SCRIPTURE: Luke 3:1-9
“There he preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them.” (Luke 3:3)
“Produce fruit that shows you have turned away from your sins.” (Luke 3:8)
Does mercy precede holiness (see  this past Friday), or does getting rid of sin precede God’s mercy?
John’s message sounds the same as Zophar’s (Job 11:14ff) – stop sinning, then God will forgive you.
The bible presents a tension here, a tension that reflects both God’s love for sinners and hatred of sin.
Some passages focus more on God’s hatred of sin, but they do not negate or overrule God’s love for sinners.
We should always remember that no matter how much God loves sinners, He still hates sin.
And as I said yesterday, those who absolutely reject God’s love and refuse to hate sin – after all of God’s mercy and help – the axe will eventually be applied to to root.
God does forgive everyone, but not everyone accepts God’s forgiveness, and in that way they lose it.
God loves and forgives pharisees and prostitutes, heterosexuals and homosexuals, murderers and missionaries, pastors and perverts, Muslims and Christians, Buddhists and Atheists… all are covered by the baptism of His love.
But in the end, should any of these refuse to let go of immorality or cruelty or greed or injustice, then they will find the sharp edge of God’s axe slicing them along with these terrible roots.
God loves sinners, and hates sin, and eventually we will have to choose which one we want God or sin!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
God help me to always remember Your love for me. But also help me to remember Your hatred of sin… not to the point of despair but enough to drive me back to Your love again.