The Wicked and the Righteous

          (I'll have the conclusion of the series on the atonement tomorrow, but
     first these passages about evildoers and the righteous).


          God hates wickedness, the boastful, evildoers, liars, the bloodthirsty,
     and the deceitful.

         
                                        "For you are not a God who delights in
                                         wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.
                                         The boastful shall not stand before your
                                         eyes; you hate all evildoers.
                                        
                                       "You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD
                                         abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man."
                                                                                     Psalm 5:4-6


          We believers were once among those  who committed such terrible offenses
     against God.


                                       "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions
                                        and sins, in which you used to live when you fol-
                                        lowed the ways of the world and of the ruler of the
                                        kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work
                                        in those who are disobedient.

                                      "All of us also lived among them at one time, grati-
                                       fying the cravings of our sinful nature and following
                                       its desires and thoughts.  Like the rest, we were by
                                       nature objects of wrath."
                                                                                 Ephesians 2:1-3


          But now because of God's mercy and grace and love for us through our Lord and
     Savior Jesus Christ, we are no longer dead in our sins and objects of God's wrath.


                                      "But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
                                       will enter your house.  I will bow down toward your
                                       holy temple in the fear of you.  Lead me, O LORD,
                                       in your righteousness because of my enemies; make
                                       your way straight before me.

                                     " .... let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever
                                      sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that
                                      those who love your name may exult in you.  For you
                                      bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor
                                      as with a shield."
                                                                                          Psalm 5:7-8,11-12


          We are made righteous through God's gift of faith in Christ Jesus, and are
     justified by His grace through the redemption that came by the Son.


                                    "This righteousness from God comes through faith in
                                      Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference,
                                      for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
                                      and are justified freely by His grace, through the re-
                                      demption that came by Christ Jesus."
                                                                                         Romans 3:22-24