"Jesus loves me. This I know..."

[SarahsKnight]

Amen, I always try to see if what I'm hearing matches what the bible says from the teachers I listen to. I'm open to different views, and I don't write people off as heretics if they don't believe exactly what I believe.

Perhaps the wisest approach to take, Matt.



Of course, the problem is that we don't all agree on what sections of the Bible we think are clear and what seems more puzzling and cryptic, either. God is perfect, but we aren't, and that's why we can mess up on interpretation, either accidentally or with malicious deliberate intent (which I would say a "false teacher" is). It seems to only logically follow that obviously the MOST vital thing here is Christ, in order to be saved and have eternal life, because I would say His sacrifice and being the Son of God are examples of what is totally clear in the Bible. But if we must get everything else correct in order to be "truly" saved, well, then, I'd say it's pretty hopeless for everyone.

 

[Matt Faith]

It seems to only logically follow that obviously the MOST vital thing here is Christ, in order to be saved and have eternal life, because I would say His sacrifice and being the Son of God are examples of what is totally clear in the Bible. But if we must get everything else correct in order to be "truly" saved, well, then, I'd say it's pretty hopeless for everyone.

I agree completely! That was an awesome post, so true.

Although I still find it amazing how some people, even when the bible seems to be VERY clear...they still find a way to come up with something so different than what it says. I guess all we can do is pray for those people.

 

[twin1954]

I am confused with what your mad at me for? What did I say wrong?

I am truly sorry that you think I am mad at you. I am not. I meant only to show you that the Scriptures say differently than what you posted. I hold no malice toward you at all. I am more than willing to help you understand whatever you may have a question on. All you have to do is ask a question.

 

[JLR1300]

Regarding the question about God loving everyone... As Twin said, John 3 says that the wrath of God abides on the unbeliever. However, Ephesians 2 says of Christians (who God obviously loves) that we were "by nature Children of wrath even as others." So did God hate us when we were unbelievers and then later love us when we became believers? No. I think the answer is that before we are believers we are under the condemnation and wrath of God's law. The law says that we have sinned and deserve God's wrath. But does that mean that God really hates us? No. Even though an elect person is under God's wrath in the sense of being condemned by God's law... He isn't really hated by God. And as soon as He believes and is justified (declared officially not guilty of being a law-breaker because of Christ's sacrifice) He is no longer a child of wrath even as others.

It is true that the concern that God has toward all men looks like hatred in comparison to the intense love God has for His elect. However, I am not convinced that God loving Jacob and hating Esau means anything more than He let Esau reject salvation but did not let Jacob reject salvation but sovereignly intervened and gifted him with faith. Notice that Jesus also said to hate your father and mother and sister and brother but that really just meant to perfer Christ over everyone else. It really just meant that we should love Christ so much more than our relatives that our love for them looks like hatred in comparison. We shouldn't just quote verses and words but really try to discover the intended meaning. Of course, since I have spent half my life studying Calvinism I am very aware that many believe in a very strict hatred... I used to believe everything Calvinism teaches.... but have backed off a couple of things with time and consideration.

 

[98cwitr]

Regarding the question about God loving everyone... As Twin said, John 3 says that the wrath of God abides on the unbeliever. However, Ephesians 2 says of Christians (who God obviously loves) that we were "by nature Children of wrath even as others." So did God hate us when we were unbelievers and then later love us when we became believers? No. I think the answer is that before we are believers we are under the condemnation and wrath of God's law. The law says that we have sinned and deserve God's wrath. But does that mean that God really hates us? No. Even though an elect person is under God's wrath in the sense of being condemned by God's law... He isn't really hated by God. And as soon as He believes and is justified (declared officially not guilty of being a law-breaker because of Christ's sacrifice) He is no longer a child of wrath even as others.

It is true that the concern that God has toward all men looks like hatred in comparison to the intense love God has for His elect. However, I am not convinced that God loving Jacob and hating Esau means anything more than He let Esau reject salvation but did not let Jacob reject salvation but sovereignly intervened and gifted him with faith. Notice that Jesus also said to hate your father and mother and sister and brother but that really just meant to perfer Christ over everyone else. It really just meant that we should love Christ so much more than our relatives that our love for them looks like hatred in comparison. We shouldn't just quote verses and words but really try to discover the intended meaning. Of course, since I have spent half my life studying Calvinism I am very aware that many believe in a very strict hatred... I used to believe everything Calvinism teaches.... but have backed off a couple of things with time and consideration.

