Why does God love man?

Allow me to start this article by pointing out that God’s love is universal. God loves the whole world, and Christ came for everyone (John 3:16). This is very important for us to understand. When we focus on the “all,” we are forced to think about the “kinds” of people that includes. Since God loves the world, that means He loves everyone, no matter who they are.

We all know that terrible crimes take place in this world. Nothing sickens me more than hearing about human trafficking. Children are abducted and forced into all sorts of immoral activities. Moreover, there are senseless killings daily. Sadly, the list goes on (Gal. 5:19-21).

If God knows about the terrible things that happen on the earthy, why does He still love everyone? Before we answer this, we should consider the issue from a few perspectives. How would you look at someone who brutally hurt a loved one of yours? Would it not be hard to look at this person without seeing only the evil? Yet our God loves each and every person in this world, no matter what they have done. So again, why does He love us all?

Wrong reasons God loves everyone

God does not see their sins. This is not true. We are told that God sent His Son for the ungodly (Rom. 5:6-8).  Sin is what separates us from our Father (Isa. 59:1-2). Our transgressions have immediate consequences (Rom. 6:23). Our Creator sees the sins of this world and has done so since the beginning (Gen. 5:5). This false concept causes people to misunderstand God’s love.

God does not see sin as being “that bad”.  It is ludicrous to think that God would minimize the severity of sin in order to love us. How many would send their sinless, only son to die for the ungodly (Heb. 9:28). Our Father did it because there was a high price to be paid for sin, and we could not do for ourselves.

God is a God of love and not wrath. Some people think that our Father cannot be a God of love and wrath at the same time. We are told He is love (I John 4:8). We should also consider Paul’s warning: “Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,” (Col. 3:6). God loves all of mankind, but we will also be held accountable for our sins.

Proper reasons God loves everyone

We are His creation. In the beginning God made everything, including man (Gen. 2:7, 21-22). When He created man, it was good (Gen. 1:31). Man was not born sin-stained – that happened when man decided to break God’s law (Rom. 5:12). We are fearfully and wonderfully made because God made us (Psa. 139:14).

We were created in His image.  Our bodies are amazingly complex, but it is even more impressive that we have souls. Our God is Spirit (John 4:24). Because we were created in His image (Gen. 1:26), we have the same spirit-like quality, meaning we each have a soul (Matt. 10:28). Our God knows the true value of souls. Jesus taught that a soul is worth more than all the wealth in the world (Matt. 16:26).

We all possess the ability to love Him in return. God expects us to love Him because He loved us first. This would not be a logical expectation if we were not capable of doing it (I John 4:19). Learning about our God and Creator will motivate us to love Him. Most people will not do this, but it does not mean they lack the ability.

Let us not ever be mistaken – God loves everyone. However, that love does not overlook transgression. Let’s love God and serve Him.

                                                                                               Chuck

The penalty is not a sin

      I recall in times past that a person taking our Bible course sent in a question. She was concerned over people who murdered and are now on death row. She wanted to know that since murder is a sin, why would anyone be in favor of the death penalty, since that is murder too?

What she needed to understand, as we all need to, is that there is a big difference in the eyes of God between murdering someone and justice being carried out. In Genesis 20:13, God said, “Thou shalt not murder.” In the next chapter God said, “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death” (21;12).

One might conclude that in both cases two people die and there is no difference. There is a difference. One is murder, the other is the penalty for murder. The latter is not sin because sin is transgression of law, and to administer the penalty for sin is not transgression, it’s obedience (I Jn. 3:4).

The question is, has this fact changed now that we are under the gospel and the old laws have been done away with (Col. 2:14)? Man is still told not to murder (Rom. 1:29). If someone does murder, are we allowed to kill them? The scriptures do not authorize someone to take the law into their own hands. The laws of the land are for us (Rom. 13:3-4), and we must be subject to them (vr. 5).

What should our disposition be if there was a death penalty? Would such be against God? The apostle Paul didn’t think so. He stated that if he did anything worthy of death he would not refuse it (Acts 25:11). If Paul wouldn’t object if he was the one facing the sentence, it is right to think he would object if it was anyone else? Of course not.

May we see the difference between murdering someone and one facing the penalty for murder. What our God wants from man is obedience. The penalty for a crime is not a crime!

                                                                                                                                                                                               Chuck

No one preaches on it!

