On the 21st of June I received an email from a woman named Loretta.  Loretta said: “I listened
twice to your sermon about the denominations lies.  I had to listen twice since I could not
understand some of what you were saying.  As I listened the second time you talked about Rick
Warren who happens to be a motivation in my life to accept Jesus as my Lord.  The God I know
is not happy with you speaking ill of great men of faith like Rick.”

      For the record, the sermon this woman listened to was preached here at Sunrise on May
25th, 2008.  The address online is: (www.wordsoftruth.net/mp3sermons/someofdenominationalismsbiggestlies5_08.htm).  I did talk
negatively about Rick Warren.  Rick Warren is an ungodly, false teacher (Jude 4).  He is
promising things, which are not of God, leading many to Hell (II Peter 2:1-3; 14-19).  The only
God says men like this are deceivers and ravening wolves (II Timothy 3:13 and Matthew 7:15).  
The only God is just fine with my comments about Rick Warren (Romans 16:17-18 and Acts 20:
28-31).

      Now let’s get to the point I wanted to draw from Loretta’s email to me.  Everyone seems to
think they know God in their own way.  Some people like the kindness of God while other like
the fierceness of God.  People have to redefine God’s love to miss the correction contained
therein (Hebrews 12:6-8 and Revelation 3:19).  David instructed his son saying: “And thou,
Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with
a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the
thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off
for ever” (I Chronicles 28:9).  God is a loving God (John 3:16).  He is also a God of hatred
(Psalms 5:4-5).

      There is not your God and my God.  There is not your way of seeing God and my way of
seeing Him.  There is one God and only one way to know Him (I Corinthians 2:9-13).  Outside of
His word, you cannot begin to understand God.  


      Don’t you get sick of hearing people like Loretta speak of what they think about God?  
Notice the following scriptures: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of
God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!  For who hath known
the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?  Or who hath first given to him, and it
shall be recompensed unto him again?  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things:
to whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Romans 11:33-36).  People need to stop talking like they
know what God thinks about something unless they can provide book, chapter, and verse to
prove it (I Corinthians 4:6 and II Timothy 3:15-17).  We know that God is both good and severe
because He says so.


      In speaking to Gentiles in Rome about the judgment of God on the Jews and the
acceptance of the Gentiles into the family of God, Paul wrote: “For if God spared not the natural
branches [the Jews – B.A.Y.], take heed lest he also spare not thee.  Behold therefore the
goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if
thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.  And they also, if they
abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again” (Romans
11:21-23).   The Gentiles were being instructed by Paul to be careful.  God has shown how
much He loves His people, but He also is willing to judge His people.  The Gentiles, now being
accepted into the faith wherein in times past we were not (Ephesians 2:11-17), ought not forget
the Jews who gave us the opportunity of redemption (Galatians 3:13-29).  In looking at the Jews
we learn of both the goodness and the severity of God.

      We have a God who wants everyone to be saved (I Timothy 2:4), but will eternally punish
all who choose not to be (John 5:28-29 and II Thessalonians 1:7-9).  God is fair, in that He is
equal in judging all men by the same standard (John 12:48, Romans 2:11, Colossians 3:24-25,
and I Peter 1:17).  God is fair in that He will not demand me to keep all of His word while
allowing others to do as they please (James 2:10-13).  If you want to look at God’s goodness,
there are plenty of Scriptures in which to do so (i.e. I John 3:16; 4:9-10, Romans 8:28-39,
Philippians 4:6-7, I Peter 5:6-7, John 10:27-28, John 12:25-26, II Corinthians 5:1, I Peter 1:3-4,
and I John 2:24-25).  Likewise, we can see how severe God is through the Scriptures as well
(Numbers 20:1-12; cf. Deuteronomy 3:23-28, Deuteronomy 20:16-20, I Kings 20:28-43, II Kings
2:23-24, Jeremiah 15:1-7, Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 9:43-48, John 15:6,
Hebrews 10:26-31, and Hebrews 12:28-29).  You cannot pick which side of God you like and
just discard the other.  God is a take it all or leave it all God!


      “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and
there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things
that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure…   Let the
wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the
Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  For my
thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts
than your thoughts” (Isaiah 46:9-10; 55:7-9).


      The God I know is revealed in the Scriptures.  The god so many claim to know is a figment
of their imaginations.  Here it is, if you want to know God you have to search His word (John 5:
39).  If you want to make up your own thoughts about God, you’ll have a long time in Hell to
figure out you are wrong!
Volume VIII    ~    Issue XLV   ~   August 3rd, 2008
Words of Truth Weekly - Online Edition
What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)?  Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16 & Romans 10:17),
repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of your
sins (Acts 2:38 and Romans 6:1-6).  Upon your obedience to these requirements of the Lord He will add you to the
church of Christ (Acts 2:41; 47 and I Corinthians 12:12-13; cf. Romans 16:16).  One must then remain faithful
(Colossians 1:23 and Revelation 2:10).  There is more to cover than is here.  Contact me today for a study:
brianyeager@wordsoftruth.net
Edited by: Brian A. Yeager
“The God I Know”
By: Brian A. Yeager
You Do Not Know the Mind of the Lord Beyond What He’s Revealed
Conclusion
Behold the Goodness and the Severity of God
You Cannot Create Your Own Version of God