Reason #734
God loves everyone. It's true. I mean, after all, He created us. Each one of us, specifically crafted, made in His image. Each one of us, an intention being. Thought of by Him long before we entered into this world. God loves everyone.
That's the argument these days. We're trying to decide who God loves and who He doesn't love when in reality, it's no argument at all. It's absolute truth that we're all loved. And we're all cared about, too. We're known by Him; fully, completely known. No favoritism shown. No partiality. Justice and forgiveness, that's what we're shown.
The news is saying that maybe some of us are convinced that either we, ourselves, or others, are not loved by God. But show me in the scriptures where God states that He does not love certain people. I can show you some places where He was upset and disappointed by people, but He never said He didn't love anyone. But God did mention that He hated sin, and maybe we've found ourselves guilty of confusing the action of sin with the actual sinners.
Well, the verdict is in and no one is innocent. We're all sinners, you and me included. We all fall short in different ways, but we all fall short. The unfortunate thing is that we've categorized and ranked our sins from really, really bad to unacceptable and overlooked. We've determined what is "okay" with God and what is not "okay." Strangely enough, it seems to turn out that our own sins fall in the acceptable and overlooked category. And, we've fallen victim to believing that if we can get a few people to side with us, then it really must be okay. The more that agree with us, the less sinful it is. And so we have those big ones that we all agree are bad, the little ones that we all commit on a regular basis, and then we have our personal struggles that we try so hard to convince ourselves are completely fine.
Here's the thing, God loves us but He doesn't love our sin. It isn't pleasing to Him, no matter how "big" or "small" it seems to us. And so I looked at God's word to see what it says concerning sin. After all, if we want God's approval, it's probably best to know His commands.
"Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
If we claim God's love, we have to claim His truths, and so this is what His word says. But rather than quickly reading over the list and letting out a sigh of relief that you don't fall in to those categories, read it again. Those who do wrong. I am pretty sure that's an all encompassing statement there. Paul could have just said "sinners will not inherit the Kingdom of God." Because a sinful life is not honoring to God. When I slander other people, when I am envious, when I gossip, lie, lose my temper, show hatred, or refuse to forgive, God is not honored. And the truth is, God is just as displeased with those things as He is with any sin. Remember, He shows no partiality. Sin is sin, and none of them are pleasing to God.
"Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11)
Some of you were once like that. That, being sinful. As a matter of fact, the temptation to fall into sin never goes away. The desires still come and go, and sometimes we give in even though we know we shouldn't. That doesn't make it right, that's just how flesh works. And so really, the only saving grace we have here is Jesus. Because calling on His name honors God. A life of repentance, of intentionally turning from our sin and choosing to do things according to God's commands, is most honoring, pleasing, and acceptable to Him. He knew we'd mess up, and so He made a way for us to get it right. He knew we couldn't fight the battle on our own and win it, so He fought it for us. Jesus, the one whose blood cleansed our sins. Jesus, the one who was sent because God so loved the world (John 3:16). Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
The struggle with sin never goes away. The desires to give in don't either. But praise the Lord that He made a way. A good and perfect and pleasing way. A way out, and a way to eternal and abundant life for all who have done wrong. Because in the end, it is our choice. It's our choice of whether or not we'll honor God. It's our choice of whether or not we'll live according to His commands. It's our choice of whether or not we'll choose Jesus' truth over the lies of our flesh.
Cleansed by His blood. Made holy so that we, the sinful ones, could inherit the kingdom of God. Not because we deserve it, not because of our actions or words, but simply because when we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
#734 - Because when we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive them and wash us clean.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced... For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Romans 10:9-13
That's the argument these days. We're trying to decide who God loves and who He doesn't love when in reality, it's no argument at all. It's absolute truth that we're all loved. And we're all cared about, too. We're known by Him; fully, completely known. No favoritism shown. No partiality. Justice and forgiveness, that's what we're shown.
The news is saying that maybe some of us are convinced that either we, ourselves, or others, are not loved by God. But show me in the scriptures where God states that He does not love certain people. I can show you some places where He was upset and disappointed by people, but He never said He didn't love anyone. But God did mention that He hated sin, and maybe we've found ourselves guilty of confusing the action of sin with the actual sinners.
Well, the verdict is in and no one is innocent. We're all sinners, you and me included. We all fall short in different ways, but we all fall short. The unfortunate thing is that we've categorized and ranked our sins from really, really bad to unacceptable and overlooked. We've determined what is "okay" with God and what is not "okay." Strangely enough, it seems to turn out that our own sins fall in the acceptable and overlooked category. And, we've fallen victim to believing that if we can get a few people to side with us, then it really must be okay. The more that agree with us, the less sinful it is. And so we have those big ones that we all agree are bad, the little ones that we all commit on a regular basis, and then we have our personal struggles that we try so hard to convince ourselves are completely fine.
Here's the thing, God loves us but He doesn't love our sin. It isn't pleasing to Him, no matter how "big" or "small" it seems to us. And so I looked at God's word to see what it says concerning sin. After all, if we want God's approval, it's probably best to know His commands.
"Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
If we claim God's love, we have to claim His truths, and so this is what His word says. But rather than quickly reading over the list and letting out a sigh of relief that you don't fall in to those categories, read it again. Those who do wrong. I am pretty sure that's an all encompassing statement there. Paul could have just said "sinners will not inherit the Kingdom of God." Because a sinful life is not honoring to God. When I slander other people, when I am envious, when I gossip, lie, lose my temper, show hatred, or refuse to forgive, God is not honored. And the truth is, God is just as displeased with those things as He is with any sin. Remember, He shows no partiality. Sin is sin, and none of them are pleasing to God.
"Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11)
Some of you were once like that. That, being sinful. As a matter of fact, the temptation to fall into sin never goes away. The desires still come and go, and sometimes we give in even though we know we shouldn't. That doesn't make it right, that's just how flesh works. And so really, the only saving grace we have here is Jesus. Because calling on His name honors God. A life of repentance, of intentionally turning from our sin and choosing to do things according to God's commands, is most honoring, pleasing, and acceptable to Him. He knew we'd mess up, and so He made a way for us to get it right. He knew we couldn't fight the battle on our own and win it, so He fought it for us. Jesus, the one whose blood cleansed our sins. Jesus, the one who was sent because God so loved the world (John 3:16). Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
The struggle with sin never goes away. The desires to give in don't either. But praise the Lord that He made a way. A good and perfect and pleasing way. A way out, and a way to eternal and abundant life for all who have done wrong. Because in the end, it is our choice. It's our choice of whether or not we'll honor God. It's our choice of whether or not we'll live according to His commands. It's our choice of whether or not we'll choose Jesus' truth over the lies of our flesh.
Cleansed by His blood. Made holy so that we, the sinful ones, could inherit the kingdom of God. Not because we deserve it, not because of our actions or words, but simply because when we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
#734 - Because when we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive them and wash us clean.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced... For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Romans 10:9-13
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