Genesis 18:25 and John 1:7 and 2 Timothy 1:12

Genesis 18:25

"That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

A judge sits on the bench, sentencing people under the law that he may not want to, but he did not establish the law; he is merely the servant of the law.

In contrast to this, God is the servant of none. He is not making decisions based on any exterior criteria apart from Himself. If God has to abrogate justice to take you to heaven, then God will not take you to heaven. If God has to abrogate His holiness to save the man, He will never save that man.

How, then, can it be that God can be just and yet spare the wicked?

Simply because the attributes of God do not clash with each other.

When God punishes the wicked, it is just, because it is consistent with the man's wickedness. When God spares the wicked, that also is just because it is consistent with God's goodness. God is never unjust to save any man. God's unitary being, being Himself, one God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, coequal and co-eternal - permits God to exercise His attributes as He chooses, as He wills. So when God wills to show mercy to a man, it never contradicts His justice.

O God of justice and mercy, I celebrate Thy faithfulness in being to us what we absolutely need. You never fail, and I praise Thee today! In Jesus' name, Amen

~A. W. Tozer~
_______________________

John 1:7

"The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe" (John 1:7)

Do not imagine that because Abraham Lincoln was a good man and Adolf Hitler was a bad man that Christ died for Lincoln and not for Hitler. We categorize man as good and bad, but as far as God is concerned, "all have sinned and come short." Therefore, He died for all men, good and bad, vicious and wicked, around the world.

He died for the homosexual, the dope fiend, the alcoholic, the prostitute; He died for all. Ah, the infinite patience of Jesus and the patience of God with the power to save. He has infinite power to save and breaks the power of canceled sin.

Paul Rader used to say, "You name it and God will break it." He was so right. If you can name it, God can break it for His honor and glory.

God's being infinite is not a theological bit of lumber to put up inside of somebody's attic labeled "This is the infinitude of God."

If this is your last hour, and you expect to face that awful judgment hour, look to the infinite protection of the atoning Lamb who died from the foundation of the world. Glory be to the Lamb that was slain!

Dear Lamb of God, Thy precious blood shed on the Cross cleanses me from all my sin; and not mine only, but it can avail every person that has ever been born and ever will be born. I thank Thee for this marvelous provision. Amen and amen

~A. W. Tozer~
_____________________________

2 Timothy 1:12

"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12)

There are two kinds of faith: nominal faith and real faith.

Nominal faith accepts what it is told and can quote text after text to prove it. It is amazing how nominal faith, nominal belief, can weave texts into garments, cloaks and curtains for the church. We have so many of these all around the church, and I must admit that for the most part they are beautiful. But they serve no function in our spiritual walk.

The other kind of faith is what I refer to as real faith. This faith depends upon the character of God and looks nowhere else.

The Scripture does not say of Abraham that he believed the text and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Abraham believed God. It is not what Abraham believed, but WHO Abraham believed that truly counted.

The man who has real faith, as over against nominal faith, has found the right answer to one important question: What is God like? No question is more important and demands a proper answer.

What is God like? The men of true faith have found an answer to that question, by revelation and illumination. They know in whom they have believed.

Dear God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, my faith is rooted deep in whom Thou art. Not the God of the scientists or philosophers or theologians. My faith is not in what I believe, but in whom I believe, and I believe in Thee. In the blessed name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.

~A. W. Tozer~