Even though the Bible is sixty-six individual books, written in at least three different languages, over a period of approximately 1,500 years, by more that 40 authors (who came from many walks of life), it remains unified from beginning to end.
Throughout the Old Testament God is declared to be “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth” (Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:5 and 15; 108:4 and 145:8; Joel 2:13). In the New Testament, God’s loving-kindness and mercy are manifested by the fact that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
The Old Testament reveals how a loving, merciful and just God deals with sinful men in all kinds of situations. Notice the clear instruction and warning God gave to ancient Israel in Deuteronomy 28:15-45. When they willfully sinned against Him and began to worship idols, God chastised them. Yet each time they repented of their idolatry, He delivered them. This is much the same way we see God dealing with Christians in the New Testament. Hebrews 12:6 tells us that “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”
God is the judge of all and He will deal with those who disobey His word and reject His laws. God knows that continually disobeying His righteous way of life damages lives and causes untold suffering. Although He may administer the death sentence to halt the proliferation of evil and suffering, He has a future plan to resurrect these people and give them an opportunity for salvation at the time of the second resurrection. God has the power of life and death, as well as the ability to bring the dead back to life. (Be sure to read the following article in this issue: The Second Resurrection: Humanity’s Opportunity For Salvation.)
From Genesis to Revelation God has an awesome purpose in mind for humanity, which is succinctly stated in Hebrews 2:9-10: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”
God’s plan and purpose is that every human being, past, present and future, will have an opportunity for salvation. Those who have died in ancient times never knowing the name of Christ will have their opportunity for salvation at a future time. None will be left out: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
We must never lose sight of the most important truth about God—that God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son are beings of infinite love. The Apostle John perfectly summarized their divine character and nature when he wrote that “God is love” (1 John 4:8 and 16). When God showed His glory to Moses, He revealed Himself as “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7, NIV). Love is the foundation of the character and law of God, and the basis of everything that God has revealed to mankind in the Holy Scriptures (Matthew 22:35-40).
