God’s love is universal. No one is not loved by God. God loves sinners and hates sin. We need to understand this distinction so that when we approach the lost, we can help them understand that they are loved by God in spite of whatever they may have done. Jesus Christ did not come into the world to condemn the world (John 3:17). If God had wanted to condemn us, He could have since we all deserve condemnation. No, Christ came into the world to die for our sins so that the Holy Spirit could convict us of our sins. Christ made the payment and the Holy Spirit reveals the truth of Christ’s sacrifice so that we can escape condemnation.
God is not a respecter of persons. He doesn’t love Jews more than Gentiles, men more than women, Christians more than non-Christians. God revealed himself through the Jews and through the Law, but He used the Jews as an instrument of love to bring salvation to all of us. In the beginning of Acts, we see the apostles focused on the Jews alone as God’s Chosen People. But later we see that Christ has opened heaven to all people. You can be sure that any person by virtue of the fact that they are human is a candidate for salvation. Peter was stunned at first by the idea that God was so magnanimous that salvation was now available to everyone.
Acts 10:34
Today, Christians are seen by some as narrow-minded, intolerant, unloving and divisive. But we are called by God to be His ambassadors to extend love not hatred. When Jesus Christ came into the world, the world did not recognize him (John 1:10), and often opposed the message of salvation. What a mystery! Christ gave everything to save us and yet most reject the love of God by refusing to believe in Christ. Don’t be surprised brothers and sisters if you are caught in the crossfire just as Paul was. The world hated Christ without reason. He was the spotless, sinless, unblemished Lamb murdered by those for whom He came to save. We live in a depraved world (Romans 1:28).
Most of the world has hardened its heart toward Christ. But that conflict has always existed. Jesus told us that we would experience the same rejection that He experienced if we follow in His path. Our responsibility is to follow Christ. “As the father has sent me I am sending you” (John 17:18). We are called to obey and leave the results of our obedience with God. That makes us vulnerable, that is risky. But we must do what we believe God has called us to do and clearly He has called us to make Christ known wherever we go.
