Did you know that the Holy Spirit does not love unconditionally?
What the Holy Spirit loves unconditionally about us is our potential in Him.
God has compassion on humanity.
The Holy Spirit invested Himself in that potential by personally paying off the debt of sin through his suffering, death and resurrection through Christ Jesus.
His will is that none perish but come to Him to reach their potential. Those that come to Him are loved by Him.
But His will is NOT done by those who reject Him, aborting their potential. Such are NOT loved by Him.
I understand that this flies in the face of traditional teaching.
Confusing compassion with love causes us to misrepresent the Gospel in a subtle but import way.
➛ compassion is an emotional response to another person's condition
➛ love is a connection involving mutual care and oneness
It is a fact that you cannot love another person who does not love you in the same way that you can love a person who also loves you.
Traditional teaching chokes on the concept of eternal, unending torment in hell.
We see people arguing that a loving God could not sentence a person to eternal unending torment for simply rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ.
But when we look at the scriptures, we see that Justice And Judgment are part and parcel of our Creator's character.
So, how can a loving God destroy a rebellious person in hell fire, if He really loves them? He can't and He won't but He will because He does NOT love them.
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. |
Draw near to the Lord, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. |
The Love Of God is conditional.
Even Jesus said so about Himself. He had to be obedient to the Holy Spirit to receive His love.
It is NOT the Truth to tell people that are in rebellion against God that God loves them. It gives them a false sense of security, thinking that no one who loves them will destroy them.
When it says " God so loved the world" it is talking about His creation, His plan, His goal. And what is that? To raise up children unto Himself. Children who love their parents are like their parents. So it is with us.
When a person comes to Christ they must love Christ more than they love themselves or anyone else.
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  We don`t predetermine to hate anyone, but we must be predisposed to put Christ first and foremost regardless of who may disagree or come against us. |
It is the person's love for God that opens up that pathway by which the Love Of God for them becomes a reality instead of just a potential.
The Gospel is good news. It is the Truth about God, His Grace, His offer of Himself. But Grace Is Conditional and the rejection of God has severe implications.
And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. |
So, do not cheapen Grace. It is an offer by God that MUST be received in order to avoid His WRATH .
Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again. |
He that despised Moses` law died without kindness under two or three witnesses: |