The Love of God

Many people question the love of God. They may observe the various tragedies in life such as, a tornado ripping through a town, killing innocent babies. One might often they ask: “If God is loving why does He allow innocent babies to be killed?” There are people who are fighting for their rights to live in a society in which they have the same rights as other people. They argue that they too are created in the image of God. God loves us just as he loves the other people in society.

Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that “same sex marriages” are to be legal in all fifty states. On June 15, 2015 Caitlyn Jenner received the 2015 ESPY’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Caitlyn is the former Bruce Jenner the winner of the gold medal in the decathlon in the 1976 Summer Olympics.” In 2015 Jenner announced that he is transgender. Of course there are people who denounce both “same sex marriage” and “transgender” persons on what they believe that the Bible says about such persons. The purpose of this article is not to choose sides in the debate. Rather, I want to suggest that we as Christians should evaluate our position on these as well as other matters based on the love of God. Our understanding of the love of God will guide our ministries; and who we will minister to.

In the English language there is only one word for love, and its meaning depends on the understanding of the word of both speaker and hearer. The Christian understanding of the love of God is primarily that of the Old Testament Hebrew word chesed or hesed; and translated in the King James Version as loving-kindness and mercy and denotes God’s steadfast love, grace, mercy faithfulness, goodness, and devotion. Hesed means that there is a covenant between God and His children in which there are mutual rights and obligations. God is not only obligated, He is generous. God is both loyal and He shows mercy. God is committed to His promises even when His people are disobedient (Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr., “Nelson’s Expository Dictionary Of the Old Testament” in Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words [Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996], 141-142.)

In the New Testament the Greek words agapao (verb) and agape (noun) expresses the attitude of God toward His Son and the human race generally, and believers in Jesus Christ particularly. Christians are to display like attitudes toward all men. Love is known from God’s provision of His Son. Love is not based on the merits of the receiver, but God of His own divine will made choice only because it is the nature of God. Love is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), and it produces love toward God and all men. Love seeks the welfare of all. Christian love expressed toward the brothers and men in general is not an impulse from feelings and does not always follow the natural inclination. (W. E. Vine, “An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words” in Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary Of Old and New Testament Words [Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996], 381-382.)

Love is based on principle. This does not mean that God acts strictly on the laws and without feelings. In speaking of Jesus as priest, the writer of Hebrews says: “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but One who has been tempted in all things that we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15, NASB). We are assured that God extends His love regardless of our situations and circumstances. God hears our cries and responds to our prayers.

In John 8:1-11 the scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman said to have been caught in the act of adultery. They wanted Jesus to condemn the woman based on their understanding of the law. Jesus made the point that they were not free of sin, and they were not at liberty to kill the woman. After her accusers had gone away Jesus said to the woman: “I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more” (v. 11, NASB). Love does not condemn the sinner nor does it condone the sins. Rather love extends grace and mercy and allows God to judge. As ministers we must ask ourselves questions based on what is said in the scriptures.

What does the Scripture mean when it says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, KJV). To whom does the “whosoever” refer to in this classical verse that has been traditionally offered as the hope of salvation for all people? How do we conclude that God accepts some people and reject other people based on the lifestyle that they live? Why did Paul write, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23, KJV). Why did Paul write: “for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, least any man should boast: (Eph. 2:8-9, KJV). Is it the duty of Christians to discriminate and eliminate people who do not meet our criteria of holiness when the Scripture also says: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Rom. 3:10-11, KJV). There is no one who has a righteousness of their own. God declares believers righteous, and He imputes the righteousness of Jesus Christ to them because His vicarious death on the cross.

Jesus did not commission His disciples to change the culture. This is why Jesus authorized His apostles to baptize all people of every ethnic group and then teach them to observe the commands that Jesus has given. (See Matt. 28:16-20) Regardless of the sins that we stop committing, this is only works which cannot save us. In order for a change in behavior to have merit with God it must be a matter of faith in Jesus Christ. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6, NASB).

I conclude that social justice is a matter of civil law, but salvation is a matter of faith in Jesus Christ. The two do not always agree. Today’s Christians must do as the first Christians. Learn to be Christian in an unchristian world. Jesus will return and He will bring with Him a new heavens and a new earth.