Genuine Love For God
Isaiah 59:1-2 reads: “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so
short that is cannot save; neither is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But
your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins
have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.”
Believe it or not, many different churches will tell you that God is in control
of everything and everyone. While God does watch everything and knows everything,
mankind is the only entity that God has let decide his/her own course and destiny.
Why?
We know from reading the Bible that God desires to be glorified. We know that
God wants to be worshipped. But there is no fulfillment if people tell you they
love you, yet do not show it. A spouse knows if their mate is just saying the
words or if they mean them. How? It is because they see the care and intensity
in their action. Most people are not stupid, and can tell if someone is genuine
in their love, kindness, or relationships.
Now can you see that God wants genuine love from His worshippers?
God wants our love, and our obedience is what proves our love to Him.
Jesus said in John 14:24: “He who does not love me does not keep
My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who
sent Me”.
Jesus also said in John 14:15: “If you love Me, you will keep
my commandments”.
And again in John 14:21: “He who has My commandments and keeps
them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father,
and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him”.
God has demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son to die for the sins
that we commit and the sins that separate us from God. As long as we have our
sins, we cannot have a relationship with God. And you might ask, how do we remove
our sins? Our sins must be washed away (Acts 22:16), and that occurs in baptism.
There is no biblical basis for the teaching that one is saved, and then needs
to be baptized. Baptism is the method whereby we are saved. It is what God commanded.
God did not make robots just to speak the words of love towards God. So when
one does obey and worship God, God knows if it is genuine or not.
If anyone disagrees, take it up with Jesus. Jesus, Who spoke for God, taught
us this. If you would challenge us by teaching this, we can have a public discussion
whereby everyone can hear both sides of this issue.
We know that God is not willing that any perish (2 Peter 3:9). You must believe
that Jesus is the Son of God and died on the cross for your sins. (Acts 8:37).
You must repent of your sins (Luke 13:3), you must confess
Jesus as Lord (Matthew 10:32) and you must be baptized for
the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). Then you must remain faithful
and continue learning how to serve God (2 Peter 3:18). Let us help
you on your spiritual journey. May God bless you in your study of His word.
Please visit us at:
By Carey Scott via the Madisonville Meteor, April 1, 2009
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