• God is HOLY
• God is FAITHFUL
• God is LOVING
• God is RIGHTEOUS/JUDGE

“But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines … He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify…”           -Malachi 3:2-3             

You WANT a Righteous/Judge God…

• Wrong is REAL
  See Genesis 19:24-25 (page ___)
                          (See also Jude 7 and 2 Peter 2:6)
  
  Romans 12:19, “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back, says the Lord.’”
  
• Mercy is NEEDED
  “You’re not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the fire. The day is coming when it’s going to blaze hot and high, God’s fiery and righteous judgment. Make no mistake: In the end you get what’s coming to you—Real Life for those who work on God’s side, but to those who insist on getting their own way and take the path of least resistance, Fire!” - Romans 2:5-8 (The Message)
  
  “You have brought this upon yourselves by rebelling against the Lord your God… Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from me will shame you. You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear him.”
  - Jeremiah 2:17,19
  
  (See also Psalm 82:3, Isaiah 1:17, Jeremiah 22:3, Isaiah 30:18)
  
  
• Forgiveness is DESIRED
  Matthew 7:1-2, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
  
  Romans 5:6-9, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.”

Final Thought: With the Righteous/Judge, it’s okay to get close to the fire when you come by way of the cross.