There are 2 sides to every coin. If we focus on one side of the coin, we miss the value the other side of the coin holds.
In Romans 11:22, Paul tells us God is KIND and God is SEVERE.
It's not one or the other, it's both.
One side of the coin is grace and mercy, and the other side of the coin is justice and judgment. Both sides of the coin are grounded in His love and righteousness.
Yet. Legalists focus so hard on their side of the coin that they work for approval. And, gracists focus so hard on their side of the coin, they are too approved to work.
A time is coming where teaching will sit in the middle, and teach both sides of the coin.
From what I've seen, legalists get a lot of things wrong - but at least they are building the kingdom in power for POWER is what's necessary to fulfill God's covenantal promise to Abraham (1 Cor 4:20, Isaiah 61:1-11; Genesis 12:1-9).
We must remain teachable. At the same time, if we don't acknowledge that Jesus teaches us to be like Him by His own Spirit .... we are either teaching ourselves or blindly following others who teach themselves.
Friends. The Spirit of Truth guides us into ALL truth, we don’t guide ourselves (John 16:13). Lest we wrap the written word (logos: message) around our own fears, perceived lack, hurts, and shortcomings.
Yes. Both sides of the coin are COMING, now ...
Isaiah 59:18-19
18 According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due.
19 From the west, people will fear the name of the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the Lord drives along.
Justice is coming (verse 18).
Power and glory is coming (verse 19).
We will see and experience both. Yet those who fail to recognize OUR purposed role in His goodness ... will miss it completely as they have received His grace in vain (2 Cor 6:1-10).