Recently I wrote a post about the wrath of God. Scripture has clearly defined that God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11). Understand if you have not been morally perfect your entire life, you are wicked. If you have not been redeemed by the blood of Christ and turned from your sin, you are wicked. Wicked is not only Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Dr. Evil, or your favorite villain.
This is not an easy concept for the unregenerate to grasp. “What wicked… evil… That’s not me… “
In order to be saved you must first understand this is you or it’s impossible to be saved. Us reformed types are most often accused of being unloving and too dogmatic, too harsh about the things of God.
“Where’s the love man… “
I am as dogmatic about God’s love as I’m dogmatic about His wrath, about His wisdom, about His sovereignty or any of His attributes. I want you to know that I believe with all my heart God is all these things wrapped into such an incredible being that we can’t even begin to comprehend His majesty.
God has given us the gift of His word to show us who He is. So to deny any of these attributes or put more emphasis on one than the other is not presenting the full counsel of God. The difference in emphasizing the wrath of God in preaching over the love of God is simply that sinful man cannot grasp love until he grasps his dire situation.
There is no doubt God is love, you can’t miss this if you tried.
Wayne Grudem – Systematic Theology [1994] Love. God’s love means that God eternally gives of himself to others. This definition understands love as self-giving for the benefit of others. This attribute of God shows that it is part of his nature to give of himself in order to bring about blessing or good for others.
How does God give of Himself for others?
Romans 5:6-8 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
There’s a catch to this verse. Who is the “us”? Many want to claim this verse and verses like John 3:16 or Jeremiah 29:11 that God loves you and has a plan for you. There are whole radio stations dedicated to this concept. But to gain the benefit of the love you must know God. Not a “god” of your own design but the One True God as defined by the Holy Scriptures.
You must understand you are helpless to save yourself. Ephesians 2:1
You must believe in Jesus Christ. Acts 16:31
You must be born again. John 3:3
You must repent and turn from your sin. Repentance is an ongoing act of turning away from your former life and embracing your new life in Christ. Matthew 4:17
You must seek holiness. 1 Peter 1:16
You will then seek fellowship, growth and protection from the church. Ephesians 4:11, Hebrews 13:17
That’s the “Gospel”, the “Good News”
Some may consider it unloving to tell someone they are separated from God because of their sin. That separation will condemn them to hell upon their death if they don’t turn to Christ in faith. That seems judgmental and unloving.
I couldn’t think of anything more unloving than to not tell them.
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Kevin
Uncommon Faith 