Ok, ok, count me in as one who has fallen short of fully understanding, acknowledging and appreciating the love of God 100% of the time! But let's always encourage each other in the truth, eh!
For one reason or another I was thinking about my parents today and how I grew up 'in church' (my dad is a pastor), although I didn't really have much or any of a 'commitment' to Christ. I began thinking about how as a teenager I didn't really pay a whole lot of attention in church, although I think I've always been a believer, as far back as I can remember. And I remember that there were a few words and/or Bible verses that were repeated each and every week that couldn't help but get stuck in my mind no matter what my level of attention was. I bring this up because I think that hearing these words repeated every week most likely played a big part in the foundation I now have of God's love. Even if I didn't hear anything else that was said or done, I do know that I heard the Good News every Sunday morning.
One of the verses that my dad repeated each week during the service was John 3:16. And now it's sort of coming back to me that perhaps he recited the next verse along with it too, but I'm not totally sure of that. (John 3:17 is just as crucial as John 3:16 when it comes to truly understanding the good news). Anyway, the main verse I want to focus on right now is Romans 5:8. I think (although I'm not totally certain) that my dad read this from the Revised Standard Version:
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."
There are two things I want to point out here. 1) (Just to repeat...) This is good news! 2) This is the TRUTH!
While we were sinners, Christ died for us. This is one way that we can actually see and know and understand the love of God. God didn't wait till we got our acts together and did things that showed Him that we loved Him. If that were His plan, He'd be waiting for all eternity! But the fact that God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for us demonstrates His love for us. It shows His love for us. It proves His love for us. No matter how we look at it, we cannot escape the truth of His love for us. He sent His Son to die for us while we were sinners.
So... if we know God's love by the fact that while we were sinners Christ died for us, then we have a much better basis for understanding His unstoppable, unconditional love for us as holy and righteous saints who just happen to sin sometimes!
Think about it. Christ didn't die for us in order to make us question God's love for us!
AAAHH!! Good point, "Christ didn't die for us to question God's love for us!"
ReplyDeleteFunny, I have been reflecting on growing up in the church, trying to remember if I learned anything or really had a committment to Christ. I am not really sure when I really became a believer either -but I always had some understanding of faith. I do remember being terrified of going to hell when I was under 10, but I did get over it!! Who knows!
I too, heard John 3:16 alot, and it's one of the only verses I remember from childhood -it's a good one!
Thanks for this reminder to bask in God's love for us!! The good news of the Truth truly does compel, inspire and cause us to live for Him, in Him!!
Joel, this is fantastic!!! I love the simplicity of the gospel (good news)!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sheryl
Amen brother!
ReplyDelete"But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."
Thats the one verse what stops the mouths of 'get right with God' gang.
I have heard this some where:
'Holiness is not the way to Jesus, but Jesus is the way to holiness.'
Very good post, Joel. I can't get enough of God's love and the different ways He reveals it each day. He loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us! That is indeed the good news that we should shout from the mountain tops.
ReplyDeleteI kind of get tickled at some people who, after you tell them God is love, always counter with "Yes, but He is also a God of Judgment." They are absolutely correct in that assertion, but why do they insist on separating God's judgment from God's love?
In Christ,
Gary
Lydia,
ReplyDeleteI've been doing a lot of the same type of reflecting. Having become less and less satisfied with traditional church I've spent a lot of time looking into other ways of "doing church." I've spent a great deal of time reflecting on the positive and negative sides of the traditional church. I've found a lot on both sides! Some of this really has only to do with my own personal tastes but a lot of it has to do with serious biblical issues. But either way, anytime someone or something reminds me of and builds me up in God's love, I'm thankful!
Sheryl,
"Simplicity." I love that word! And it really does describe the gospel.
Bino,
Amen... It seems like so many people have it backwards, and that causes a lot of unnecessary condemnation, fear and guilt within the very church that doesn't exist apart from GRACE!
Gary,
That's so true... we cannot separate God from Himself! It all goes together, and it all works together and it always leads us to Christ and the cross.
And indeed, let's get ourselves accustomed to always speaking of God's amazing unconditional love that He clearly and indisputably demonstrated by sending His own Son to the cross for sinners, and shouting it from the mountain tops!