A while back we were having Bible study in our church. We were going over Revelation 18, and my pastor was talking about false religion leading you away from Salvation. All of a sudden, this visiting woman stands up and yells at my pastor, "Where's the love?"
She was very upset that we weren't preaching love. She was under the false impression that all churches should be preaching nothing but God's love. She said that God created all things, even all the different religions. She argued that all religions lead to God.
The love of God is something that is very misconstrued amongst people today. They think of God as some wonderful grandparent who will laugh at all the devious things their grandchildren do and bring them gifts whether they deserve them or not.
God's love is not blind. People like to take John 3:16 out of context. Yes, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. But, once you throw that offering aside and try find some other way, God doesn't still love you.
I John 4:9- In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
God showed His love through Christ's death. When you accept Christ as your Savior, you gain the love of God forever. People like to quote I John 4:16 without looking at the context. Look below:
I John 4:15-16- Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
The love that God has to us comes after we confess that Jesus is the only way to get the love of God. This person has God dwelling in them- they're saved! This is not some unsaved man who is trying to work his way to heaven. Best intentions aren't enough. Blind religious zeal isn't enough.
But, God loves everyone. Really? Read your Bible.
Romans 9:13-14- As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
God said that He hated Esau. And Paul says that God is righteous in His hatred of Esau. Esau had the birthright. The special promise that God made to Abraham, that was passed to Isaac, and was to go to the first born. The promise of God that Esau sold to Jacob for bean soup. That's why God hated him- He despised the promise of God.
Hebrews 10:26-27- For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
The verse above is for Tribulation people. This person has turned their back on God, and there is no love of God waiting for them. Fiery indignation and judgment are waiting.
But, I was always taught that God is love!
That's true. But He's also righteousness, judgment, justice, mercy, peace, truth, etc. God has many attributes. He provided a way for people to escape His judgment- Christ's death at Calvary.
John 14:6- Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
He is the only way. God didn't provide multiple ways to heaven. The price of redemption was pretty steep! It cannot be done through penance. It cannot be attained through sacrifice. It cannot be bought with money. It cannot be earned with good works.
I Peter 1:18-19- Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
One payment. One way. One Person. That's how you acquire the never ending love of God. Everything else is a pretty fairy tale told by the devil to lull you into a false sense of hope and security.
