God’s Love

Sometimes when we face hardships and trials, we can think that God is punishing us for some reason or other and that may be true, or He is just testing us.  If we purposely sin, I believe that there will always be consequences for our actions.  God does not sweep sin under the rug, so to speak, but He exposes it.  The consequences may or may not be severe but whatever it is, it is for our good and not to destroy us.  God will always chastise, or correct, those He loves to get us to repent and confess and to get our feet back on the narrow way once again.  When we purposely sin, we stray from the narrow gate that leads to life and enter the wide gate that leads to destruction.

Please read Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Now please read why God’s people are corrected in Hebrews 12:3-17, “Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and lose heart. In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed. Have you forgotten the warning addressed to you as sons? My son, do not take lightly the discipline of Adonai or lose heart when you are corrected by Him, because Adonai disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He accepts. It is for discipline that you endure. God is treating you as sons—for what son does a father not discipline? But if you are without discipline—something all have come to share—then you are illegitimate and not sons. Besides, we are used to having human fathers as instructors—and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? Indeed, for a short time they disciplined us as seemed best to them; but He does so for our benefit, so that we may share in His holiness. Now all discipline seems painful at the moment—not joyful. But later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble! And make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame will not be pulled out of joint but rather be healed. Pursue shalom with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God; and see to it that no bitter root springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled. Also see to it that there is no immoral or godless person—like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He found no chance for repentance, though he begged for it with tears.”

This is so important that every believer gets this, God corrects us not to destroy us, He corrects us because He loves us, praise the Lord!!

I realize that there is a teaching that claims that when a person is born-again all their sins have been forgiven past, present and future.  I have heard that you don’t have to repent, if you do sin; I don’t see that in God’s Word.  I want to give you a few verses that I think contradict that.

Please read 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For the grief that God wills brings a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret. But the world’s grief brings death.”

Then read Jacob (James) 5:13-16, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of Messiah’s community, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. So confess your offenses to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.”

Now please read Revelations chapter 2 and chapter 3, in these chapters the Lord is talking to the various communities (churches) where He told different ones to repent.  Please check it out, like I said check out a matter.  

Now please read 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Now think about the Apostle Peter, he was definitely a part of the community (Church) when he denied the Lord three different times, he was so sorry and repentant, that because of it, he went out and wept bitterly and because he repented, he was restored to fellowship with the Lord.

All these examples had to do with the community (Church).  So be very careful what you believe, check out a matter don’t just latch onto everything you hear. God’s love is truly beyond our comprehension or understanding.  I hope this has been a blessing and a help!!  May the good Lord bless you and yours!!