Happy new year! Thank you to all the submissions so far. We are slowly working through each questions and hope to resolve any burning questions you may have.

To check out last episode’s questions click here, and for Jim’s foreword on answering these questions click here.

QUESTION 1.

WHY DOES IT SOMETIMES SEEM LIKE GOD CANNOT CONTROL HIS ANGER? WE READ IN PSALM 78 THAT HE FED THE PEOPLE, BUT HE ALSO KILLED THE STRONGEST OF THEM BECAUSE HE WAS ANGRY.

Psalm 78 is a brief summary that chronicles the patience of God in Israel’s history. But also, [vv.32-34] mentions the judgement. Of course, what summary lacks by the nature of its brevity is the long and detailed accounts of God’s long-suffering and long-patience. If, however, we actually read through the actual accounts, and if we can dare to imagine the full scope of the actual events from God’s perspective and experience, we are likely to be convinced that God is more patient than any human can ever be. Moreover, as the Creator, He is certainly justified to take those actions. Especially when we read on the never-ending repetitive cycle of sin, betrayal, and the sheer evil, we find that we quickly lose patience over humanity long before God ever does, and wonder why He puts up with the people the way He does.

The perception that God is quick to anger is discounting the context of human unfaithfulness and sinfulness. It’s like being a blind and foolish judge who completely ignores the crimes of the perpetrator. Instead, the faithful observers will testify (as in Psalm 86:15), “You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth, and others like it [Exo.34:6; Num.14:18; 2Pet.3:15].

The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.
Numbers 14:18 (ESV)

As sentient beings, we are prone to wonder about our own value, as the psalmist asks, “What is man that you are mindful of him?” [Psa.8:4a]. But to our pleasant surprise, we discover throughout the Scriptures that God values us far more than we imagine or deserve. In spite of constant rebellion and betrayal, God continue to pursue His people, and ultimately sacrifices His own Son to save us [John 3:11-21].

QUESTION 2.

IN ROMANS 5:6, IT SAYS CHRIST DIED FOR THE ‘UNGODLY’. WITH THE THEORY OF PREDESTINATION IN MIND, AM I CORRECT TO ASSUME THAT THIS WORD' ‘UNGODLY’ DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PEOPLE THAT GOD HAS NOT ELECTED?

In this context, the description of “ungodly” is, on one hand, referring specifically to the elect for whom Christ died for, but also as a way to compare their equal “ungodly” status as compared to all fallen people.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:6 (ESV)

Rather than highlighting the difference, it highlights the equal undeserved and fallen status prior to justification. It emphasises the point of “unconditional election,” more so than “limited atonement” in the scheme of 5-points of TULIP associated with Calvinism.

(Questions have been edited for length and clarity.)

If you have ever wondered about topics such as these, are curious about the how’s and why’s of Christianity or have any other questions in general ask Pastor Jim anything here.