[FONT="]LOVE In a biblical sense is a deep discussion. It is unpacked in scripture within a variety of contexts. I want to start by looking at the area of the love of God demonstrated through the gospel (good news) of Christ's sacrifice. Words are cheap but demonstration has power. In this case the power to save us from destruction.[/FONT]
[FONT="]John Ch 3:16 (E.S.V) shows the ultimate demonstration of love. “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This is reiterated in Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?" My final example is from Ephesians 2:4 "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy ..." I believe that true Christian love must start with understanding, believing and receiving His love for us.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Within my first biblical reference John 3:16 we see God's love and the cause and effect of it. God promises us that through belief in Him and His Sons actions we may experience an 'open door' to personal salvation, but the flip side of that is that through turning our back and denying faith- we will perish. There is a choice available here. Interestingly enough; recently, allot of my topics have highlighted our God given ability to make choices. God wants us to choose Him, His ways, and to follow biblical direction.
My second passage (Romans 8:32) reemphases the Fathers authority to lay down the life of His Son Jesus. This was; and is the ultimate demonstration and expression of His love for us. Showing the power of God's action and the effect of it.
Finally we see the love of God expressing great mercy. Mercy is defined as God not giving us what we deserve, again demonstrated through the laying down of the life of His son Jesus Christ. This is the central truth of the gospel and the starting point of faith in Him. Belief that God has done this is the only way that we may have restoration and relationship with Him.
Repentance is defined but choosing to turn from living for ourselves and changing direction, which means living for God. To make this choice we must first believe that He is who He says He is and He Has done what He says He has.
This may seem quite a dry and obvious paragraph, and I realise that there is much more to it than this, but I just wanted to lay a foundation of the the gospel demonstrated by the loving authority of the Father who chose to lay down His only son, and that He demonstrates that it's His desire that none might perish by this very act, which reveals to us His nature and His wonderful mercy.
I haven't gone into my own belief about the Spirits work within this or our own personal response. This is just the bare essence of the gospel of grace. A starting point for us to ponder.
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[FONT="]John Ch 3:16 (E.S.V) shows the ultimate demonstration of love. “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This is reiterated in Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?" My final example is from Ephesians 2:4 "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy ..." I believe that true Christian love must start with understanding, believing and receiving His love for us.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Within my first biblical reference John 3:16 we see God's love and the cause and effect of it. God promises us that through belief in Him and His Sons actions we may experience an 'open door' to personal salvation, but the flip side of that is that through turning our back and denying faith- we will perish. There is a choice available here. Interestingly enough; recently, allot of my topics have highlighted our God given ability to make choices. God wants us to choose Him, His ways, and to follow biblical direction.
My second passage (Romans 8:32) reemphases the Fathers authority to lay down the life of His Son Jesus. This was; and is the ultimate demonstration and expression of His love for us. Showing the power of God's action and the effect of it.
Finally we see the love of God expressing great mercy. Mercy is defined as God not giving us what we deserve, again demonstrated through the laying down of the life of His son Jesus Christ. This is the central truth of the gospel and the starting point of faith in Him. Belief that God has done this is the only way that we may have restoration and relationship with Him.
Repentance is defined but choosing to turn from living for ourselves and changing direction, which means living for God. To make this choice we must first believe that He is who He says He is and He Has done what He says He has.
This may seem quite a dry and obvious paragraph, and I realise that there is much more to it than this, but I just wanted to lay a foundation of the the gospel demonstrated by the loving authority of the Father who chose to lay down His only son, and that He demonstrates that it's His desire that none might perish by this very act, which reveals to us His nature and His wonderful mercy.
I haven't gone into my own belief about the Spirits work within this or our own personal response. This is just the bare essence of the gospel of grace. A starting point for us to ponder.
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