God & Justice - Pastor John Ortberg (Message Only)

The Winter Guest Speaker Series is when nationally and internationally known speakers, authors, experts, and pastors who have a relationship with Dr. Anderson are invited in to speak into our congregation from an outside perspective on biblical and culturally relevant topics

[@ricklannoye4374]

JESUS TAUGHT THAT JUSTICE IS BAD, BECAUSE GOD IS NOT JUST BUT ALL-FORGIVING!
It is so important to understand what Jesus said about the nature of God and "justice," which is just another way of saying "revenge": That God is NOT vindictive, NOT "just"!
In Matthew 5:38-48, Jesus explained that "one eye for one eye," was just a stop-gap measure, a way to LIMIT man's evil so he wouldn't take TEN EYES for one eye! BUT, what God REALLY WANTS, is for us to imitate HIM! To not seek revenge at all!
Now, is there a bad repercussion to sin (assuming one understands that "sin" is hurting people)? Yes, of course! But it's not that God brings even more suffering to those who cause it! No, instead, when people causes others to suffer, but also to THEMSELVES!
Those who do bad things are deceived! Whatever small amount of pleasure they get from doing bad things to others quickly evaporates, and their empty souls are just that much deeper a chasm that can never be filled!
By contrast, the Good News is that everyone, no matter how bad you've been, is within the reach of God's love and forgiveness! In fact, God loves and forgives everyone ALREADY! There is only one difference--some people have realized (believed) this and others have not YET realized it!
Therefore, the true believer in Jesus (or maybe we should say REALIZER) has only pity for those lost in the delusion of sinful living, and wants only for them to discover the JOY of leading a life of doing good and helping those who suffer!
Sadly, there are far too many Christians who don't really believe! They have believed in a legalistic religion that tells them they cannot do so many things (even though they hurt no one)! As a result, they become envious of the "sinners," and resort to threatening them with Hell and other false notions of divine wrath! If only they were truly born again, they would be happy instead of hateful toward and jealous of those who don't yet know the love of God.
Rick Lannoye, author of www.amazon.com/Real-Life-Jesus.../dp/B09V4BJ62D