It is not uncommon to run into someone who doubts God's love. Perhaps they once thought he was loving, but now they are convinced he is not. They see no evidence of it. Usually, this bitter and cynical attitude toward God is connected to some event or series of events that seemed extremelyunfair. As a result of their perception of God, theylashout with anger toward God. Where do we get the idea that God is indebted to always keep everything safe and explainable in life?
The Scriptures from cover to cover declare God's love for us. In fact, he forever proved his love for you and me:
But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ
died for us! Romans 5:8 (HCSB)
Verse 10 states that not only were we sinners, but we were enemies of God. Nevertheless, Christ died for us.
In what way were we enemies of God? Our hearts are set on rejecting his wisdom to follow our own plans. We reject his holy ways and life for our own selfish, ungodly lifestyle. We chose to call whatever we feel like doing or believing "good" and consider God's goodness to be "bad." In and of ourselves, we are enemies. As such, we are separated, estranged, from God, by not only our deeds, but by our selfish hearts and souls.
God could have written us off, but instead Christ (the sinless, perfect Son of God) came to die in our stead on the cross. He died in our place. On the cross he bore our sins, and died in our place. Three days later, he rose from the dead. When we are willing to acknowledge our sin to God, accept what Christ did on the cross for us and believe that God raised him from the dead, we can be forgiven of our sins. Not only are we forgiven, but we are completely made acceptable to God. The person who places their trust in Christ is at peace with God and he is at peace with them--Reconciled.
What a gift. To have someone pay my sin-debt. To take my punishment so that all my sin which created a barrier between God and me could be removed! And so I could be at peace with God, myself and others. This is how much God loves us. The experience of this gift brings great joy.
Romans 5:10 says since he loved us enough to die for us, we know because he lives, we can be secure in our relationship with God.
Have you experienced this gift?
