To get the full extent of this picture we need to remember Israel's pattern when they left Egypt: the people would rebel, the Lord's judgment would come, Moses would intercede on their behalf, and the Lord responded mercifully NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible. In Jesus' earthly days the people of Israel were still rebelling, but this time there was a different intercessor. However, this mercy that comes through Jesus the Son, our Savior, is an everlasting mercy.
When Nicodemus heard about Jesus' death on the cross, you can imagine his memory of these words. Just like the rebellious Israelites in the desert, Nicodemus needed an intercessor so that he could have salvation and be 'born again. John follows this rich and theologically dense explanation of sin and salvation. In Christ, we see a love so intense, so sacrificial, so incomprehensible, it makes all human expressions seem frivolous in comparison.
After all, he likely had no idea Jesus was planning to die—for him and us. But we do have that knowledge, thanks to Scripture. But He did more than that. Such a passionate, self-sacrificing act is hard for my mind to comprehend. God reached out, expecting nothing in return, and emptied Himself completely, for the very ones who spurned Him.
You and I included. God knew how helpless we were. Instead, He drew near. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross. The first thing God did was to remove the tree of life, lest we be trapped in a life of sin forever. He acted throughout history, weaving a plan and keeping His promise to save His people. And He acted when His Son was laid upon the cross, offering a sacrifice of His perfect life for our stained lives, which was the payment for sin.
Because of Jesus, we can have peace with God the Father, be adopted as His child, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live, fully, in His freedom. Adam and Eve rebelled against their good, attentive, and faithful Father. Christians have peace walking in the fear of the Lord. Plainly, after his conversion Saul feared the Lord in a good way. The Lord supplied him with comfort and strength. He was joyful because of the unfailing love of the Lord. We need the Spirit of God to give us a right fear of the Lord.
What can we do to stir up the Spirit to this end? Both were put in the presence of the exalted and holy God. But with you is forgiveness that you may be feared. The fear the devil has of the Lord is mingled with bitterness. The fear a redeemed soul has is mingled with knowledge of forgiveness of sin by a great Redeemer.
If you put yourself in the presence of God knowing you are exposed with all your sin, the knowledge of atonement for sin is a great thing; greater than anything in the world. The fear of the Lord is such as that. So it was with Paul and Isaiah. Our God is righteous and holy and bears wrath for a world in rebellion.
There is no other way that he could be in his perfect nature. He is all goodness, all love, all truth. The world will perish and pass away 1 Cor but it does not change the fact that God loves the world. He loves it more perfectly than any human could ever grasp. The adulterous world in sin must be cleansed by fire 2 Pt , but God will not leave us without a way to be saved. In fact, he has done what was necessary in order to forgive us.
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