Is God Always Loving?
A reader recently left this comment on my hub called The Gettysburg Address and The Fear of God,
" We should not Fear God, we should wish to join Him as He has a peaceful mind (no judgment, anger, hatred, etc.) He is always forgives.”
Else where I read:
"Everything God does is loving”
Hmmm?
Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed Gen 19
The Great Flood Gen 6
Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5:1-11
God's Judgement
Is it really true? Is it wrong to fear God and is he always loving? What about the old testament story of Sodom and Gomorrah or the Great Flood during Noah's day? How about Ananias and Sapphira in the new testament? Are these acts of love and forgiveness?
Here is how I understand it. These are pictures of God's judgment. Places where men, women and children were judges and then condemned to death, based on God’s righteousness and sense of Justice. In each event, we can see God's love demonstrated toward his people. However, to those perishing, this was not an act of love but of justice.
I am finding that people have lost the fear of God. They have in their minds a 1960's love god who passes out flowers and dances in the the daisy fields. His motto is "Make Love and Forget About Holiness". They see a god who ignores sin and injustice, who is only loving and keeps no records of wrong. In fact, the opposite is true. Only those who have Jesus Christ as their sin offering and redeemer, will be saved on the day of Judgement. Everyone else will parish.
The Biblical picture of God does indeed describe Him as loving and forgiving. Never the less, that is only one part of his nature. The Bible also describes Him as righteous and just. In his love, God disciplines his people, but those who reject Him and His Word? They will, one day, be condemned to Hell. Not because God hates them, but because God is just.
Whosoever Will Believe- John 3:16
The Love of God
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
God's love is extended to all sinners, He would that none parish, He is slow to anger, giving all the opportunity to repent. God's love is seen in his willingness to forgive, in the death of Christ Jesus on the cross, and the patients he extends toward those who refuse to believe.
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2nd Peter 3:9 KJV
My mom once told me that this life is the only heaven some people will ever see. It is her answer to why the wicked prosper. It is a picture of God's mercy and love for all. It also speaks to the reality that a day of reckoning will come for those who reject Christ. If not in this life, the next. For the people who are so used to a 1960 love god, this message is hard to swallow. But it must be taught however unpopular
You can't have justice without fear. Justice strikes fear into the hearts of those condemned. In the same way,without love, you will not have the temperance needed to have true justice. The "Fear of God", and the "Love of God" are tied together. So it is true that God loves everyone even those he condemns, yet, for those who will parish, it will be His holiness and righteous judgment they receive, not his loving embrace.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10
In Christ
ABR
ABR
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Comments
AUTHORHi again Lori:
Absolutely God's love is unconditional. Romans 5:8 explains that it was while were sinners Christ died for us. The death of His Son for a people whose stated condition was "sinners" speaks to God unconditional love.
Salvation, on the other hand, is conditional. It depends on God's grace and our faith
God's unconditional love for Humanity compelled him to send his only Son. He provided the Lamb, our sacrifice for Sin. John 3:16. The only condition I see for us to enjoy that love is to believe. God's Grace does the rest. Ephesians 2:8 & 9
Least that's the way I see,
ABR
What a great job you did here. You nailed it. God is the Sovereign of the universe and is love, holy, pure, righteous and just.
I have a question for you, Aaron. Do you believe God's love is unconditional? He is not always loving, but just as you have established, but even those He judges, did He love them to begin with? I ask because I stumbled across a video in which some well-known preachers were saying it isn't but I didn't have time to listen to the whole thing.
i disagree with this but great insights!
- AUTHOR
Hi again Mr. O’Brien;
I can certainly understand you concern, However I would never presume to stand in Judgment over God or His Word. Nor am I prepared to dismiss a single book from the Bible The Old Testament is God's Word just as is the New Testament. I accept both as holy and inspired pictures into the character and wisdom of God. I have not found cause to question his virtue or his judgments.
The Bible records that Joshua was commanded by God to utterly destroy the inhabitants of the promise land. It was God's command first, Joshua was obeying God. Their beliefs and custom's were so offensive and entrenched into their society that, like the days of Noah, God saw fit to destroy them. Had he neglected this, they would become a negative influence to the people of God. They would eventually lead them away from God and into their own destruction.
However, those were different times and spiritual worship looked a lot different then it does today globally. I can conceive of a handful of reasons why total annihilation would have been needed. However having said that, I must point out again, that it was a Pre- Jesus era. Illustrating the profound difference that the teachings of Christ has made on the world. I believe that Jesus accounts for the difference between the old and new. Jesus brought with Him God's Mercy and Grace to humanity.
