Before the cross - the love to mankind was embodied in the nation of Israel which had failed to stay faithful to God.
After the cross God had shown His true nature face to face with His disciples. The difference was now we knew God as a potential friend, as someone who could truly understand and relate to our daily pressures of life.
These disciples understood Gods heart, His forgiveness and grace, His justice and righteousness, and His feeling towards those who showed an outward agreement with God, but whole hearts were set only on money, greed and position.
Today we see preachers who appeal to these very sentiments and suggest this is the gospel rather than humbleness, purity of the heart and walking in righteousness. Loving God is obvious when you know Jesus, the man who died that we might have life, the ultimate atoning sacrifice. What a King.
After the cross God had shown His true nature face to face with His disciples. The difference was now we knew God as a potential friend, as someone who could truly understand and relate to our daily pressures of life.
These disciples understood Gods heart, His forgiveness and grace, His justice and righteousness, and His feeling towards those who showed an outward agreement with God, but whole hearts were set only on money, greed and position.
Today we see preachers who appeal to these very sentiments and suggest this is the gospel rather than humbleness, purity of the heart and walking in righteousness. Loving God is obvious when you know Jesus, the man who died that we might have life, the ultimate atoning sacrifice. What a King.