“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.” —1st John 4:9
We learn from the Bible that there are two different types
of love mentioned in the New Testament. There is God's love (Greek: agape,
meaning, “to love in a social or moral sense”), which is unconditional love;
and then there is, (Greek: phileo, meaning, “to be a friend to, have
affection”) which is a fondness type of love. We see both types of love at work
in John 21:16 in a conversation between the Apostle Peter and the Lord Jesus
Christ. Click here to read the full article about “agape” (unconditional) love
verses “phileo” (the world's fondness) type love.
Oh, how precious is the Word of God and the Lord Jesus
Christ. God loves us. There is NO dearer truth than to know that we are loved
by a Divine Creator. God loves humanity, so much so that He gave His only
begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for our sins. 1st John 3:16
states... "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his
life for us." The Godhead walked this earth in the flesh of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was crucified in our place, taking our sins upon
Himself, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2nd Corinthians
5:21).
Yet, so many unbelievers curse the name of Jesus today,
mocking Him and they trod underfoot the Son of God... "Of how much sorer
punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot
the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was
sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of
grace?" (Hebrews 10:29). Woe unto Christ-rejecters!
Some smart Alec said on a bumper sticker, "Jesus loves
you, but then again He loves everybody." That is so horrible. To attempt
to diminish the love of God simply because He loves all humanity is wrong. Some
people may reason, "If God loves everybody, then what significance is
there to being loved." The problem is that most people fail to comprehend
the love of God. The world recognizes love as an emotion of warm affection or
devotion; but the Bible defines love as unconditional commitment and sacrifice.
God's love is an UNCONDITIONAL love, i.e., "...while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us."
Jesus was willing to pay the price for our sins, knowing
that we are completely undeserving and have nothing to offer in return. Jesus
did this for all humanity. There is nothing we can give God to equal the gift
which he offers to us—eternal life. That is true love. Jesus died for the
vilest sinner, even for false prophets (2nd Peter 2:1). Whether we receive
God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ or not is completely and solely
our decision. No one is chosen for salvation.
God's Love is Unconditional
Many marriages are ending in divorce nowadays, because the
warmth and devotion are gone. This is the world's synthetic love, which is no
love at all. Ladies and gentlemen, love is not a feeling; love is a sacrificial
commitment... for better, for worse; in sickness as in health, for richer or
poorer, 'til death do us part.
God's love, is an unconditional love, meaning that I will
love you no matter what you do to me. I may hate everything about you; but I
will still love you with the love of God.
This explain Romans 9:13, “As it is written, Jacob have I
loved, but Esau have I hated.” God didn't hate Esau; He hated Esau's carnality
and rebellious ways. For God to hate anyone would go 100% contrary to
everything the Bible teaches (John 3:16). See again in Revelation 2:15, “So
hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I
hate.” God didn't hate the Nicolaitans, He hated their doctrine. God hates
Catholicism with a passion, because it is a pack of lies; but God loves Catholic
people nonetheless (Romans 5:8).
We hear much about God's love today, ironically even from
the lips of the heathen world. But they don't know what they’re talking about.
We read in Mark 12:29-31, “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the
commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 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. And the
second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is
none other commandment greater than these.”
However, Jesus plainly stated that one who truly loves God
will obey His commandments, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
This includes all the commandments in the Bible because Jesus is the Living
Word (John 1:1-3,14; Revelation 19:13). For anyone to speak about God's love
without including God's Law is falsehood. 1st John 3:8 states, “He that
committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of
the devil.”
The Bible is clear that those who commit sin are of the
Devil. How foolish it is for abusers, fornicators, homosexuals and witches
today to speak of God's love, while completely disregarding the Law of God
which condemns sin. The so-called "love" which the heathen world
speaks of is nothing more than sinful compromise. God's love is synonymous with
righteousness; not sinful living and rebellion against God's Word.
Hatred Will Increase in the End Times
We are living in a cruel world, where few people possess
God's love. Most people will do unto you as you do unto them. This
is heathendom. Jesus commanded in The Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12...
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye
even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Many people today
are retaliatory, rotten and malicious. The Apostle Paul said in Titus 3:3,
"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived,
serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and
hating one another." That well describes the world today.
In Matthew 24, Jesus’ prophesy of horrible conditions
during the Tribulation Period. In verse 10 Jesus said that people would be
easily offended and hate each other. In verse 11 Jesus said that many false
prophets would arise and deceive many. And then in verse 11 Jesus said that the
love of many would "wax cold" because of abounding iniquity (i.e.,
blatant widespread injustice).
We are already seeing these things happen. Jesus said in
verse 24 that the end of the world will begin when the Gospel has been preached
for a witness unto all nations. Just as the 911 attacks in New York gave birth
to the New World Order (i.e., the Beast system of the Antichrist), so will “the
ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION spoken of by Daniel the prophet” (Matthew 24:15;
Daniel 11:36,37) mark the beginning of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21).
The “Great Tribulation” is the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation Period. Then
shall The Second Coming of our wonderful Saviour, Jesus Christ, take place.
What a glorious day that will be!!!
Conclusion
The world knows nothing about God's love. The average
marriage today is a ticking time bomb, because it is conditioned upon
something—such as sex, money, security, happiness, etc.
God's love is unconditional. God's love surpasses human
understanding. Why would God lay down His life for us vile sinners? But He did,
praise God! (1st John 3:16). God's love is inexplicably unconditional.
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