OceanSide church of Christ

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What God’s Love Does Not Do

Wayne Rodgers

 

Introduction

1. “Love” in its various forms- almost 400 times

2. Without doubt, “love” is an important Bible theme

3. Much will be said about “love” in pulpits across this land today

4. There is good reason to talk about love; especially God’s love

5. Love is tied to our relationship to God

          -His love for us (Jn. 3:16)

          -Our love for Him (Jn. 14:15)

6. Without God’s love, we would be helpless, hopeless, and hapless

7. But, love is so often abused

8. It is viewed by many as a covering for all sorts of wrongdoing

9. Like grace and faith, it is pictured as an umbrella that covers all kinds of misdeeds and false ways

10. As great as God’s love is for man, there are some things it just simply will not do

 

 I. It Does Not Justify Those in the Wrong

A. Even if they are honest and sincere

          1. If one is sincerely wrong, he is still wrong

          2. Saul of Tarsus (Acts 23:1)- without obedience, he was still lost (though he was sincere)

          3. His having lived in all good conscience throughout his life did not mean that he was always right

4. When he was persecuting the followers of Christ, he fully believed that he was doing the right thing.

          5. Many on the day of judgment (Matt. 7:21-23)

 

B. What about the idea of sincerity in other areas- Physician? Pharmacist?  Why good enough in religion? 

 

C. Ever hear someone say:

          1. “Well, I don’t think God would…”

          2. “I don’t think God expects…”

          3. “I can’t imagine God wanting me to…”

          4. “I don’t think God will send someone to Hell because of…”

 

D. Do not sell the love of God short; but, do not expect His love to make up for your being in a wrong relationship with Him

 

II. It Does Not Justify Unrepentant Sinners

A. Too many say, “We are all sinners,” then go on their way assuming God’s love will automatically take care of everything

 

          1. It is true that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23)

          2. It is true that without the love of God none can be Saved

 

B. It is just as true that God demands repentance

          1. Lk. 13:3,5 / Acts 2:38 / 2 Cor. 7:10

 

C. Just what is “repentance?”

          1. Mt. 12:41

          2. Mt. 21:28-30

          3. One who belongs to God cannot continue to live as one who doesn’t

                    a. Cannot participate in worldly affairs

                         (drinking; gambling; smoking; sex outside

                         of marriage; pornography; foul language)

                    b. Cannot neglect to do God’s will in any aspect

                         of his life          (attendance; giving; teaching; study; prayer)

 

D. Yes, God loves you; but, that love does not negate the essentiality of repentance- it requires it!

 

III. It Does Not Allow One to Bypass Obedience

A.  A failure to understand obedience has caused much confusion

          1. Some cry, “Legalism” (wrong idea of what it is)

          2. Some cry, “Phariseeism”

          3. Some say, “Salvation by works”

 

B.  Obedience is required by God, who is love (1 Jn. 4:8, 16)

          1. Heb. 5:8, 9 (Where does this leave the disobedient?)

          2. Acts 20:20, 27

          3. Paul had not withheld any truth from them that would be profitable

          4. Paul would have been negligent if he had failed to tell the brethren the whole truth

5. He had given the people at Ephesus (and elsewhere) all they needed to know to become

    Christians and to be faithful to Christ.

6. He could therefore say correctly, that those who had rejected the gospel had only themselves to blame. 

          7. 2 Thes. 1:6-9

          4. Lk. 6:46

 

C. God’s love cannot allow you to bypass obedience- God’s love requires our obedience & submission to His Will

 

IV. It Does Not Permit Unauthorized Worship

A. Many want to turn worship into entertainment for the masses

 

          1. Today, especially, there is much entertainment being done in the name of religion

          2. They do not mind at all altering what God has said to accommodate man and allow for what he wants

 

B. Worship is not entertainment for man!  It is adoration, homage and praise to God

 

C. Some have the idea that what man does in worship to God is “no big deal”

 

          1. Is it a “big deal” to God?  Let’s ask Him

          2. Lev. 10:1, 2

          3. Jn. 4:24àJn. 17:17

          4. Where are HIS guidelines for worship?

          5. IN HIS WORD!

          6. We must go to His Word for His directives on worship

          7. When we do so, we will find:

                    a. His Word demands your presence for worship (Heb. 10:25)

                    b. His Word demands we partake of the Lord’s Supper weekly (Acts 20:7)

                    c. His Word demands that His people  sing, without mechanical musical

                         accompaniment (Eph. 5:19;  Col.3:16)

                    d. But it doesn’t matter?  Nadab & Abihu; (Jn. 4:24)

                    e. His Word demands that His people give as prospered (1 Cor. 16:1-2)

                    f. His Word forbids modification to His Will in any fashion

 

D. God loves you

1. Desires to be worshiped by you (Jn. 4:23)

2. But, His love will not tolerate worship not in accordance with   His Will (Mt. 15:9)

 

 V. It Will Not Do Away With Hell

A. Some have idea that God is an old softy

          1. “I don’t think God will send anyone to Hell”

          2. “How can a loving God do something like that”

          3. “God won’t send anyone to hell because of…”

 

B. Ps. 50:21

 

C. Those who operate under the delusion that God’s love will somehow do away with God’s justice need to read their Bibles again

          1. Recall in Mt. 25:31-46 in which JESUS speaks of the great judgment scene.

   2. The same Jesus who speaks of love and heaven speaks of hell more than anyone else in the Bible

 

D. God loves you, but His love will not do away with punishment, it will not do away with hell

 

Conclusion

1. No doubt about it, God loves each of us

2. His love is a constant

3. His love is a comfort

4. His love is crucial

5. But, His love does not discount or dismiss our responsibility