LOVING SINNERS

Romans 5:1-11
1 Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For 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. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
The phrase, “GOD LOVES SINNERS” is bantered about as a slogan or mantra for people to continue in their sins. However, I think from Romans 6 we can call this idea DEBUNKED! (Check our Reasons for Hope* with Carl Kirby to get the joke). From Romans 5 we can see that God “commended” or revealed his love toward us, sinners, in that while we were in our sins and hating GOD, GOD sent JESUS to die for our sins. However, if we do not access the pardon for our sins through CHRIST, then we are still in our sins and GOD’s wrath is abiding on us.
John 3:18
He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
You say, “But I am being blessed and nothing bad is happening to me.”
That is because the LORD is patient. HE is giving you time to turn to Him, repent and trust CHRIST. At the same time, you are storing up wrath, (Romans 2) and unless you repent and turn to Christ, one day when eternity comes you will be judged for your sin, and you will not be feeling GOD’s love.
Now on to us Christians… you may say, “Well, I am in Christ, so I have nothing to worry about, because GOD love ME.”
Don’t delude yourself, Christian, into thinking GOD will not discipline us.
Hebrews 12:6-11 tells us:
For whom the LORD loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chaseneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence, shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
WOW! Strong words! If you are still in your sins and GOD is not correcting you, then you are not his son or daughter. You better ask yourself the hard questions. Starting with “am I in Christ? Has GOD been correcting me in some areas, and am I responding to the correction?”
Hey, no one likes correction, but for us—children of GOD—it is a good thing, because GOD is conforming us to HIS image. I like what David said:
Psalm 119:71
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Thank you, LORD, for correcting me, your child. Can you say the same?

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