Do we even understand what LOVE is?
Romans 8:31-39
By human standards we cannot wrap our minds around a God who both LOVES us and a God that is JUST. Caught between these two words are GRACE and MERCY. So, let us consider the JUSTICE of God first.
God’s Justice:
- The Angels that Sinned – 2 Peter 2:4
- The World before the Great Flood- 2 Peter 2:5-6
- The Jews (Natural Branches)- Romans 11:21
- His own Son- Romans 8:32
Man’s Ability:
- Jesus says we shouldn’t JUDGE- Matthew 7:1-2
- Inexcusable- Romans 2:1
- Not our Prerogative- Romans 14:4
- JUDGE our own lives- Romans 14:13
a. Why we shouldn’t JUDGE?
i. Because we often don’t know all the facts- 1 Corinthians 4:5
ii. We often ASSUME too much- James 4:12
I think this is one of MANKINDS most infamous problems, understanding humanity, starting with ourselves and the fallenness of our abilities to properly make good decisions. Oftentimes we are more inclined to seek vengeance and cause strife than we are to offer forgiveness and understanding. Those two words, FORGIVENESS and UNDERSTANDING are celebrated in the person of JESUS CHRIST. He came to show what LOVE is in its purest untainted form. Jesus came to show he both understood what it meant to be human and the amount of HATE (the opposite of LOVE) that is within us and the world.
GOD’S LOVE (RECONCILLIATION)
- 1 Corinthians 13:5
- Romans 5:8
- Luke 23:24
- Colossians 3:13-14
- Matthew 18:21-22