Article written by: Sister Edna Ellison, Grandmothers of Hope Society, Inc.
I have a relative that has lived a life of crime. There are situations that he recounted to me in no uncertain terms. Some horrific moments that he could not bring himself to articulate. In his present state, he has some serious physical ailments that could take him out of this world at any moment in time. When I asked if he had accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour, he said that he had, but that God would not forgive him for all that he has done. I explained to him that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The fact that because man was disobedient, we were separated from Him. God loves him, my relative, and all of mankind unconditionally that’s why he made a way for us to come back to Him. John 3:16-17 tells us that God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son that whosoever believed on him would not perish but would have eternal life. For God didn’t send His son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him would be saved. “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were, yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). Now that’s unconditional love. There is nothing that we have to do for God to love us.
You see, Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart. Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Psalm 139:13-14 says, For you created my inmost being you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Fearfully when translated from the Hebrew means with great reverence, heartfelt interest and with respect. Wonderfully when translated from the Hebrew means unique and set apart. All of that is unconditional!
Here is the “Conditional”. A pharisee asked Jesus, what is the greatest commandment? Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is “Love your neighbor as yourself.” When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. Before Jesus was crucified, he told the disciples that He had to go away in order for the Holy Spirit, the Comforter to come. (John 16:7). You see in our flesh there is no good thing (Romans 7:18). We receive a new nature when the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us. When we read and learn God’s word it helps us to navigate through this world, the Holy Spirit will bring what we have learned from God’s word to our remembrance. Then we have a choice as to adhere to God’s word or to adhere to the flesh. This is what Jesus was explaining to Nicodemus in John 3:1-21 about being born again. He was telling him that he had to be born of the Spirit. The new birth is a Spiritual birth. Accepting Jesus as our Saviour is that Spiritual birth. Then God’s word says to ” Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2nd Timothy 2:15). When we study God’s word and memorize the word that’s how we hide it in our hearts and The Holy Spirit will remind us of that word when life’s trials, temptations and adversity come our way. When we realize that there is nothing that we can do ourselves to get salvation, God gives it to us freely because of His love. Ephesians 2:8-10 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” The good works are what we do for Christ as the Holy Spirit leads us. In Believing God loves us, we have to believe His word.
We did a study called “Believing God, by Beth Moore”. One of the things that I will always remember from this study is that “God is who he says he is. God can do what he says he can do.” I am who God says I am. I can do all things through Christ. God’s word is alive and active in me, and I’m believing God!
This new birth, this spiritual birth has made it possible for us to be adopted into the family of God. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Therefore, the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not (1st John 3:1). God’s word is foolishness to unbelievers because they do not have the Holy Spirit indwelling in them. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:1-2). Paul is saying “I Beg you” to sacrifice your life to live the life that God calls you to. A holy life that pleases God. His word will transform us into who God wants us to be because His word will renew or change our natural or sinful minds into the mind of Christ.
As we are being changed, transformed, and following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are striving to be sinless. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God (1st John 3:8-9).
All of these scriptures are born out of love. The love that God has for us. He tells us as believers that we should also love our brothers this includes sisters. God’s word tells us that if we hate our brother then we are murderers (1st John 3:15). God will not allow any murderer to have eternal life. Love is not selfish as stated in 1st Corinthians 13:1. If you see that a brother has need of something and you can be of help, love means that you will help, and you won’t withhold that help from him. This is loving your neighbor as yourself. And he that keepeth God’s commandments dwelleth in him, and he in God. And hereby we know that he God abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. (1st John 3:24).
God’s unconditional love for us as sinners has conditional love as believers. I say to my relative and to anyone who feels that they will never have God’s forgiveness, you are absolutely wrong. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God loves you. God has shown this in every aspect of his being. It all comes down to believing. Believe who He is, Believe in His word, Believe in His love.
Article written by Sister Edna Ellison
Grandmothers of Hope Society Ministry
Board Member