Loving God AND His Children

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him” (1 John 5:1).

            It’s easy for a believer to love God.  How could we not love the One who has demonstrated His love for us in so many wonderful ways?  He loved us when we were dead in our sins and provided a way for us to be forgiven (Ephesians 2:1-7; Romans 5:6-11).  He has provided every spiritual blessing we could ever need or imagine by virtue of our connection to Christ (Ephesians 1:3).  He has qualified us to share in the glorious inheritance prepared for His children (Colossians 1:12).  He seeks our highest good in everything (Romans 8:28).

            But for many of us, it’s often a much more difficult thing to love all the children of the God we love.  Sure, some of our Christian siblings are easy to love.  Usually it's the ones who share our beliefs, interests, temperament, etc..  But others are not so loveable.  For one reason or another, they make the task of loving them harder.  Perhaps they have offended us in some way.  Maybe they have challenged our traditional ways of understanding Scripture or practicing our faith.  They are just different enough to make us uncomfortable.

            But if I am reading the words of the beloved apostle correctly, the matter is not optional.  If I claim to love the Father, I must also love His children.  A chapter earlier, John emphasizes the same thing with stronger words:  “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21).  Remember, when we love each other (even when we are unloveable), we become a powerful witness to the world around us” (John 13:35; 17:20-21).

 

God loves you!

Mike

If Saved, Barely Saved?

I grew up in a religious tradition that strongly opposed the doctrine of “once saved, always saved.”  This is the false idea espoused by many religious groups that once you are saved, nothing can happen that will ever jeopardize that salvation.  My own study of the Bible has only confirmed what I was taught earlier in life.  While “once saved, always saved” has a comforting ring to it, it contradicts much of what is said in the Scriptures regarding salvation.  Numerous verses in the New Testament affirm the possibility of falling away from the faith (cf. Luke 8:13; 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 3:12; 6:4-6).  Why all the encouragements and warnings to endure in the faith if it was impossible to do otherwise (cf. Matthew 10:22; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 2:10)?

            But the strong effort to push back against the idea of “once saved, always saved” has resulted, in some cases, in an equally unbiblical idea: “if saved, barely saved.”  Showing that salvation can be lost has caused some otherwise faithful believers to doubt their own security as a follower of Christ.  “With all of my failings, how could God ever love and save me?”  “I haven’t done enough.”  “I’m not good enough.”  The sense is that any slip-up negates our standing with God.  And yet, the Bible also clearly teaches that the faithful disciple can be sure of their salvation (cf. 1 John 5:13; John 10:27-29; Romans 8:38-39).

            “If saved, barely saved” is just as unbiblical as “once saved, always saved.”  The truth is found in between the two competing ideas.  If our faith remains in God, even in the midst of our stumbling and failing, we are eternally secure.  But if we surrender or renounce our faith, then we willingly put ourselves out of the range of God’s security.  God has given us the choice to accept or reject him.  Our eternal security is tied to which road we choose to travel.  And each road offers the opportunity to change course.

 

God loves you!

Mike