Sunday, May 22, 2016

THE LOVE OF GOD

      "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)
   Without the love of God in our hearts through Christ Jesus, it is impossible for people to love people with the love of God.
   Christ is not a religion, nor a religious figure, invented by men; for even His birth was announced by angels: 
      "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2: 10-11)
   Even after the Lord's crucifixion and burial in Jerusalem, the grave could not keep Him.
   What manner of man is this, we should ask, who can arise from death?  Resurrection from death had never been done before, and neither has it been done since!
    Over the past two thousand years, certain men with their religious inventions have tried to contain Christ, to hold Him prisoner, and to keep His love from being received by all people by keeping Jesus bound and tied in the death garments of rites and rituals, dogma and doctrines:  as if Christ can be dispensed in small doses as a cup of water:  or as if people must go through passages, or cross over bridges, to reach Him. 
  Contrary to the matter, however, is the fact that we do not reach Christ, but He reaches for us!
   Neither are buildings necessary for belief in Christ, for men have been erecting temples and shines for thousands of years as places to keep their gods and goddesses as idols of worship---so they will not get away!
   Run from them!  Run from the ministers and priests of man's religions, for Christ will not mix His holiness with man's vain attempt to control Christ, or to exchange His grace as a reward system for good behavior.  In buildings, Christ is not behind the curtain, and neither does He abide in buildings after people leave.
   Neither does the love of God exist in human governments worldwide, for even our own politicians in Washington exhibit all of the characteristics of corruption:  anger, jealousy, bitterness, envy, strife, contention, division, racism, sexism, selfishness, greed, and the love of money, which is "the root of all evil" (1st Timothy 6: 10).  Even murders and assassinations have been traced to government leaders and politicians. 
   Where, then, is the love of God in politics and in religion?
   It's not there, for Christ is not in the hearts of governments and religions!
   Even so, Jesus said:
      "Let not your heart be troubled:  ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14: 1-3)
      "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 38-39)

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