How many times have we heard unbelievers, when confronted with the issue of biblical salvation, respond in protest, "A loving God would never send anyone to hell." In a sense, that is true. God sends no one to hell. People in their rebellion and sin send themselves to hell. Matthew 12:37 says, "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Sin cannot coexist with a holy and just God. The only way for that broken union to be restored is through the shedding of blood for the remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22). And God provided that bridge by sacrificing Himself in the person of Yeshua of Nazareth. It is the ultimate expression of love as defined by John 15:13 – "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."
Yeshua laid down His life for friends as well as enemies. While the conviction of sin is critical in the process of redemption, only God's sacrificial love can captivate a heart and win a convert. But who can grasp the depth, height and width of that love? How can the human mind even comprehend it? Outside of God's Word, we have no yardstick. The Greek verb for love in the New Testament is agapao, defined by Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words as the "deep and constant love and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential love in them towards the Giver, and a practical love towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others seek the Giver."
By offering salvation freely to all men, God makes vulnerable His own heart, knowing in advance that most will reject Him. Yet His mercy is not restrained. When a rich young ruler approaches Yeshua and asks how he can attain eternal life (Mark 10:17-22), the Lord tells him to sell his possessions and give to the poor, then he will have treasure in heaven. Before the man can respond, Messiah already knows the outcome: the ruler won't part with his wealth. Yet verse 21 says, "Then Yeshua, looking at him, loved him."
That expression of compassion is foreign to many Christians. They criticize, condemn and complain, causing potential converts to run the other way. But the Lord looks upon the lost with an eye of mercy and grace. He sees their potential as a redeemed, adopted son or daughter of the Most High. God also loved us enough to give us free will – we choose to receive or reject His love, a decision that will determine where we spend eternity after we die physically. But the Lord makes clear in Deuteronomy 30:19 which choice He favors: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life."
Posted by Jeff King at May 23, 2005 12:32 PMAmen!! :) Excellent post.
Posted by: Kristen at May 24, 2005 12:57 PM