I stand in awe of the reality that God loves me. The Scriptures clearly reveal this truth (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4; 1 John 4:9-10). Over and over again I have failed to live up to God’s holy standards (Matthew 5:48) but He has never cast me away (John 10:27-30). His love continues to push me to be more and more like Jesus in all that I say or do (Titus 2:11-14; Colossians 3:17).
It is often assumed by many Calvinist that Arminians do not truly understand the love of God. I once was debating a Calvinist over eternal security when he said to me, “You fail to understand the love of God for you” to which I replied, “No sir, you fail to see the holiness of God and His hatred for sin.” I still believe that truth. Often we fail to see that God hates sin but He also loves sinners. He loves me (1 Timothy 1:15). The love of God flows from the holiness of God. God can love me, not because I have earned His love, but because He is holy and the holy requirement has been satisfied in His Son (John 19:30). Now in Christ I have the forgiveness of my sins (Ephesians 1:7). In Christ, I find no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
The liberal theologian Karl Barth was asked once what was the greatest theological truth he had ever discovered to which he replied, “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.” I concur. That God loves me is seen in the Bible but while I often must admit that I don’t feel loved, I know that I am loved by simply seeing what God did for me in the pages of holy Scripture.
[Link to original post and comments]
