Why is it so hard to believe that God loves us?
Dec 18, 2009
The Case for Grace - part thirteen in a study of the book of Romans
Mike Gaudet
Why is it so hard to believe that God loves us?
We love people because of what they do. We love people because of what they think. Our love is “because of” love.
God loves people in spite of what they do. God loves people in spite of what they think. His love is “in spite of” love.
It’s hard for us to believe God loves us because it is hard for us to trust “in spite of” love.
“The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20-21
God wants us to trust His “in spite of” love.
How does God encourage us to trust His love?
He gives us His laws so that we are forced to abandon our efforts to get Him to love us “because of” rather than “in spite of” what we do.
“Keep off the grass!” “Wet paint - Do not touch!”
If you are passing by these signs, what pops into your mind? You want to put your foot on the grass. You want to touch the paint.
A hotel on the west coast was situated on a cliff so that guests could look down from their balconies into the Pacific Ocean. Fearing that these guests might drop fishing lines from the balconies, the management posted “No fishing!” signs on each balcony. The result? People fished from the balconies! The management tried a different approach. They removed the “No Fishing” signs. The result? Fewer people fished from the balconies.
When we are told “not to” do something, we want to do it even more.
God understands this.
He gave us His law so that “the trespass might increase.” God gave us the Ten Commandments knowing that these commandments would stimulate the very behaviors they prohibited!
Why would God knowingly influence us to sin more?
Because the presence of sin forces us to come to God “in spite of” rather than “because of” what we do. In other words, sin forces us to trust in God’s grace.
“Grace” means “unmerited favor,” “an undeserved gift.” We naturally assume that God’s love is a reward that we earn . . . a paycheck we receive because of good behavior. We find it easy to believe that God loves us because of what we do.
It’s difficult for us to believe that God loves us in spite of what we do . . . in spite of our sin. God uses law to increase sin so that we have to learn to come before Him in spite of our sinfulness rather than because of our sinlessness. We have to learn to rely on His grace.
Won’t focusing on God’s “in spite of” love lead to more sin?
What will motivate us to lead godly lives if the fear of God’s punishment isn’t there to keep us in line?
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ ’to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)
Grace “teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness.”
Grace “teaches us . . . to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives.”
Trying to control sin with law is like trying to control a grease fire with water. It seems like a good solution . . .
. . . but it makes the problem worse. “The law was added so that the trespass might increase.”
Try a different approach.
Focus on God’s grace.
It will transform you.