And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30
This idea is unique to Christianity, as far as I can tell. How could a man cause pain to the heart of God? Do sheep cause pain to lions? Can a butterfly threaten a hippopotamus? Yet the story of Christianity is the story of God making himself vulnerable to have relationship with human beings, as illustrated in the person of Christ.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:8
However, God does not make himself vulnerable forever. In the parable Jesus told of the tenants (Matthew 21:33-46), God reaches out to the tenants numerous times by sending prophets, and ultimately his son. After they mistreat, abuse, and murder all his messengers, God reaches out again, but this time to take vengeance.
God speaks to us in many ways, including conscience, his word, nature, dreams, and other human beings. When we constantly and repeatedly do what we know is wrong, we become like the tenants who rebuffed God’s grace.
Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
1 Corinthians 10:22
If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;
Psalm 7:12
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