GOD LOVES THE WORLD

God loves the world yet many deny this fact of truth. The bible says in John 3: 16 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Many still wonder how God shows his love in such a chaotic world. 

John the disciple said God loved the world; that God showed his love by giving us his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ as our Lord, Saviour and Redeemer; that whoever believes in him will escape hell fire; and that believers in Jesus Christ will have everlasting life with God. Paul affirmed this fact when he wrote in Romans 5: 8, but God proves his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. God’s unfailing love continues to date even in a chaotic world.

God so loved the world

God loves not a section or part, race, colour, gender etc. of the world but the whole world. The world includes all his creation because he created everything for our comfort. Wherever we are, his love extends to us in its full measure. He does not discriminate or show partiality in his love. 2Chronicles 19: 7 says there is no partiality or taking of bribes with the Lord (paraphrased). 

Peter said of God at Cornelius’ conversion in Acts 10: 34… God shows no partiality but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. Today, our challenge is doing what is right. Paul wrote in Romans 2: 11, for God shows no partiality. He also re echoed God’s impartiality to those who believe in him in Galatians 2: 6; Ephesians 6: 9 and Colossians 3: 25. 

God loves everyone equally. Jesus said in Matthew 5: 45… for he (God) makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. Even in God’s anger, among many other references Exodus 34: 6 says the LORD is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.

God is faithful in his love. In Deuteronomy 7: 9 God maintains covenant loyalty with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations. David said in Psalms 145: 13, the LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds. Paul testifies of God’s love in 1 Corinthians 1: 9, God is faithful, by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. He also said in 2Thessalonians 3: 3, the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.   

God has given us Jesus Christ

God expressed his love to the world by giving us Christ Jesus to die in our stead. Jesus Christ was and is what God cherishes most and the only Son he had. John 15: 13 says no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. In proof of who Jesus was and is, God announced to the world at Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 17: 5; Mark 9: 57; Luke 9: 35; this is my Son, the beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him.  

We cannot reject God’s instructions yet say we love him. In accepting Jesus, we accept the God of heaven who sent him. When we reject Jesus, we reject God’s love and thereby become God’s enemies. Jesus said in Luke 10: 16,… whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me. John 10: 30 says the Father and I are one. Jesus also said of his union with God in John 17: 21, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The problem of the world today is our unbelief in Christ Jesus our blessed Lord.

Why we believe in Jesus Christ

This caution is to everybody, every religion, every faith and every creed. Paul said in Ephesians 1: 20-23 God put his power (immeasurable power) to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in his age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him head over all things for the church, which is the body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. 

Jesus’ name is above every name at the mention of which every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, Philippians 2: 9-11. Belief starts from hearing the truth so Peter testified of what he personally knew of Jesus. Jesus Christ is God’s gift of eternal life to us. Romans 6: 23 says the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 John 5: 11 says God gave us eternal life, and this is in his Son.

Peter, concurring said in 2 Peter 1: 17-18, Jesus received honour and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, says, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. We must believe in Jesus because Revelation 5: 12 says, worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing. We honour God when we take his word of instructions and obey Jesus Christ. 

Believing, we will escape hell fire for heaven

If we believe Jesus, we should escape eternal death in the torment of hell fire. This is because Jesus was made sin for us in place of the sin which should have taken us to hell. The bible says in 1 Peter 3: 18, for Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.  

God’s love was to the extent that he made Jesus to die for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him, 1Thessalonians 5: 10. To date, Jesus continues to intercede for us before the Father at the right hand of God, Romans 8: 34. It is stated in John 3: 36, whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.  This is expounded in John 4: 14; 5: 24; 6: 40, 47, 54. God speaks through Christ Jesus. John 12: 50 says what I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.   

God has given us the greatest love beyond human comprehension in Christ Jesus his Son. Eternal fire awaits those who reject him in any form of disobedience. Eternal life awaits those who accept him by doing his will in obedience. God is reaching out to us with his faithful and unfailing love. Where do we want to spend eternity? We have chosen Jesus, what about you?

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for dying for us on the cross to show us the extent of God’s love for us. We accept you as our Saviour and invite you into our hearts to save our souls in your name, Amen!!