What is Maturity – Knowing Gods Holiness or God’s Love and Grace?
Michael EdwardsGod is Holy, Holy, Holy and God is Love.
Some think there is too much preaching on the love and grace of God. They want more mature teachings on God’s holiness, law and even the wrath of God to convict us of our sin. So what message is for the mature, God’s holiness or God’s love?
In Luke 5 we see Peter’s reaction when his new acquaintance Jesus provides a net breaking fish catch. Peter realizes Jesus is at the least sent by God and says, “Depart from me for I am a sinful man.” We see this throughout scripture; man is instinctively aware of God's holiness and conscious of their sin and unrighteousness at the appearance of even an angel.
After the resurrection and Peters three denials, Jesus first meets privately with Peter/Simon “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” (Luke 24:34)
Also, in Mark 16:7 the angel mentions Peter specifically - But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Later in John 21, Peter catches a second boatload of fish on the direction of a man on shore. John realizes it is the resurrected Jesus and tells Peter who immediately dives in and swims to Jesus.
What do you think Peter was more aware of now – God’s holiness or God’s love?
If Peter were more aware of God’s holiness, he would have rowed the boat out to sea. He certainly would not have gone eagerly to Jesus after denying him three times. It is obvious that through relationship, Peter matured and had come to know our Holy God’s heart for man, to know that he was right with God through Jesus despite his failures. He learned that not even the holiness of God could separate him from the love of God.
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