Tuesday, October 09, 2007
JUDGMENT AND GRACE
The last line of the Old Testament is "Or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." The last line of the New Testament is "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen."
The Old Testament presents a problem that the New Testament solves. The Old Testament is the story of creation and mankind's sin along with the Law of Moses which could not be kept perfectly in order earn salvation. The New Testament unfolds in history God's plan of grace through the sacrificial death of his perfect son. Thus, the last lines of the two testaments are fitting.
But it's not quite that simple. If one looks at the broader context of the last two lines there is an interesting parallel and contrast. Malachi 4:1-6 presents a judgment/grace/judgment pattern. Revelation 22:17-21 presents a grace/judgment/grace pattern.
In Malachi the burning day of the Lord is coming upon the arrogant and evil. But for those who revere the Lord it will be a day of healing. The close of the OT is open-ended with the promise of the coming Elijah and the hope that entails, but the last line is a line of warning.
In Revelation the Spirit and bride say "Come" to take the free gift of the water of life. But then follow words of warning, the threat of plagues, and the loss of the tree of life and holy city. The close, however, is the promised coming of the Lord Jesus and a pronouncement of blessing.
The truth is that both the Old and New Testaments present judgment and grace. Contrary to stereotyping, there is grace, mercy, love and forgiveness in the Old Testament. And contrary to many popular assumptions today, there are harsh words of judgment in the New Testament. The Bible is a story of bad news and good news. The bad news precedes the good news and for those who reject the good news, the news is only bad.
But the ultimate Good News is the coming and story of Jesus as given in the New Testament. And it is perfectly fitting that the New Testament, thus the whole Bible, ends with "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21
The Old Testament presents a problem that the New Testament solves. The Old Testament is the story of creation and mankind's sin along with the Law of Moses which could not be kept perfectly in order earn salvation. The New Testament unfolds in history God's plan of grace through the sacrificial death of his perfect son. Thus, the last lines of the two testaments are fitting.
But it's not quite that simple. If one looks at the broader context of the last two lines there is an interesting parallel and contrast. Malachi 4:1-6 presents a judgment/grace/judgment pattern. Revelation 22:17-21 presents a grace/judgment/grace pattern.
In Malachi the burning day of the Lord is coming upon the arrogant and evil. But for those who revere the Lord it will be a day of healing. The close of the OT is open-ended with the promise of the coming Elijah and the hope that entails, but the last line is a line of warning.
In Revelation the Spirit and bride say "Come" to take the free gift of the water of life. But then follow words of warning, the threat of plagues, and the loss of the tree of life and holy city. The close, however, is the promised coming of the Lord Jesus and a pronouncement of blessing.
The truth is that both the Old and New Testaments present judgment and grace. Contrary to stereotyping, there is grace, mercy, love and forgiveness in the Old Testament. And contrary to many popular assumptions today, there are harsh words of judgment in the New Testament. The Bible is a story of bad news and good news. The bad news precedes the good news and for those who reject the good news, the news is only bad.
But the ultimate Good News is the coming and story of Jesus as given in the New Testament. And it is perfectly fitting that the New Testament, thus the whole Bible, ends with "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21
