The Love of God - John MacArthur

[Prayer Warrior]

What is it about these inhabitants you believe He loves?

You're asking some deep questions, WoH. Making me use my gray cells. But more than that, your questions are causing me to stop and think about who God is and how He loves.

I don't know that God loves any particular thing about us, but He just loves us! We are the crowning achievement of His creation, created in His image. And He loves us even in our fallen state.

This is a poor comparison, but sometimes I just love my kids because they are mine. This special love that I have for them began when they were in the womb and continues to this day even though they're young adults now.

This scripture comes to mind:

Ephesians 2:1-5--And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
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[Prayer Warrior]

And sustains them...this is love.

God showed me when I was going through a very tough trial that His grace is His saving and sustaining power. We are saved by His saving power, and He sustains us by His grace as well. I know that His grace also encompasses His lovingkindness and unmerited favor.

 

[Waiting on him]

God made them. Why do you suppose He did that?

God is love!

Much love!

And sustains them...this is love.

 

[Waiting on him]

I was going to post some birth defect images but I don’t believe you guys can handle it.

 

[marks]

View attachment 7458

Is your point that God does not love these people?

 

[marks]

I was going to post some birth defect images but I don’t believe you guys can handle it.

So then if I have a birth defect, are you thinking that God does not love me? Are you thinking that if anything in our lives is less than ideal in our eyes that God does not love us?

I think the mistake that MacArthur makes is to assume that people will always respond to God's love, and if they don't it must mean that God isn't loving them with the right love for them to be saved, so it must be a lesser love.

 

[Waiting on him]

Is your point that God does not love these people?

My point is our true state, and to magnify He the one the only one who can rescue me out of that.

 

[Waiting on him]

So then if I have a birth defect, are you thinking that God does not love me? Are you thinking that if anything in our lives is less than ideal in our eyes that God does not love us?

I think the mistake that MacArthur makes is to assume that people will always respond to God's love, and if they don't it must mean that God isn't loving them with the right love for them to be saved, so it must be a lesser love.

What I was thinking is should I accredit my flesh being made of God?

 

[Waiting on him]

So then if I have a birth defect, are you thinking that God does not love me? Are you thinking that if anything in our lives is less than ideal in our eyes that God does not love us?

I think the mistake that MacArthur makes is to assume that people will always respond to God's love, and if they don't it must mean that God isn't loving them with the right love for them to be saved, so it must be a lesser love.

And I also believe we all have a birth defect

 

[marks]

My point is our true state, and to magnify He the one the only one who can rescue me out of that.

Amen!

 

[Prayer Warrior]

View attachment 7458

Yes, this is the result of a fallen world, and it's sad to see. But on the cross Jesus went through more suffering than any mere human has ever experienced or ever will experience as He took the sins of the world onto Himself. So, God who is not the cause of suffering and death, suffered and died for us!

 

[Waiting on him]

I believe,
The world we witness currently, God hates, but this is righteous love. God allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves. Christ magnified! I, me, my, He staked that which He hates on a stick.
I believe the world He loves is one to come one without end, where Christ reigns.

 

[John Caldwell]

I was going to post some birth defect images but I don’t believe you guys can handle it.

It matters not. Scripture explains why God has subjected Creation to futility (whether the evil of men or birth defects).

 

[Prayer Warrior]

I believe,
The world we witness currently, God hates, but this is righteous love. God allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves. Christ magnified! I, me, my, He staked that which He hates on a stick.
I believe the world He loves is one to come one without end, where Christ reigns.

So, when do you believe that God began to hate the world? After or before He said in His word that He "so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."?

 

[Waiting on him]

So, when do you believe that God began to hate the world? After or before He said in His word that He "so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."?

When I realized a new heavens and a new earth, the stars fell and the sun and moon are no longer the light that guides our steps.

 

[Prayer Warrior]

When I realized a new heavens and a new earth, the stars fell and the sun and moon are no longer the light that guides our steps.

You speak as though this is a past event, but the sun, moon, and stars are still giving their light.

 

[Waiting on him]

It matters not. Scripture explains why God has subjected Creation to futility (whether the evil of men or birth defects).

Ok.

 

[Waiting on him]

You speak as though this is a past event, but the sun, moon, and stars are still giving their light.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
[17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.


Tecarta Bible

 

[Prayer Warrior]

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
[17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.


Tecarta Bible

I see what you're saying, but look at the context. Paul is talking about a person who is "in Christ" being a new creature. He is not talking about the whole of God's creation.

Paul says that the "creation was subjected to futility...in order that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption...." Paul says that this, along with the "redemption of our bodies," is a future event--one that we hope for and wait for eagerly with patience.

Romans 8:18-25--For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it — in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits — we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
.

 

[farouk]

I see what you're saying, but look at the context. Paul is talking about a person who is "in Christ" being a new creature. He is not talking about the whole of God's creation.

Paul says that the "creation was subjected to futility...in order that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption...." Paul says that this, along with the "redemption of our bodies," is a future event--one that we hope for and wait for with eagerness.

Romans 8:18-25--For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it — in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits — we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
.

What a wonderful chapter, ch. 8 of Romans!