Pulpit & P
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The love and acceptance of Jesus
Jesus, that is who and what it is all about. Either you accept him or you don’t. Either you love him or you don’t. A song you most likely know is “Jesus Loves Me This I Know.” Think of how accurate this song is!
God loved the world so much he gave us his son that whoever believes in him will have everlasting life. Jesus loved God so much that he did what God sent him to do, to be a ransom for many, (Matthew. 20:28.) Jesus bore your sins, he was punished for your sins so that you don’t have to. He died for you. That is how much he loves you. But let me make a clarification about Jesus’ love for you.
Jesus loves you so much that he died for you. But don’t equate love with acceptance. God loves you, but to be accepted by God you have to accept Jesus. Jesus loves you, but if you don’t acknowledge Jesus before men, he won’t acknowledge you before God (Matthew 10:32.) Love does not mean acceptance. The love that God and Jesus show is this: doing for you what you could not do for yourself, taking care of your needs.
Jesus became your atoning sacrifice because of his love for you. But unless you accept him and acknowledge him publicly, you aren’t accepted into his eternal kingdom.
We often tell our children or grandchildren that we love them no matter what. It is true, I love my grandchildren, I have nine of them. I will accept them no matter what. Loving them and accepting them does not mean that I approve of their behavior. This is an important distinction. This is God’s love as well. He wants you to love him back, he loves you know matter, but unless you accept his son as your personal savior you will not be accepted by God.
Biblical love is not a feeling, it is not an emotion. God’s and Jesus’ love for us is practical and helpful. Love, as defined by 1 Corinthians 13 is kind, patient, slow to anger, it doesn’t keep track of wrongs, love protects and always perseveres. Love is faithful.
God is abounding in love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:67) but his acceptance is conditional on your acceptance of Jesus. So, it is all about Jesus. What do you do with Jesus? He loves you and want you to return his love. Do you accept him? Do you love him back? Your eternity depends upon it.
— Doug Baty Westside Christian Church
