Are we misrepresenting God’s love?

How many times have you heard preachers and well meaning Christians tell you how much God loves you? Of course in one sense, this is true. John 3:16 tells us that God loves sinners and gave his Son, Jesus Christ, as proof of that love. Without Jesus, we would all be headed to hell. However, the scriptures also point to God’s hatred and wrath. For example Psalm 5:5-6 reads, “Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil. You will destroy those who tell lies. The Lord detests murderers and deceivers.” This scripture is very different from what we often hear, which is that God hates the sin not the sinner. Another scripture, Deuteronomy 7:9-10 says,” Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him.” These seemingly contradictory scriptures are troublesome and ought to provoke questions. Is God’s love partial and conditional? If God loves everybody, why does he destroy so many? If God loves me unconditionally whether I am good or bad why should I change my behavior? Is it possible that a well intentioned but unbalanced message on God’s love could lead to a birth of complacency and backsliding in some? How exactly do we address God’s love for the whole world and at the same time his hatred for some? To come to a better understanding of God’s love we must define what that love means and how it works. God’s love is known as “Agape” love. This is the highest form of love. It is the sacrificial love that Jesus Christ demonstrated when he died for the sins of the whole world. This love is described more fully in 1 Corinthians 13. This love bears all things, endures all things, believes all things, and this love never fails. The objective of God’s love is always to restore us to Himself. In order to accomplish that, he lovingly confronts, continually warns of danger, he disciplines, he rebukes, he admonishes, and he encourages. It is an all-encompassing type of love. It is pure, direct, and designed to lead us to a life of holiness, righteousness, and ultimately eternal salvation. How does it work? And how does it relate to people who love and hate Him. The bible is very clear on who the lovers and haters of God are. Very simply, if you believe in Christ and obey his commands, you are a lover of God and if you do not believe in Christ and you do not obey His commands, you are a hater of God. The question then is “How exactly does God’s love manifest on these two different groups of people?” This requires a deeper understanding of how God’s love works. God’s love can be divided into three components.

The first component is “Common Grace”. This can be defined as God’s unmerited favor to everyone regardless of how good or bad they are. Examples of this grace are, the air we all breathe, the sun that shines on all, rain that falls on all, health and wealth dispersed to both the good and the bad. You could be a Hindu, Muslim, Atheist, and even the most depraved and hateful person, this part of God’s love is given to you also. The second component of God’s love is his “Uncommon Grace”. This part of God’s love is reserved for those who love Him. This is the love described in Exodus 20:6, “But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love and obey my commands.” This love is not showered on everybody. This is the type of love that is enjoyed by God lovers such as Abraham, David, Daniel, Moses, and of course our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In fact Daniel appealed in prayer to this part of God’s love as quoted in Daniel 9:4, “ I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.” You may say, “That sounds partial!” Of course not, you too can receive this love if you obey His commands. Let’s look at this love in human terms. Suppose an earthly father had two sons, one very obedient the other very disobedient. Should the father equally reward and treat both children the same? Most of us will say no. In fact, many parents would state that they would not reward the bad behavior of their children. Why then should we expect less from God? If the disobedient son repents he too will share in the father’s lavish rewards, wouldn’t he? Jesus Christ was so highly favored and loved because the bible tells us he was obedient to death, even the death on the cross. God’s uncommon love is reserved for such people. The last part of God’s love is His “Loving Judgment”. This love is reserved for backsliders and haters of God. Why? God does not desire for the wicked to perish but for all to be eternally saved. Therefore, God will do whatever is necessary to ensure even the salvation of the wicked. God is kind and just. Does the thought of a just God trouble you? It should not. You want a just God. Imagine a family robbed at gunpoint. The robber had killed the wife and children and also shot the husband leaving all for dead. Miraculously the husband survived. The robber was caught and brought before a judge. What would you expect a just judge to do? Punish the robber of course! And some may even say kill him. Anything to the contrary would be unfair wouldn’t it? So we all want justice and a just God. This just arm of God is revealed in Daniel 9:11, “All Israel has disobeyed your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice. “So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured down on us because of our sin.” A murderer is a hater of not just men but of God. If he continues in his sin, the scripture in Deuteronomy 7:10 which states that, God will punish and destroy those that hate him, is reserved for him and all who hate God. God’s love is unconditional. It is unconditional in the sense that it is the same love that loves the faithful (“Uncommon Grace”), it is the same love that loves the Atheist (“Common Grace”), and it is the same love that loves the wicked (“Loving Judgment”). This love is consistent, complete, and holy. If the wicked turns from his wicked ways, he will be loved with “Uncommon Grace”. If the Atheist turns from his wicked ways, he too will be loved with God’s “Uncommon Grace”. God’s love does not change, we do. 2 Timothy 2:21 tells us that if we cleanse ourselves we can be useful and loved by God. This is a great testimony to God’s amazing love.

So, does God love the whole world? Yes, but it is up to you to decide what part of God’s love you would like to experience- his common grace reserved for all, his uncommon love reserved for those who love him, or his loving judgment reserved for those who hate Him. The choice is yours. This is exactly why the bible tells us to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. When we do, we can be assured of God’s unfailing love upon us. Do not be deceived by any preacher. If you are not a lover of God, you will time and time again experience his wrath and judgment. If you do not repent you will ultimately experience eternal damnation. Friends, let me urge you to choose to love God and act in accordance to his commands. As you walk with Him, His unfailing and lavish love will forever be your portion, in Jesus name. Praise God!!