Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Is God affected by our sin?

Read Job 35.

When a person sins, how does that affect God?  He is sovereign and self-sufficient.  He is not dependent on anyone or anything.  But Job and his friends had touched on the topics of God's responses to human sin and His rewards for doing what is right.

One by one, Elihu continued to take on the issues that the others brought up.  In verses 10-11, there are several basic statements that underpin the entire teaching of the Bible.
1. God is "my Maker", not the result of a process.
2. Humans were created separately.  We are not the descendants of animal life.
3. Humans are given different capacities than animal life.
4. God treats humans differently than any other part of His creation.

Though man's behaviors do not alter God's being and character, the Bible repeatedly mentions God's emotions toward us and our sin.
Sin saddens God.
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."  Ephesians 4:30
Sin angers God.
"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled.  Blessed are all who take refuge in him."  Psalm 2:12
Sinners are loved by God.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16


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