God loves us. That is the basis of His sending His Son Jesus to suffer and die in our place so that we could be forgiven and made new, full of life, and freed from the power of sin and darkness where there is no hope. Therefore God’s wrath is not directed against sinners. God’s wrath is directed against unbelief (John 3:35-36). Against those who continue to deny Him by their unbelief and carry on in their sins (Rom. 1:18-32; 2:4-16). Again Jesus Christ the Son of God wasn’t crucified because the world is full of righteous people. Jesus Christ was crucified because of our sins. To provide the only possible atonement for all that we have done wrong. Therefore God does not want anyone to perish in their sins but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved" John 3:17-16
Again love is what motivates both the Father and the Son to so sacrificially give so we might be brought back into a right relationship with God and each other. For mankind having been born into sin, (that is Adam, the first man who sinned of whom we are descended from) and we all having sinned, nullifies all possibilities of self-redemption. Our separated condition cannot be rectified by ourselves; neither by law, nor by our own good works, (Rom. 3:19-28; 4:4-5) but only by God’s grace (Eph. 2:8-9). Individually and collectively then we are as Word of God reveals sinners. Both by default; that is being born into Adam’s sin; and by choice. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23
Which introduces the most important aspect of the gospel and that is faith. Specifically faith in Jesus Christ the Lord crucified and raised from the dead (Rom. 10:9-10). That is the deciding factor on ones justification (that is being declared righteous in the sight of God) and entrance into the Kingdom of heaven (John 3:3-5; Titus 3:4-7). Having sinned whether a little or a lot is not the issue. It is ones’ repentance towards God and faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ (or not) that is (Acts 20:21). That is why the Apostle Paul say’s he was first saved by the grace of God as the chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15), then sent as Christ’s ambassador to extend that same saving grace towards all. For the Lord Jesus said in commissioning Paul as His Apostle: 17 ‘I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 ‘to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:17-18
Therefore the Apostle Paul’s preaching was one of both repentance and faith. Repentance is our turning from our sins back towards God. This does not mean we get free of our sins by ourselves. It means we acknowledge them (in essence acknowledge our helplessness) and turn to God through Jesus Christ both for the forgiveness as well as the freedom from them (Rom. 6). For it is only by faith in Jesus Christ that we are justified in the sight of God (Gal. 2:16; 19-21). And is the means we receive new life through the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in us the moment we believe (Eph. 1:13-14; Gal. 3:2-3). Both as the transforming Person of God who makes us alive, but also as an eternal seal guaranteeing our redemption from sin and death, who progressively transforms us into the likewise of Christ. Again God does not hate sinners; He hates unbelief. For it is the only sin, outside of the unpardonable sin; which is likely born out of the same; that cannot be forgiven. And thus when we come to believe In Jesus Christ crucified for our sins forgiveness God’s love comes to live in us (Rev. 3:20), both in the Person of Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God. God’s love indwells in and is manifested through all who believe (Gal. 5:22-23; 1 John 4:7-16).
Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982
Again love is what motivates both the Father and the Son to so sacrificially give so we might be brought back into a right relationship with God and each other. For mankind having been born into sin, (that is Adam, the first man who sinned of whom we are descended from) and we all having sinned, nullifies all possibilities of self-redemption. Our separated condition cannot be rectified by ourselves; neither by law, nor by our own good works, (Rom. 3:19-28; 4:4-5) but only by God’s grace (Eph. 2:8-9). Individually and collectively then we are as Word of God reveals sinners. Both by default; that is being born into Adam’s sin; and by choice. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23
Which introduces the most important aspect of the gospel and that is faith. Specifically faith in Jesus Christ the Lord crucified and raised from the dead (Rom. 10:9-10). That is the deciding factor on ones justification (that is being declared righteous in the sight of God) and entrance into the Kingdom of heaven (John 3:3-5; Titus 3:4-7). Having sinned whether a little or a lot is not the issue. It is ones’ repentance towards God and faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ (or not) that is (Acts 20:21). That is why the Apostle Paul say’s he was first saved by the grace of God as the chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15), then sent as Christ’s ambassador to extend that same saving grace towards all. For the Lord Jesus said in commissioning Paul as His Apostle: 17 ‘I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 ‘to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:17-18
Therefore the Apostle Paul’s preaching was one of both repentance and faith. Repentance is our turning from our sins back towards God. This does not mean we get free of our sins by ourselves. It means we acknowledge them (in essence acknowledge our helplessness) and turn to God through Jesus Christ both for the forgiveness as well as the freedom from them (Rom. 6). For it is only by faith in Jesus Christ that we are justified in the sight of God (Gal. 2:16; 19-21). And is the means we receive new life through the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in us the moment we believe (Eph. 1:13-14; Gal. 3:2-3). Both as the transforming Person of God who makes us alive, but also as an eternal seal guaranteeing our redemption from sin and death, who progressively transforms us into the likewise of Christ. Again God does not hate sinners; He hates unbelief. For it is the only sin, outside of the unpardonable sin; which is likely born out of the same; that cannot be forgiven. And thus when we come to believe In Jesus Christ crucified for our sins forgiveness God’s love comes to live in us (Rev. 3:20), both in the Person of Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God. God’s love indwells in and is manifested through all who believe (Gal. 5:22-23; 1 John 4:7-16).
Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982
