

Revelation 20:14,15 -Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.