We spoke earlier of Loving God – Loving each other; now let’s look at the “depth of God’s Love for us.
John 3:16-18, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world [which He had every right to do], but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned [also see Romans 8:1], but whoever does not believe, is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (ESV; see also 1 John 5:10-12).
All emphasis mine.
Romans 5:8, “…but God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Before anyone says they’re not a sinner: Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Yes, that includes me.
Deuteronomy 7:9, “Know therefore that the Lord your God, is God; the faithful God; who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him, and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.”
Psalm 136 speaks of “His steadfast Love” in each verse, and is summed up in verse 36, “Give thanks to the God of Heaven, for His steadfast Love endures forever.”
Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses [because we can never save ourselves], made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved… For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God [through Jesus], not a result of works [filthy rags says Isaiah 64:6] so that no one can boast.”
Romans 8:38-39, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
When reading these last two verses, nothing has been left out. Our God is an “Awesome God” (thank you Rich Mullins, writer), and He has a love we can only imagine. This is the Creator of our Heavens and Earth, Lord of lords, King of kings; yet He loves every single person that has ever lived, is alive now, and ever will live all the way to the end of this present Earth. This does not mean He will not discipline us when we deserve it, as He is the most loving Father ever, and will discipline us to get us back on track.
There are those who cannot fathom that a divine being could ever love and forgive them for whatever evil they have done in their lives. No, God cannot accept any form of evil, but that’s exactly why He sent a valuable part of Himself here as the only sacrifice He could accept. The blood of bulls, goats and whatever would never be pure enough to satisfy His perfect nature (Hebrews 9:13, 10:4).
Hebrews 10:12-18 says that Jesus offered a single sacrifice that would be for all sins, and was the only “perfect” one for all time. The Holy Spirit also bore witness to the sacrifice, making it a sovereign covenant. Verse 18 sums it up: “Where there is forgiveness of these [all sin covered by Jesus’ blood]), there is no longer any offering for sin.”
This does not mean we’re automatically forgiven, but must receive the gift by repenting, and asking for forgiveness, and calling on Jesus to be our Savior. This is the only action we can do, as everything else was covered at Calvary. That’s also why it’s an insult to the Father that anyone would think they “deserve” to be forgiven because they’re “so good”. Also, some believe they can do enough “good deeds” to earn their salvation. There is nothing of value on this earth that could ever cover even one drop of blood that My Jesus shed on that cross.
So, how can we even begin to describe “The Love of God” that He has for us? Frederick Lehman wrote a song with that title in 1917, and it’s become a favorite old standard today.
Verse 1
The Love of God is greater far
than tongue or pen could ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
and reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child [me] He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
Refrain
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Verse 2
When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so pure shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Verse 3
Could we with ink the oceans fill,
and were the skies of parchment made,
were every stalk on earth a quill,
and every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
though stretched from sky to sky.
Is there anyone who reads these words that does not see God’s love is almost indescribable? There is no love on this earth that can measure up to our Jehovah’s standard. Even a parent’s love for their child can’t come close. This is why, unless we take it by pure faith, we will never believe we can be loved to such a degree.
So, for all those who say they are “beyond redemption,” you would be the first in all of history that the Lord’s blood could not reach. Someone may scoff at this, but if Hitler had repented and truly accepted Jesus as his Savior before his death, he would be with Jesus in spirit this very day. The same holds true for Stalin, Mussolini, Genghis Kahn, and every other name associated with evil throughout all of history. There is doubt that any of them repented, but if they had, they would have been treated the same as you or I and been forgiven.
Only Satan and his demons (fallen angels) cannot and will not be forgiven. The atonement for sin on that cross at Calvary was for all “humans.” Satan and his demons do not fit in that category, as they had already been with God and witnessed His Supreme Glory for themselves. They turned against Him anyway, and the Lake of Fire was prepared just for them (Matthew 25:41).
Remember this, please: all humans can call on Jesus; repent and confess their sins; ask for forgiveness; and ask that Jesus be their Savior Forever (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:9-13). This is a free-will choice that all humans can make, and if they do, they will not be turned down.
However, Jesus knew that there would be few that would do so (Matthew 7:13-14), as the lure of what this world holds draws many away. All humans also have the right to refuse the Savior’s gift, and after the White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15, will join the antichrist and false prophet (Revelation 19:20) and Satan (Revelation 20:10) in the place of torment that wasn’t initially meant for any human.
Our God loves us just that much. He will not force us either way, even though He very well could. He wants all to repent and call on His Son (2 Peter 3:9), but if they choose Satan, He will honor their choice. After our last breath here, it will be too late to make any decision. It will have already been made. Those who chose the Savior before that time will be with Him forever. Those who didn’t, for whatever reason, will start their eternal torment within the very next instant of death. It will be just like the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16. Even if they cry out at that point and want to accept the Savior, it will be of no use – there is no pardon, no forgiveness; and after the White Throne, it will be forever.
Choose your leader – Jesus or Satan. There is no other. Read Joshua 24:15 for my and my family’s answer to that decision. Hope to see you at Home!
Shalom!