The Absolute Love of God is revealed in the gospel-good news-; it is that God is Absolute Love. From the very beginning of time God has been planning-orchestrating the perfect act of Love, that if accepted through faith; a faith that has looked forward or now is a response to love, results in cleansing, new life, a returning to Absolute Love.
Rom 1:15-17 "So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
The good news starts with bad news, starts from the truth, reveals he dire and ugly nature of our always wanting to suppress the truth of God's absolute sovereign beauty, goodness and love. Wouldn't that make anyone angry, that people who were your very creation would be fooled, deceived by the lie that there was something more desirable than absolute goodness- absolute love?
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
It is not hidden!
{Psa 19:1-7 "To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat."}
Rom 1:19-20 "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."
The awful truth, the unimaginable truth- though we know God-everyone of us-rather than live for Him or honor and glorify Him-we drive ourselves into futility of mind and darkness of heart. We think of ourselves as something and nothing at the same time! Something we are not-we are not the pinnacle, we are not the final word, we are not the deciders of ultimacy. Yet in our darkness we are not mere matter or beasts, we are children and image bearers. It is lunacy to think that we could really discover our true selves outside of Absolute Love.
Rom 1:21-23 "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things."
So where is the good news in all of that? Faith. Faith in what?
Stay with me-it will come- we will follow the message of the gospel- but don't lose track of this- we need good news and it is really good news in light of our plight in this life.
He is Absolute Love.
Rom 1:15-17 "So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
The good news starts with bad news, starts from the truth, reveals he dire and ugly nature of our always wanting to suppress the truth of God's absolute sovereign beauty, goodness and love. Wouldn't that make anyone angry, that people who were your very creation would be fooled, deceived by the lie that there was something more desirable than absolute goodness- absolute love?
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
It is not hidden!
{Psa 19:1-7 "To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat."}
Rom 1:19-20 "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."
The awful truth, the unimaginable truth- though we know God-everyone of us-rather than live for Him or honor and glorify Him-we drive ourselves into futility of mind and darkness of heart. We think of ourselves as something and nothing at the same time! Something we are not-we are not the pinnacle, we are not the final word, we are not the deciders of ultimacy. Yet in our darkness we are not mere matter or beasts, we are children and image bearers. It is lunacy to think that we could really discover our true selves outside of Absolute Love.
Rom 1:21-23 "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things."
So where is the good news in all of that? Faith. Faith in what?
Stay with me-it will come- we will follow the message of the gospel- but don't lose track of this- we need good news and it is really good news in light of our plight in this life.
He is Absolute Love.
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