Will God Ignore Sin Because He Loves Us?
The love of God is an amazing thing! God’s love is so great that John was inspired to write, “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). Jesus went on to say, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Then there is what Paul wrote: “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:6-8). With all of those verses it is plain that God’s love is impressive and strong. The love of God is so awesome that John wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:7-11).
Indeed, there is an abundance of evidence for the love of God. However, some have built a false doctrine surrounding God’s love. It has become extremely popular to believe that since God loves us as much as He does, then He will overlook whatever sins we commit. This is a dangerous idea that is giving multitudes false hope. Friend, the only way that we will be forgiven of our sins is if we obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul indicated, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). Also he wrote, “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his
power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day” (2 Thess. 1:6-10). In fact, during one of his sermons, Paul proclaimed, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31). If a person does not repent of his or her sins, then that person will be lost. Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change in life. God loves us, but He will not ignore our sins!
On another occasion, Jesus encountered a woman that “…was taken in adultery, in the very act” (John 8:4). There are some that might try to misuse this incident to promote their false doctrine about God’s love. There is no doubt that Jesus was compassionate, kind, and loving toward the woman, but there is no evidence to support the notion that He ignored her sin. Advocates of the idea that we can continue in our sins will no doubt quote “When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee…” (John 8:10-11). If we stopped right there, then yes, there might be some validity to the doctrine that God’s love will overlook our sins. The problem for those who believe such is that the verse did not end there. Verse eleven concludes with Jesus saying, “…go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). His instruction makes it clear that continuation of sin is not acceptable in His sight.
We are inundated with propaganda that is trying to teach us that it is okay to engage in sinful activities with no repercussions. Homosexuals and “transgenders” are portrayed widely as acceptable. Liars and adulterers are excused by many because of situation ethics. All of this is happening to the detriment of the souls of those individuals. Friend, God loves us, but God’s love will not ignore our sins if we do not repent and obey the Gospel. Please take this and teach as many as you can before it gets any worse!
~ Corey Barnette