Consider if you will this passage from Luke regarding the Birth of Christ and the good will it brought to all men:
Luke 2: 9-14
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Jesus brought with Him God's Peace and Good will toward men.
Students of the Bible understand that the coming of Christ was foretold in the old testament even as far back as the garden. Indicating that God had a plan that would eventually enable Men to be saved. However between the time of Christ and the Garden, God still had to govern humanity according to his righteousness and their sinful nature.
Without Christ Jesus, God would have been honor bound by the righteousness of His own just nature to destroy all humanity once and for all.
As for the adulteress caught in the very act. It is indeed a story of forgiveness. It is a much better example of the Christ's mercy and forgiveness. Then was the woman at the well or even the prodigal son.
But it is one story among many that brings balance to larger picture. Stories of mercy, judgment, salvation, Repentance, Charity. all must be taken into consideration. Is God loving and forgiving? Yes! Does God Judge? Yes! Is He slow to anger? Yes! Can his anger be aroused? Yes again.
So to answer your question Mr. O'Brien, Can we agree that we are to follow the teachings of Christ and not the OT? My answer is, No we do not agree. Jesus fulfilled the laws of the OT for me. He did not make them invalid.
It is my firmest opinion that to fully appreciate Christ, His teachings, and what they have done for the world, you need to understand the Holy, Righteous, and Just nature of God as described in the Old Testament. Thus the purpose of this Hub. To those who reject Christ and His word, God is not always loving.
Peace
ABR
I must correct myself, see John 8:4 where Jesus did not condemn the Adulteress (not the woman at the well as I said). The point is in neither story did the father (or Jesus) condemn the person. He did Not judge. The father ran to his son and welcomed him before the son said a word. The adulteress said nothing to Jesus and He said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again." Repentance had nothing to do with the story.
Please understand, I support the teachings of Jesus. I think we both do, however we differ as to OT teachings. I have a problem with the idea that Joshua would kill women and children to achieve a just goal. The killing in Joshua occurred after the commandment not to kill. This is contrary. Can we agree that we are to follow the teachings and example of Jesus and Not the OT?
- AUTHOR
Ah Mr. O'Brien, I see you found the hub you help inspire.
The story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is indeed a vivid picture of the love a father has toward his son. It also shows us his heart of forgiveness towards a repentant son. Repentance is the key to this discussion. God loves all humanity as the father loved the prodigal son. However, not all humanity will repent and humble themselves as did the prodigal. Had the son returned dressed in the same attitude he departed in, I suspect the story would have ended much differently. I believe God is like that father eagerly watching and waiting for signs of repentance. When we repent God is quick to forgive.
The woman at the well Mr. O'Brien was thirsty, but she did't understand what it was she was thirsty for.( John 4:7-30) Hers is a story of so close, yet so far away. She wanted eternal life but was unwilling to do what it would take to get it. She was a woman who had trouble staying married. While Jesus did not rebuke her, he did point out her sin.
Sadly scripture does not report that the the woman became a follower. That is, she never repented of her adulterous ways. Scripture records that she went off and reported His amazing wisdom, but she never took a single drink of the living water Jesus offered. How sad. She should have did as Jesus asked, ran and got the man she was living with and brought him to Jesus, so He could finish instructing her with her authority present according to the customs of the day. Allowing them both to repent and drink from the living water. Instead she went to "the Men" and said come see.
Many a man have heard of Christ and his ability to give eternal life. yet when it comes time to repent and to submit to God's authority they answer just as the woman answered, I serve no one.
Mr. OBrien I am sure you have been told this before, but just in case. I believe as do the majority of Christianity, that the God of the Old testament and the God of the new testament are one in the same. The difference is Jesus. The old testament reveals God's righteous judgment and justice on world of sin with no redeemer. The New testament shows God's mercy on those who believe. Those redeemed, bought by Christ's sacrifice on the cross.
Again pre-redemption or pre-Christ= Old Testament. Post-redemption or post Christ = New Testament. Two window, two perspectives on the same God.
Thanks for stopping by.
Peace
ABR
The prodigal son left home, wasted his inheritance, acted wrongly and finally gave up and went home. His father greeted the son and never condemned him. Instead the father gave a welcome party.
Jesus never condemned the woman at the well.
Jesus forgave over and over in order to heal physically and spiritually.
