Goodness and Severity

 dua atribut kebaikan dan kekerasan Tuhan yang tampaknya berlawanan.  bahwa kedua atribut ini tidak saling eksklusif tetapi sebenarnya saling melengkapi dan saling berhubungan.

 memulai dengan membahas konsep kebaikan Tuhan. bahwa kebaikan Tuhan bukan hanya atribut moral tetapi mencakup kebajikan, belas kasihan, dan kemurahan hati-Nya terhadap semua ciptaan-Nya. Kebaikan Tuhan diwujudkan dalam tindakan-Nya terhadap umat manusia, termasuk cinta, kasih sayang, dan anugerah-Nya.

Namun,  juga menyadari bahwa kebaikan Tuhan tidak berarti bahwa Dia lemah lembut atau lemah. Kebaikan Tuhan diimbangi dengan kekerasan-Nya, yang dinyatakan dalam keadilan, murka, dan hukuman-Nya terhadap orang-orang yang memberontak terhadap-Nya.  bahwa ketegasan Tuhan bukanlah atribut negatif tetapi atribut yang diperlukan karena menjunjung tinggi kebenaran-Nya dan komitmen-Nya terhadap keadilan.

 bahwa kebaikan dan ketangguhan Tuhan tidak bertentangan satu sama lain tetapi sebenarnya dalam keselarasan yang sempurna. Kebaikan Tuhan terlihat dari belas kasihan-Nya terhadap para pendosa, sedangkan ketegasan-Nya terlihat dari penghakiman-Nya terhadap dosa.  bahwa salib Kristus adalah demonstrasi sempurna dari interaksi antara kebaikan dan kekerasan Tuhan. Di kayu salib, kebaikan Tuhan ditunjukkan melalui kesediaan-Nya untuk mengampuni orang berdosa dan menawarkan keselamatan kepada mereka, sedangkan ketegasan-Nya ditunjukkan dalam hukuman yang ditanggung Kristus untuk dosa umat manusia.

Sebagai kesimpulan, bahwa memahami kebaikan dan kekerasan Tuhan sangat penting untuk pemahaman yang tepat tentang karakter Tuhan dan hubungan-Nya dengan umat manusia. Dengan merangkul kedua aspek sifat Allah, kita dapat lebih menghargai kasih, belas kasihan, dan keadilan-Nya, serta menjalani kehidupan yang menghormati dan memuliakan Dia.

In chapter 9 of "Knowing God," J.I. Packer explores the two seemingly opposing attributes of God's goodness and severity. Packer argues that these two attributes are not mutually exclusive but are in fact complementary and interconnected.

Packer begins by discussing the concept of God's goodness. He notes that God's goodness is not just a moral attribute but encompasses His benevolence, mercy, and generosity towards all of His creation. God's goodness is manifested in His actions towards humanity, including His love, compassion, and grace.

However, Packer also recognizes that God's goodness does not mean that He is soft or weak. God's goodness is balanced by His severity, which is expressed in His justice, wrath, and punishment towards those who rebel against Him. Packer contends that God's severity is not a negative attribute but a necessary one because it upholds His righteousness and His commitment to justice.

Packer emphasizes that the goodness and severity of God are not in conflict with each other but are in fact in perfect harmony. God's goodness is seen in His mercy towards sinners, while His severity is seen in His judgment towards sin. Packer argues that the cross of Christ is the perfect demonstration of the interplay between God's goodness and severity. At the cross, God's goodness is displayed through His willingness to forgive sinners and offer them salvation, while His severity is demonstrated in the punishment that Christ endured for the sins of humanity.

In conclusion, Packer argues that understanding God's goodness and severity is crucial for a proper understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. By embracing both aspects of God's nature, we can better appreciate His love, mercy, and justice, and live a life that honors and glorifies Him.

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