Sometimes we need to be challenged to think "outside the box" in order to understand how others view the "good news" of the Gospel. The world does not view the Gospel the way we do, and if we want to reach the world with the Gospel, we need to make sure we truly understand it and then formulate better answers to the questions the world is asking about it.
We Tell The World That The Scripture Says:
The essence of who God is, and what He is like, is love.
This one word defines His character and nature better than any other word in any language.
1 John 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 4:16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
The goal of all the instruction Paul gave to the Church was the outworking of love in the lives of those who heard it.
The goal of all the instruction Paul gave to the Church was the outworking of love in the lives of those who heard it.
1 Timothy 1:5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. If we are the children of God, then who we are, and what we are like, should be characterized by the same love that characterizes Him.
All of the commands of God can be summarized in the one word that summarizes God Himself: love.
All of the commands of God can be summarized in the one word that summarizes God Himself: love.
Romans 13:9,10 For this, ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
God says, as an expression of this love, that we are to continue to forgive those who sin against us.
God says, as an expression of this love, that we are to continue to forgive those who sin against us.
Matthew 18:21,22 Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’
The Jews taught that a man was to forgive another up to three times, but not a fourth time. Jesus says we are not to limit our forgiveness to any fixed number of times. As often as someone injures us, we are to forgive that person.
God also says that we are to love our enemies and do good to them, without expecting anything in return.
The Jews taught that a man was to forgive another up to three times, but not a fourth time. Jesus says we are not to limit our forgiveness to any fixed number of times. As often as someone injures us, we are to forgive that person.
God also says that we are to love our enemies and do good to them, without expecting anything in return.
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
In Response, The World Asks:
· How can a God who defines Himself as love, and also says He is all-powerful and all-knowing, create billions of people and then torment the majority of them forever in hell? How is that an expression of love? How is that good news?
· If God commands us to continually forgive our enemies, why does He not continually forgive his?
· If God commands us to love our enemies, expecting nothing in return, why does He not love us and expect nothing in return?
· Why is our free will to damn ourselves absolute, and greater than God's free will to save us? Or put another way, How can Adam's power to condemn us be greater than Christ's power to save us?
· If God is love, and the Gospel is "good news,” then how, in the final analysis, can God's wrath trump His love?
These are thoughtful questions. Most Christian people seldom answer them thoughtfully. I suspect they make many Christians squirm a bit.
Be Prepared With Answers:
I have had to deal with these questions as I am now interacting more often with non-Christian people. There are thoughtful answers to them. How would you answer them? To understand them and to answer them, you must think outside the box.
· How can a God who defines Himself as love, and also says He is all-powerful and all-knowing, create billions of people and then torment the majority of them forever in hell? How is that an expression of love? How is that good news?
· If God commands us to continually forgive our enemies, why does He not continually forgive his?
· If God commands us to love our enemies, expecting nothing in return, why does He not love us and expect nothing in return?
· Why is our free will to damn ourselves absolute, and greater than God's free will to save us? Or put another way, How can Adam's power to condemn us be greater than Christ's power to save us?
· If God is love, and the Gospel is "good news,” then how, in the final analysis, can God's wrath trump His love?
These are thoughtful questions. Most Christian people seldom answer them thoughtfully. I suspect they make many Christians squirm a bit.
Be Prepared With Answers:
I have had to deal with these questions as I am now interacting more often with non-Christian people. There are thoughtful answers to them. How would you answer them? To understand them and to answer them, you must think outside the box.
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