Is it possible to have a God that both loves and judges: if God is a God of love, how can He judge too?

In reality judgement proves God’s love. If God doesn’t judge then He doesn’t love. Let me explain. First, we are tempted to think of love as an emotional feeling of warmth or affection, but true love is far more than this. It is demonstrated in God, who is altogether loving. His love is pure and perfect. He cares about us, and about what happens to us. His love is so strong that He hates anything which spoils His lovely creation.

What kind of father would not care if his daughter was attacked? He’d be angry, and rightly so. It would be both natural and worthy to desire justice to be done. In the same way, God doesn’t just let murderers get away with their sin. Because He cares He punishes all wrongdoing.

Not to judge would be immoral. Imagine the court scene: the judge walks in and sees the overwhelming evidence against the man who attacked the girl, and then the judge stands up and says he’s a loving guy and so he will let the offender go free. That judge would have been unrighteous. Wrong deeds carry a penalty. God must punish our rebellion. That is why Jesus came to this earth and died as a substitute taking our punishment. He could do this as He was God and it is God whom we have offended. We will all face God one day and give an account for our lives. The Bible says, ‘for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ’.