Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Different Loves - John 3:16

John 3:16 ESV 


“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.


God loves all mankind, but not in the same way. 


Agape love is the love God has for the world and applies in the collective sense. This love provides for the salvation of everyone. However, it does not provide salvation for everyone. Salvation is given to those who believe. 


Remember God loved us while we unlovely and sinners. He loves all mankind in that way. He wishes no one to die. This is agape love. He has provided the way for everyone to live through the sacrifice of His Son, but not everyone will choose that life. 


Scripture tells us not to love the world because we are no longer of the world. Instead we are to love the Lord. We love Him by loving our brothers and sisters who have become the children of God. In this way, we have entered the house of the Lord which is the body of Christ. 


We have come out of the world in a spiritual sense for now. The day will come when we will come out of the world in the totality of who we are. That is the day when we will be revealed. 


John 14:21

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”


Intimate love between God and the individual is reserved for those that love the Lord, which is demonstrated for those who believe by keeping His commandments. This is the ultimate fruit of God's love for us and the fruit God seeks from the planting of His seed. 


God was made manifest to the world in man Christ Jesus. God now manifests Himself to each believer. This is the abiding love that is only possible when two abide, who have become one. This love is given to those who choose the narrow path to God's heart. That heart beats in the flesh of the children of God. 


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