Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Everyone voting on their favorite love story, book, movie, etc. would probably have several
that come to mind. One I always associated with the theme of love was "Love Story," the
Ryan O'Neal, Ali MacGraw flick from which came a very trite and ridiculous saying... 'Love
means never having to say you are sorry!' "Dr. Zhivago" also comes to mind, and I know
I am dating myself, here. Really my major attraction to that movie was Julie Christie, probably for all the wrong reasons! "Somewhere in Time" is right up there, as well.
I just wonder how many people, even Christians, would vote The Holy Bible as the
greatest love story ever written? Hands down! No contest! Probably ought to be unanimous!
In addition to being the story of Jesus, the Bible is an intense look into the character
and essence of God. Having been created in the image of the Trinity, we, therefore
are indwelled with the ability to love. God is, as stated in John, love, and by His
creative license, we have the ability to love and are commanded by scripture to love
others, God and those who do not show love toward us.
But it's God's remarkable love toward His creation that has brought about our salvation
through the grace of God's offering His son for the forgiveness of our sins. We, truly, were
not worthy of this love gift as we were lost and had nothing to offer that would make us
merit such love. Yet, with a plan that was in place before creation, itself, God gave us
the gift of forgiveness and the chance for adoption into His presence and family for all
time. Amazing grace, indeed!
So now it is up to us to accept this loving gift. It does require us to accept in our hearts
the sacrifice of Jesus, making Him our Lord and King in all things. As frightening as it
may seem, there are those who reject this love. One cannot say that he is unaware
of the ramifications, here. Ignorance is not an excuse.
Get down on those knees and proclaim that you, indeed, need the saving gift of God's
love through Jesus Christ. It is, after all, the greatest love story ever told and the
greatest gift ever given!
Praise our Holy God!
Showing posts with label God's love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's love. Show all posts
Monday, March 31, 2014
Friday, January 3, 2014
Yes, GOD loves as only HE can love!
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4: 8
Rob Bell's book, Love Wins, is one that I read when it first came out, and I found it
very positive and encouraging. I have also found that there are those who do not
feel positively about the message of the book, those who fear that we risk looking at
God as a "God of Love" and forgetting His other attributes.
The gospel message, as an important example, is based on the fact that God hates
all sin, He is Holy and without sin. This puts us humans in a precarious position
because we all sin. It is a part of a fallen nature that dates back to the original sin.
Therefore, to be somehow acceptable to a God that cannot accept sin, we have the need
of a savior, Jesus, who came into the world to defeat Satan, death and provide a
sacrificial atonement for our sin. We, as sinners, can only be acceptable to God as
righteous if we accept this payment by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour,
repent and love God with our heart, soul and mind.
So where does this leave us with God's love?
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3: 16
It seems to me that being created in the image of God means that we share emotions
common to God. To accept God as loving, does not ignore His other attributes. Each
of his attributes is a "maximum" attribute. He is fully and completely transcendent,
Holy, majestic, omniscient, omnipresent...the list goes on.
Despite His true hatred for sin, aware that we, His creation, are mired in sin, He
has provided a way for atonement. He has provided a means to be welcomed into
His presence and family as adopted children. He has offered up His son to be
sacrificed, as the only possible propitiation for our sinfulness. To me, this
shows His amazing gracious LOVE.
It is best that we not look at God as a God of Love at the expense of forgetting
His wrath toward sin, His coming judgment on the earth...but it is also a bit
frightening to allow this to shade our acceptance and appreciation for the emotion
He invented and has shone in our direction...His Glorious LOVE!
Rob Bell's book, Love Wins, is one that I read when it first came out, and I found it
very positive and encouraging. I have also found that there are those who do not
feel positively about the message of the book, those who fear that we risk looking at
God as a "God of Love" and forgetting His other attributes.
The gospel message, as an important example, is based on the fact that God hates
all sin, He is Holy and without sin. This puts us humans in a precarious position
because we all sin. It is a part of a fallen nature that dates back to the original sin.
Therefore, to be somehow acceptable to a God that cannot accept sin, we have the need
of a savior, Jesus, who came into the world to defeat Satan, death and provide a
sacrificial atonement for our sin. We, as sinners, can only be acceptable to God as
righteous if we accept this payment by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour,
repent and love God with our heart, soul and mind.
So where does this leave us with God's love?
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3: 16
It seems to me that being created in the image of God means that we share emotions
common to God. To accept God as loving, does not ignore His other attributes. Each
of his attributes is a "maximum" attribute. He is fully and completely transcendent,
Holy, majestic, omniscient, omnipresent...the list goes on.
Despite His true hatred for sin, aware that we, His creation, are mired in sin, He
has provided a way for atonement. He has provided a means to be welcomed into
His presence and family as adopted children. He has offered up His son to be
sacrificed, as the only possible propitiation for our sinfulness. To me, this
shows His amazing gracious LOVE.
It is best that we not look at God as a God of Love at the expense of forgetting
His wrath toward sin, His coming judgment on the earth...but it is also a bit
frightening to allow this to shade our acceptance and appreciation for the emotion
He invented and has shone in our direction...His Glorious LOVE!
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