God is just. He punishes every sin exactly as it deserves. Not every sin is equally heinous, so not every judgement at the judgement day will be the same. God is just. And that is a wonderful truth.
There are lots of places in Scripture we could go to see this, but I've just found one I hadn't seen before, so I thought I'd share it.
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
This follows on from 5 posts I did back in April on net etiquette:
See my earlier post weighing the textual options for Matthew 18:15.
I love discovering new hymns.
Like this one by Josiah Conder, entitled My Lord, I did not choose you.
My Lord, I did not choose you,
for that could never be;
this heart would still refuse you
had you not chosen me:
you took the sin that stained me.
you cleansed and made me new;
for you of old ordained me
that I should live to you.
I have huge respect for Christopher Idle. I love the hymns he writes. And he's a godly man with a wise, pastoral heart. I was searching for some of his hymns, when I found something rather different.
Doubtless, many readers of this will be familiar with Henry Scott Holland's poem Death is Nothing at all. For those who don't know it:
Death is nothing at all. It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you, and the old life
Death is Nothing at all
Leithart again:
Historically, a pastoral candidate’s desires often had little to do with the Church’s call to serve in pastoral office. Far from seeking out positions of leadership, the greatest of the church fathers resisted with all their strength.
Lovely quotation from Leithart in Against Christianity on what a Spirit-filled church looks like:
Christian myth and ritual shape the people of God, by the power of the Spirit, into conformity to Christ, creating within the Church a palpable aroma of love, peace, purity, joy, ministry, mission and forgiveness. That aroma spreads from the Church to the city around it.
blockquote
Sorry for the extended downtime over the weekend everyone - all the maintenance is now complete. Thanks for your patience.
Enjoying R T France’s commentary on Matthew
Reading him on Matthew 18:15-17.