Sin death and beyond
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SIN, DEATH AND BEYOND: M.M.NINAN<br />
B<br />
CHARACTER OF GOD<br />
The direct statement which defines the character of God in the Old Testament is found in the<br />
Mosaic revelation when God declares:<br />
Exo 34:6 -7 <strong>and</strong> Jehovah passeth over before his face, <strong>and</strong> calleth: `Jehovah, Jehovah God,<br />
merciful <strong>and</strong> gracious, slow to anger, <strong>and</strong> abundant in kindness <strong>and</strong> truth, keeping kindness for<br />
thous<strong>and</strong>s, taking away iniquity, <strong>and</strong> transgression, <strong>and</strong> sin, <strong>and</strong> not entirely acquitting,<br />
charging iniquity of fathers on children, <strong>and</strong> on children's children, on a third generation , <strong>and</strong><br />
on a fourth.' (YLT) This is repeated throughout Old Testament.<br />
The Old Testment is period of the Law.<br />
The whole history as presented in the Bible is a series of events where God loves <strong>and</strong> gives<br />
punishment, seemingly severe. God cannot entirely acquit sin. He punishes it. Hence Paul tells<br />
us that under the Law Every transgression <strong>and</strong> disobedience received a just recompense of<br />
reward. Heb. 2: 2.<br />
But behind it all is the love, mercy <strong>and</strong> kindness typical of a Father.<br />
The fullness of revelation came through Jesus in the New Testament where God is presented<br />
as Love <strong>and</strong> as a Father in its fullness.<br />
“While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).<br />
Jn 4:7 -13 Beloved, may we love one another, because the love is of God, <strong>and</strong> everyone who<br />
is loving, of God he hath been begotten, <strong>and</strong> doth know God; he who is not loving did not know<br />
God, because God is love. In this was manifested the love of God in us, because His Son--the<br />
only begotten--hath God sent to the world, that we may live through him; in this is the love, not<br />
that we loved God, but that He did love us, <strong>and</strong> did send His Son a propitiation for our sins.<br />
Beloved, if thus did God love us, we also ought one another to love; God no one hath ever<br />
seen; if we may love one another, God in us doth remain, <strong>and</strong> His love is having been<br />
perfected in us; in this we know that in Him we do remain, <strong>and</strong> He in us, because of His Spirit<br />
He hath given us.<br />
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