Well stated and I totally agree. Maybe Im not as calvinist as people claim I am

 

[South Bound]

It is one of the Devil's greatest deceptions. Children grow up sitting on grandma's knee being told that God loves them. In Sunday School they sing "Jesus loves me" and in church they are told that God loves them. Then they grow up to be profligates and full of Hell but all the while they believe that Jesus loves me. If He loves me He will not send me to Hell. That isn't what love does. They have no fear of God because of it and no desire to be free from the bondage to sin. God loves me is enough for them. They "got saved" when they were 5 or 6 years old and they always look back to that time as their hope. But the Scriptures do not say that the love of God abides on them it says that the wrath of God abides on them. John 3:36


Oh how many souls go to Hell hoping in the love of God?

The problem isn't in telling children that Jesus loves them. He does love them and we should tell them that.

The problem is in telling them about the love of God before we tell them about the law of God.

Love without the law is an indulgent, superficial love that winks at sin.

Love presented after the law is given an opportunity to convict is an amazing love that loves in spite of our unlovliness.

 

[Emmy]

Dear 98cwitr. Yes, Jesus loves us, and in Matthew 22: 35-40: Jesus tells us:
" The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like it: Love thy neighbour as thyself." Then Jesus states this great fact: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." God wants our love, freely given and NO tags attached. Love God with all our beings, and love our neighbour as we love ourselves. Jesus knows that our Love, given to God and given to our neighbour, will GIVE US LIVE ABUNDANTLY. We ask for Love and Joy, then we thank God and share it all with our neighbour: all we know and all we meet,
friends and not friends. Matthew 7: 7-10: tells us to " ask and receive," then we thank God and share it all with our neighbour. We keep asking and receiving, then share it all with our neighbour. God will see and God will bless us.
The Bible tells us to "Repent and be Born Again," we change our selfish and unloving characters to " Loving and Caring," Love God and treat all around us as we would love to be treated. Always kindly and with friendly words, plus the occasional helping hand. A Christian`s weapon is Love and Compassion,
with it we will gradually change this imperfect world. The Holy Spirit will help and guide us, and Jesus our Saviour, will lead us all the way: JESUS IS THE WAY. Jesus loves me, and to prove my love for Jesus, I will gladly Love God
with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind, ALSO, love my neighbour as myself. I say this with love, cwitr. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[mikedsjr]

Emmy, the Christian's weapon is the Scriptures, the word of God.

 

[JLR1300]

Dear 98cwitr. Yes, Jesus loves us, and in Matthew 22: 35-40: Jesus tells us:
" The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like it: Love thy neighbour as thyself." Then Jesus states this great fact: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." God wants our love, freely given and NO tags attached. Love God with all our beings, and love our neighbour as we love ourselves. Jesus knows that our Love, given to God and given to our neighbour, will GIVE US LIVE ABUNDANTLY. We ask for Love and Joy, then we thank God and share it all with our neighbour: all we know and all we meet,
friends and not friends. Matthew 7: 7-10: tells us to " ask and receive," then we thank God and share it all with our neighbour. We keep asking and receiving, then share it all with our neighbour. God will see and God will bless us.
The Bible tells us to "Repent and be Born Again," we change our selfish and unloving characters to " Loving and Caring," Love God and treat all around us as we would love to be treated. Always kindly and with friendly words, plus the occasional helping hand. A Christian`s weapon is Love and Compassion,
with it we will gradually change this imperfect world. The Holy Spirit will help and guide us, and Jesus our Saviour, will lead us all the way: JESUS IS THE WAY. Jesus loves me, and to prove my love for Jesus, I will gladly Love God
with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind, ALSO, love my neighbour as myself. I say this with love, cwitr. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

Emmy... why do you cut and paste this exact same message over and over no matter what the subject of conversation is? I am not trying to be critical, I am just trying to understand.