2015.11.29 礼拝

[What’s behind the problem] ・People are unaware of God’s love.
・As a result, they cannot imagine “peace”, “joy” and “satisfaction” that comes from accepting God’s love.
・This is no exception to many Christians

[Examples of problems] ・A person may not have experienced joy or security of receiving love from parents.
・Consequently, he feels he is constantly being evaluated by his parents; or worried whether he’s able to live up to his parents’ expectations.
・Therefore, he has to work hard to win his parent’s and even others’ approval
*Such human relations could become a hindrance in fully accepting God’s love.

As a result:
・A person may be unable to enjoy the security of being received by God with love.
・Then, he feels God is always evaluating him and worries he is unable to respond to God’s expectations.
・Finally, he has to keep working harder to win God’s approval as well as others’.
*Under such condition, it is impossible for a person to feel he is actually loved by God. However …

[What the Bible teaches about faith] Believe and continue to believe that God and Jesus Christ has really and truly loved us, forgiven us and received us even when we were sinful and imperfect.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God.

*Furthermore, rather than just understanding God’s love as an idea, we should take it into ourselves as we take in food.
John 6:56 “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.”

[Conclusion] Rather than just understanding God’s love in our minds, let us look back on ourselves and be determined to receive the love of God.

・Believe that you are accepted by God 100%; loved by God 100%; Forgiven by God 100%.
Then you will have a real feeling of relief regardless of the situation we are in at the moment. The Bible calls this condition “been justified.”
Romans 5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

Face up to your own sins and believe that God has accepted you, loved you and forgiven you as you are. Unless you have faith in Christ, the law written in the Bible and the words of Christ are in vain. We should not forget that we are saved by the love of God and not because of the system of faith “Christianity.”

God’s love is no different today and has received us completely. Therefore, let us start our life of faith and entrust ourselves fully to the love of God.