Good morning!
I don't argue on the internet often. I've never seen someone change their mind because some chick on the internet told them they were wrong. But there is one thing I have gotten into several discussions this year.
It's about God's love. There have been a lot of blogs, posts and comments this year that state God's love, His grace, His mercy is not enough. That saying "God will love you no matter what" is a watering down of scripture and the gospel message. That we have to change in order to be saved. There are conditions to His love. There must be, because Jesus died for us. And if God loved everybody there wouldn't be a need for sacrifice.
I have a hard time staying silent when I see this. Because I know they are confusing holiness, justice, and penalties for wrongdoing with grace and love. They don't understand the difference between salvation and the transformation that comes after salvation. Because Jesus never would have died for us if His love was conditional. We are so totally useless, helpless and depraved that no holy God would give His life UNLESS His love was unconditional. We can't change. Not on our own.
Romans 5: 6-8 says You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
You know the scene in Disney's Hercules where Pain and Panic cry, "We are worms! Worthless worms!" While turning into the aforementioned creature? Well, we are worms without having to change into them. While we were still worms, Christ died for us. He didn't wait for us to turn into fish or something else more useful before He died for us. He knew we couldn't become fish on our own. We don't have to be a fish before God will love us. He loves us worthless worms! We don't have the ability to change, to become better, more worthy of salvation.
I find this SO liberating. I don't have to work to earn God's love. I HAVE it already! It means I don't have to do anything to make myself look better or compare myself to other people. Make sure I'm "shaping up" to be a "proper Christian." I only need to focus on what God wants ME to do in MY walk with Him. (I feel kind of like Paul when he's talking to the Galatians about circumcision "SEE WHAT LARGE LETTERS I WRITE WITH MY OWN HAND!)
I once explained this to someone and their reply was, "You know by saying God sees us all the same, you're comparing yourself to Hitler."
I replied, "Exactly! You understand. I am just as evil and wicked as Hitler! And God loves me anyway! Isn't that the most awesome thing you've ever heard?"
I'm pretty sure they blocked me.
God bless and see you soon,
Joelle
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y8BBCYFAYRI
I don't argue on the internet often. I've never seen someone change their mind because some chick on the internet told them they were wrong. But there is one thing I have gotten into several discussions this year.
It's about God's love. There have been a lot of blogs, posts and comments this year that state God's love, His grace, His mercy is not enough. That saying "God will love you no matter what" is a watering down of scripture and the gospel message. That we have to change in order to be saved. There are conditions to His love. There must be, because Jesus died for us. And if God loved everybody there wouldn't be a need for sacrifice.
I have a hard time staying silent when I see this. Because I know they are confusing holiness, justice, and penalties for wrongdoing with grace and love. They don't understand the difference between salvation and the transformation that comes after salvation. Because Jesus never would have died for us if His love was conditional. We are so totally useless, helpless and depraved that no holy God would give His life UNLESS His love was unconditional. We can't change. Not on our own.
Romans 5: 6-8 says You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
You know the scene in Disney's Hercules where Pain and Panic cry, "We are worms! Worthless worms!" While turning into the aforementioned creature? Well, we are worms without having to change into them. While we were still worms, Christ died for us. He didn't wait for us to turn into fish or something else more useful before He died for us. He knew we couldn't become fish on our own. We don't have to be a fish before God will love us. He loves us worthless worms! We don't have the ability to change, to become better, more worthy of salvation.
I find this SO liberating. I don't have to work to earn God's love. I HAVE it already! It means I don't have to do anything to make myself look better or compare myself to other people. Make sure I'm "shaping up" to be a "proper Christian." I only need to focus on what God wants ME to do in MY walk with Him. (I feel kind of like Paul when he's talking to the Galatians about circumcision "SEE WHAT LARGE LETTERS I WRITE WITH MY OWN HAND!)
I once explained this to someone and their reply was, "You know by saying God sees us all the same, you're comparing yourself to Hitler."
I replied, "Exactly! You understand. I am just as evil and wicked as Hitler! And God loves me anyway! Isn't that the most awesome thing you've ever heard?"
I'm pretty sure they blocked me.
God bless and see you soon,
Joelle
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y8BBCYFAYRI
