GOD LOVES THE WORLD

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

There are people who have stopped going to church because they did something wrong and thought God was mad at them and couldn’t forgive them.

I wish they knew the kind of God He is! He is love. He could never turn His back on you. He loves you so much that rather than punish you for your sins, He punished His Son, Jesus. That’s what we read in our opening verse.

God may hate sin, but He loves the sinner. He distinguishes the sinner from his actions and loves him nonetheless. That’s the reason He could look beyond man’s faults and frailties and pay the ultimate price—the death of His Son—to save the world. The Bible says God was in Christ, reconciling the world—the world of sinners unto Himself—not imputing their trespasses unto them (2 Corinthians 5:19). He doesn’t hold your sins against you.

Jesus already bore the punishment and consequences for all your sins. He was judged for your sake: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

This is part of the excitement and joy we celebrate as Christians; we’re so grateful to God for all He’s provided for us in Christ Jesus. He’s so wonderful! Where would we have been without Him? What would our lives have been like?

Think about a God who isn’t just loving, but is also all love! Even when we inadvertently do or say the wrong things, in His love, He made provision for our automatic cleansing. In 1 John 1:7, He says, “If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin.” He gave no conditions for the cleansing; so you never have to worry about unknown sins in your life.

Then the ninth verse says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Thus, having been born again, if you do something wrong and confess it to the Father, He’s loving enough and can be trusted to cleanse you, not only from that sin but from all unrighteousness. How wonderful this is!

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).

Some people only think of God’s wrath. They believe He’s fuming at the world from heaven, looking forward to the day He’ll finally execute judgement on man and this sinful world; no!

God isn’t concerned about sin as many think. He was concerned about sin, and His concern made Him send Jesus.

Today, the emphasis is no longer on the wages of sin, which is death, but on the gift of God, which is eternal life through Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23). God wants the world to receive the salvation which He already made available in Christ Jesus. The Bible says He’s unwilling that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

When Jesus died on the Cross, the problem of sin was dealt with forever. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ brought an end to sin and brought us into the life of righteousness: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

God isn’t mad at you; He settled the sin-problem in, and through Jesus Christ. Now you can appreciate why He said, “…sin shall not have dominion over you…” (Romans 6:14). What you need do is trust His

righteousness; trust what Jesus came to do! You’re the fruit—the result of Christ’s redemptive work. Accept and walk in His righteousness, and live continually in His love, glory, and grace.

2 Corinthians 5:19 says, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” Think about it: God isn’t even mad at the sinner, let alone you that are His offspring! Therefore, rejoice and be glad; your heavenly Father loves you, and never holds you accountable for your sins.

The Bible says, “…If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:10). How gracious and kind He is!