³⁰ For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”

Vengeance” is an extremely negative word and it seems incongruous with so many other characteristics of God. After all, He is loving, kind, forbearing and forgiving. In fact, with Christians we have already seen in this letter that God “remembers our sins no more” (8:12, 10:17). Yet here we see that God does indeed remember with vengeance those who reject Christ, knowing the truth of His once-for-all-time, perfect sacrifice.

But what do we make of this severe response of God? What ever God does is right and holy and just. Human vengeance can never be absolutely right, for we are limited in our knowledge and understanding of people’s motives. It can never be completely holy in this matter, because we humans are biased and given to excess, rather than capable of being completely set apart to the task of judging the intents of another’s heart. We are unable to fully render just vengeance because we ourselves are not perfectly just in our own actions and motives. In other words, we are not without sin, so are disqualified to cast the stone of vengeance.

But God is perfectly right and holy and just in His vengeance. He does not capriciously lash out in anger because of offended personal feelings. Rather the Judge of all the Earth responds perfectly and appropriately to those created in His image who flatly refuse Christ, God’s final and complete offer of a relationship. Does not the potter have the right to destroy the vessel He created that refuses to fulfill the purpose for which He created it?

We humans need to get past the over-reaction to the hell-fire-and-brimstone of years gone by. To be sure, at times, there is the caricature of more damnation preaching than grace preaching, but we can’t swing the pendulum too far in either direction. God clearly says, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And that is a terrible thing, but it is real. And it should strike fear. The message of Christ is that, “God is love.” And we know from 1 John 4:18 that, “Perfect love casts out all fear.” Therefore, God gave the perfect sacrifice of His son for us, so that we would not need to fear His vengeance. Love does not deny that vengeance. Love provides the solution. But it is only effective for those who believe. By analogy, one can choose to ride with the wind or against the wind. One can choose to respond to Christ’s sacrifice (experience God’s love) or against Christ’s sacrifice (experience God’s vengeance). The choice is ours.

Lord, I thank You for Your demonstration of love to me, in that while I was still a sinner, You sent Christ to die for me (Rom 5:8). Hallelujah!