Let us follow the God of Jesus, not the God depicted in Judaism (Old Testament). To be Christian one must renounce the God of the OT (wrathful, warlike, killer of children), the God of Israel.
Our judgment will be meeting our projections in the mirror held by God.
- AUTHOR
Bill You are to kind to me, Thank you
- AUTHOR
Lambservant:
Praise God. I look forward to reading your stuff. It is always fun meeting fellow Calvary Chapel people.
God Bless
ABR
The reason I read you is because you have something to say. It' a pleasure to tune in.
Abrushing, yes. I atten Calvary Fellowship in Gig Harbor, WA. Pastor Dale King is an excellent Bible expositor.
- AUTHOR
Bill you amaze me. I think you have taken the time to read every Hub I have published over the last 2 years. I am so honored. I suspect I am not the only one who feels that that way. You make it fun to write.
Thank you for adding your thoughts.
God Bless
Aaron
- AUTHOR
Lamb Servent:
That was a good story. I am honored that you took the time to read this hub and add to its over all message. You mentioned Greg Laurie and I see you published a Hub about Chuck Smith. Do you attend a Calvary Chapel?
I have been a part of Calvary Chapel Flagler Beach (Florida) for the past 5 years.
God Bless and tanks again for stopping by
Hi Aaron,
Great hub, as usual. As much as God loves, he must have an equal amount of hate, or it isn't really love. Not sure I said that right, but nevertheless is true. To overlook sin is not loving. Anyway, thanks for another great read. Voted up and shared!
I can't wait to see the comments you get on this hub. You will get a lot of flack. The fear of God is a holy dread of displeasing the God you love or it can mean reverence. But you aced it - God is loving and God is just. Some would say they can't co-exist. They forget that the Sodom and Gomorrah were terribly wicked and unrepentant. I think people are looking only for warm, fuzzy, Kumbaya. God's love is not that shallow and trite. It has depth, a depth we'll never fully understand this side of heaven. God loves serial killers, but unless they repent, they will receive judgment. But all have sinned and in order to have a right standing and relationship with him, we have to acknowledge it, humble ourselves, and ask his forgiveness and put our faith in Him. God didn't want to pass judgment on us, so he sent His Son to receive the judgment on our behalf. I recently read a book by Greg Laurie Which had the following story to explain what Christ and the Father did for us:
In God's Courtroom
You are on trial in a courtroom, with God the Father as the judge. Behind Him on the bench are the 10 commandments engraved in stone and that you have broken. The prosecuting attorney, Lu Cipher by name, is slick and effective. He is seasoned, articulate, and knows how to win a case. But your defense attorney is none other than Jesus Christ.
The prosecutor (Lu Cipher) stands up and says, "Today we have in our courtroom (insert your name), who is on trial for breaking the commandments of God, Your Honor. We all know very well that (insert your name) has broken these commandments. In fact, I'm going to now review every one of (your name)'s offenses and all the wrong she has done in her life."
You think to yourself 'This is not good."
A month later the prosecutor is still talking, still detailing all of your sins and transgressions. By now you're thinking 'this is getting worse and worse! I'm in big trouble.' Then you glance over at your defense attorney, Jesus. But He doesn't seem too stressed at all. He is very calm. In fact, He's just doodling a little on the yellow tablet before Him. He looks over and smiles. "It's okay (your name)," He says. "Don't worry.
You are thinking 'Easy for Him to say, "don't worry," He's not on trial.' So the prosecution--the case against you--goes on and on and on. Lu Cipher seems to be enjoying himself. As for you, you don't even want to look up at the judge. You don't want to make eye contact with Him, you are so embarrassed. Finally, Lu Cipher completes his attack against you and says, "And so Your Honor, Your own law says, 'The soul that sins shall die.' Therefore, this woman is worthy of death. I rest my case."
The prosecutor sits down, well pleased with himself and with a smile on his face. You look over at Jesus and whisper "He's got me! What in the world can You say now?"
"It's okay (insert your name). Just be calm."
Then He says "Permission to approach the bench?"
"Permission granted," the Judge replies.
Jesus walks right up to the front of the courtroom faces the Judge eye to eye, and says, "Father, we both know that (insert your name) is guilty of everything Lu Cipher accused her of. Be we also both know that I died on the cross and shed my blood in payment for every sin she ever committed."
The Judge says, "That's right, Son." And He pounds down the gavel and says "All is dismissed and forgiven. The price already has been paid."
That is how it works when the enemy attacks you. But he doesn't want you to know that.
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