God is Love, But Don’t Use That as an Excuse

Working out your salvation is not about God’s love for you, it is about your love for God.

Some Believe God Loves Everyone No Matter What

The reverend in the movie called Heaven is For Real was speaking to one of his church members whose son died and he said to her, “Do you think God loves my son more than he loves your son?” He said this because his kindergarten son lived and her adult son died, plus she was unsure if he went to heaven. After he said that to the grieving mother, she wept and hugged him so the audience was really left thinking that her son should go to heaven because God loves both sons equally. While this is a comforting concept, it is not entirely true.

First, creative freedom was probably used in the making of that movie so we cannot know if the original people truly feel that way. So let’s look at God’s love and what that means in regards to our salvation.

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him. ~John 14:21 KJV

We see here that God’s love comes through us loving His Son for what He has done for us. We must realize and accept it. By keeping His commandments, we prove our acceptance and love for Him, then we become His children and receive the love of the Father in heaven. Therefore, what this means is that one can say that they accept Jesus, but if they do not keep His commandments, they will not be loved by the Father.

Next, we must look to the first commandment.

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:  this is the first commandment. ~Mark 12:30 KJV

and the second,

And the second is like namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  There is none other commandment greater than these. ~Mark 12:31 KJV

So, we see that these commandments are required and notice that the first commandment is to love God with everything you’ve got.  In addition, the Apostle Paul helps us to understand how we must live a holy and serious life in the doctrine so that we are as convincing as possible. We must abide in the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

[6] And this is love, that we walk after His commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. [7] For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. [8] Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. [9] Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. [10] If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: [11] For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. ~2 John 1:6-11 KJV

[10] But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,… ~2 Timothy 3:10 KJV

[14] But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them ; ~2 Timothy 3:14 KJV

[10] Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. [11] For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [14] Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. [15] These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. ~Titus 2:10-15 KJV

Nothing Can Separate Us From The Love of God

This is a statement that the Apostle Paul made in reference to “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Therefore, the love of God is for those who accept and believe by living the faithful Christian life.

[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Romans 8:38-39 KJV

 People Who Do Not Love God

People who do not love Jesus— meaning they do not love Him, His Word (because He is the Word), nor are thankful for His sacrifice by obeying His commandments— are cursed. I would venture to say that even resisting the words of the apostles, men anointed and Holy Spirit-led with power, is like rebelling against the Lord as well.

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. ~2 Timothy 3:8 KJV

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. ~1 Corinthians 16:22 KJV

[1]In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. ~John 1:1-2 KJV [This references Jesus being the Word of God, which is the Word of the Holy Bible]

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. ~John 1:14 KJV

 For God So Loved The World…

If you are a person who thinks that God loves all of us no matter what, please be careful about what you are believing. God loves the world so much that He made a way for the world to be saved. This is true because the world needed Him to love us first so that we would have a way to be made holy. Moreover, in order to be saved, each person has an opportunity to make a choice. When they accept Jesus, they receive salvation and the promise of the Holy Spirit, which proves the love of God because a person becomes adopted. Through the adoption, they become a child of God. God ultimately desires for everyone to become His child, which again shows us His love. However, one must follow God’s order to be a part of His family. Otherwise, one is either a stranger or a rebellious child. Therefore, let us become obedient children whom the Lord will be pleased with and whom He greatly loves in the end because there is a judgment of what we have done with the acceptance of the Lord’s sacrifice that He so lovingly provided.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ~1 John 4:9 KJV

We love Him, because He first loved us. ~1 John 4:19 KJV