“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” -1 Timothy 1:15.
It isn’t bad to tell someone that God, or Jesus loves them, but people do repeat this a lot, which has a way of diminishing its value. We often repeat this phrase in the lightest possible way, yet scripture shows that the real proof of it comes through Jesus’ atoning death on the cross for our sins; this is the critical, often overlooked aspect of salvation we’ve largely become insensitive to.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8.
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” -1 John 4:10.
But our SIN is what actually separates us from God, and why we need Him to save us; men find it far easier just to receive love from God, and NOT accept His condemnation for their sins! Even Jesus said the world HATED Him for saying its works are evil (John 7:7).
Scripture warns that in the Last Days men will abandon sound doctrine and become proud, and boastful, lovers of their own selves, with a form of godliness which actually denies Him (2 Timothy 3:1-5); even though all the while the letter to the Galatians affirms that God accepts no man’s person (Galatians 2:6), and concludes everyone to be guilty under sin (Galatians 3:22)!
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” -Romans 3:23.
Consider also that Jesus said only God is truly good (Mark 10:17,18), and that He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance; if we don’t recognize our true sinful state in God’s eyes, how can we repent from sins, and be forgiven by God?
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” -1 John 1:8-10.
But instead of the right way Jesus shows us through His Word, mankind usually turns away from teachings that confront our sins, because they make us feel guilty; and in the end we wind up fulfilling prophecy by embracing teachers (2 Peter 2:17-21) who support the desires of our flesh, turning us away from the right path. The danger here is that many will likely receive a false conversion (Matthew 7:21-23) not based upon the scripture, but one which tries to only receive God’s love, without FULLY surrendering their old lives and practices. (See also Acts 5:1-11, 8:18-24).
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” -2 Timothy 4:2-4.
Paul once testified to the Corinthians that he had determined not to know any thing among them, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2), which is the real focal point in this blog; a focus that reminds us that in our flesh we are naturally sinners (Romans 7:18) who deserve God’s wrath, but have instead received His mercy (Romans 9:15,16) through the precious blood atonement He provided through Jesus, His Son.
Let us pray for grace to always tell the truth about God’s real love for mankind, never being ashamed for the cross of our Lord, nor any ridicule it may bring.
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” -2 Corinthians 5:18-21.
I also have a short YouTube video on this subject that can be found at https://youtube.com/shorts/oJ6irry5U1I?feature=share.
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