      Over the years I have heard people make general statements about what preachers don’t preach. I love it when they say it to me and I turn around and say, “I preach on that!” Only to hear, “Well, you are rare.” I do not believe that statement either. After all, how does one know what is preached in all the pulpits across the land? Anyway, one such general statement was made recently that no one preaches on the sin of gluttony. Well, I have spoken on this from time to time, as others have, and I shall do so with this article.

Is there such thing as the sin of gluttony? Even though it is not specifically mentioned, it is mentioned. Just as smoking and doing drugs is not mentioned specifically, they, too, are mentioned. In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul lists a number of transgression, that those who practice such will not inherit the kingdom of God. In verse 21, the apostle said, “and the such like…” This would include all other sins that relate to the works of the flesh.

When you read the list of wicked acts people are guilty of committing, you will notice that many of them have to do with uncontrolled desires. This is the reason that the text followed up the fruit of the Spirit that should exist in God’s children, and one of which was self-control (vr. 23). 

Some might think that a person who is addicted to heroin doesn’t need it to live, so how can one, who needs food to live, ever be considered addicted to food? The answer has to do with self-control. There are times people eat because they are depressed, feel lonely, or reasons other than they are hungry. Christians, must be able to walk away and be able to resist. Those who can’t are transgressing (I Cor. 9:27).

I have asked myself on many occasions,: Am I eating because I have not eaten in a while and I need my strength, or have I just eaten and can’t resist the temptation to keep eating, losing my self-control? Remember, even the crack addict eventually stops for a brief time, until the desire comes again. Let us beware of the danger.

                                                                                                                                                                                                         Chuck

Do we have to sin?

There is no way anyone in this world is ever going to take sin seriously if they accept the false notion that man must sin. A lot of this stems from the doctrine of depravity. This teaching promotes the idea that we sin because of Adam and Eve and that we inherit their original sin, meaning we are born in sin. This could not be any farther from the truth. Let’s take a closer BIBLICAL look.

We begin by looking at Adam and Eve. They both were given laws to obey (Gen. 2:16-17). We read in the next chapter how they both broke God’s law and were punished. Why did they sin? The Bible does not mention being born in depravity. Rather, the inspired word, brings up the concept of temptation. James states that sin comes about when we give in to temptation (Jas. 1:13-15). This is no different than what happens to every other person.

Some might conclude that Adam and Eve sinned because temptation is irresistible. Fortunately for us as God’s children, this idea is also not found in the Bible! Nowhere in the scriptures are we told we have to yield to temptation. Actually, we are told there is no temptation that cannot be resisted if one turns to God for help (I Cor. 10:13; Jas. 4:7). I am not denying the fact that all have sinned (Rom. 3:23). Even Christians were told if they say they have no sin, they are a liar (I John 1:8).  However, knowing that we will sin is not the same as saying we have to sin.

That difference is what we need to focus on if we are going to gain a proper understanding. That fact that we are commanded not to sin (I John 2:1) implies that we do not have to. To even suggest that everyone must sin implies that we have an unjust God. A just and loving God will not command us to do something impossible for us.  Let us also not forget the punishment for sin. Every sin has consequences (Rom. 6:23), meaning that men are held accountable for their actions. Again, why punish someone who could not help it?

     It is wrong for us to think that God’s grace and mercy means He overlooks sin because we are forced to transgress. This idea is not found in the Bible. God’s mercy and grace has been offered to mankind so he/she can obtain forgiveness for their SINS! There is no forgiveness without repentance (Luke 13:3). To repent means to turn about. How could we truly repent if we knew that sin was irresistible and would thus happen again? If we live our lives committing the same sins over and over, we are addicted to them. This person is not walking in the light but rather in darkness (I John 1:3-7).

     How many employers would accept the same lame excuse over and over for not arriving at work on time? How many spouses would accept the same lame excuse regarding adultery? As God’s people, we know there are sins we committed in the past and then successfully never did again. We succeeded because we made up our minds to turn away (repent) and not go down that pathway again.

    My point is that we can choose to make the right choice, but we do not always do this. We sometimes falter because we fail to walk in faith. When we do not walk by faith, we succumb to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye or the pride of life (I John 2:16). When we love the world, the love of the Father is not in us (verse 15).  When a person puts off the old man of sin (Rom. 6:3-6), the Lord and other Christians expect that they have left their former life of sin behind.  If they do sin, the Lord and other Christians are right to be disappointed because we have no excuse for sinning.

     God’s people get stronger by resisting sin (James 1:2-4).  Are they sinlessly perfect? No. But they are certainly sinning less and less.

                                                                                                                                                                                                 Chuck