- Dec 18, 2017
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Hi there,
Common Grace refers to the sustaining goodness of God on all mankind.
Matthew 5:45
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
But what I have never heard preached is that God has also gifted to all mankind Common Love.
Luke 6:32
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
The word for Love in this verse is Agape in the Greek.
So Agape is often thought of as meaning God's Love - others think it is simply selfless action.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
Jesus supremely did this for believers.
But unbelievers have been known to do this also.
Yet at judgement this measure of reward will happen...
1 Cor 13
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
This suggests that motive is more important than action.
So I have always believed that only deeds motivated by 'Agape Christos' will survive judgement and only the saved are capable of such actions - am I correct ???
On the other side of the coin to assume the lost are loveless is wrong.
Really appreciate your considered comments.
Common Grace refers to the sustaining goodness of God on all mankind.
Matthew 5:45
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
But what I have never heard preached is that God has also gifted to all mankind Common Love.
Luke 6:32
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
The word for Love in this verse is Agape in the Greek.
So Agape is often thought of as meaning God's Love - others think it is simply selfless action.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
Jesus supremely did this for believers.
But unbelievers have been known to do this also.
Yet at judgement this measure of reward will happen...
1 Cor 13
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
This suggests that motive is more important than action.
So I have always believed that only deeds motivated by 'Agape Christos' will survive judgement and only the saved are capable of such actions - am I correct ???
On the other side of the coin to assume the lost are loveless is wrong.
Really appreciate your considered comments.