Contradiction or Paradox?

Contradiction by definition: a statement or phrase whose parts are incongruent with one another; i.e. “that car is pretty ugly!” Well it cannot be both, it is either pretty or ugly.

Paradox by definition: Two ideas that on the surface oppose each other but with closer examination and some background of the matter being discussed discover the ideas deliver a congruent truth; i.e. “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live yet not I, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the flesh I live by the faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). 

This verse on the surface is full of contradictions but it is not. First, Paul Is saying when Christ died we died; not literally, but spiritually. Paul is saying the old man he used to be prior to his conversion with Christ died. Remember the scripture says if any man is in Christ he is a new creation (italics added for emphasis). Old things are passed away, all things have been made new (2 Cor 5:21). Then Paul seems to contradict himself again when he says, “nevertheless I live yet not I, but Christ lives in me.” Well, which is it Paul? Are you living or is it Christ? Looking at this face value Paul seems to be confused but he is not. This is what he means. Both Paul and Christ are living together in this new life. Since Christ dwells inside of Paul by faith, Paul is declaring that his new life is now hidden in Jesus Christ. Whereas at first he was living for himself and his own desires, he now has surrendered his life over to God. In order for Paul or any believer to live the Christian life successfully, we MUST not do it on our own. We must identify with Christ in death and in life.                

Hopefully this explanation dispels the confusion in this verse. It is not a contradiction, but it is definitely a paradox. When Paul says he lives and yet not I, but Christ lives in him, he’s giving recognition and homage to the God who saved him. The power of God is now working in him so that he pleases God in this new walk.  We have to live our new life in our bodies, but simultaneously we have to sow to the Spirit by faith and depend on the Lord to see us through.

What about divine election and human responsibility, aren’t they mutually opposed?

This matter is always will deliver tension to us, but I am glad the tension is there. Let me explain. The idea that God chose some for salvation in eternity past is a wonderful thing. For if he didn’t, no one would ever get saved. With that being said, those who are chosen still have to respond positively to the call of the gospel, repent, believe and become saved. On the surface this may appear to be a contradiction – that is God choosing us and man choosing God for the same thing – salvation.  Many will say, “if God is choosing some for salvation then what is the point in preaching the gospel to them and them choosing the Lord? They are going to be saved no matter what right?”

That is a valid question. The fact of the matter is that those whom God has chosen in eternity past for salvation will be saved at the precise moment in time God determines, but they cannot receive that salvation without the gospel message being preached to them. The good Lord has supplied the means, and the ends to those means. What are they? The means is the preacher and the gospel  they must preach in order for God’s lost sheep to be found and brought into his fold (John 10:16).

The ends in question is the salvation of all the elect. So in the final analysis, God chooses man so that man can choose God. It is never the other way around. God makes His choice of man before time (Eph 1:4), whereas man chooses God in time. Once again, not a contradiction, but definitely a paradox. Divine election and human responsibility in redemption are parallel truths that work together.

Hopefully I have explained the tension between the two.

The Bible says God desires that all men are saved and that He is not willing that any should perish. Since that is the case, then why does God allow people to perish and not save everyone?

This is a very complex question that many can answer way better than I can. This I can say is that no one can completely answer this question. There will always be some ambiguity and mystery that we cannot resolve due to our limited knowledge of God. In I Timothy 2:4 it says God desires that all men be saved and come into the knowledge of the truth. In Ezekiel 33:11 it says that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked would turn from their way and live. Turn turn from your evil ways! For why should you die O house of Israel?

Once again, it appears to be dealing with a contradiction in God’s word and character. Since God is all powerful and can do whatever He wants, why doesn’t He just save everyone? That way He fulfills His own desires right? It is obvious that God loves all men, and wants them all to repent. That is why He commands that the gospel is preached to all men that hopefully they will believe and be saved. God desiring that all be saved is His will of desire. This will of God is disappointed by the disobedience of mankind This proves we have a free will. Another component of God’s will is what I heard someone call His will of disposition – that what pleases Him. Although God desires that all men be saved ultimately God will do what gives Him pleasure and what will most glorify Himself. This is where the tension between the will of man and of God I believe reach a fever pitch. Here is why. Man for some reason believes he has the right to tell God what He should do regarding His own creation. In the unregenerate eyes God is “obligated” to treat everyone the same way all the time. For in their mind that is what is fair; in others words, “God if you saved some, you should save all!” When God does not do this, man is angry with God. Why are they mad? Because God refuses to be imprisoned by man’s definition of fairness.

Not to treat everyone the same makes God a respecter of persons many would say. Yes God desires that all come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved, but if the Lord did that, He is unable to display His wrath against those who hate Him. God is also prohibited from executing His justice as well. He would not get a chance to punish His enemies which must be a higher desire than His will of desire to save all men. Yes it is true God does not take pleasure in the death of wicked. It causes God sorrow, but at the same time it is just, right and good that He punishes evil doers for the end result is He is magnified by doing so. Don’t we all rest easier when criminals are either incarcerated or executed for their crimes against humanity?

When it comes to men perishing and God not saving them, the blame can never be placed at God’s door step; it is man’s fault every time. If God is commanding all to repent, then He is wanting all to come, but most are unwilling to come, and thus sealing their own doom.

God is not desiring that any die. Jesus wept over Jerusalem when He desired they come to Him and they refused (Matt 23:38; Luke 19:41-44). Men are not saved and perish because they refuse to repent and believe the gospel. They will not believe that Jesus Christ is the only Way, Truth and Life (John 14:6). Man has been given clear knowledge of the truth of God through creation and beyond, but they have decided to suppress that truth in unrighteousness – they are without excuse (Romans 1:18-32). God must and will judge the wicked for their wickedness. Think about it logically, since Jesus is the only way to eternal life and peace, to refuse that blessing only leaves one alternative, God’s eternal judgment. These are the only choices man has ever had in this life.

God is not preventing anyone from coming to Him, but it is the nature of man to run away and rebel against God. Another way to look at all of this is God does not save all men because most men do not desire Biblical salvation. Why would God save someone who does not desire to be saved? Notice again what the scripture says in I Timothy 2:4, God desires all men to be saved. It does not say that men themselves desire to be saved. Salvation only becomes an issue when some hear someone else talks about how Jesus saved them and the glorious eternal peace of heaven. The wicked superficially desire that same salvation because they feel they are entitled to it; not because they realize they are an undeserving sinner and their need to repent. The wicked believe they deserve to go to heaven. Actually the opposite is true – we all deserve to go to hell.

Concluding, admittedly this last debate is hard to reconcile. Hopefully I treated it with some clarity. The reader must understand that we cannot answer adequately all the mysterious doctrines in the scripture. Lets quickly review: God desires to save all men, but does not save all because of man’s unbelief. Could God overcome man’s stubborn resistance? Yes.  Does He not have all power? Yes. Why doesn’t He? Though it may be God’s desire to save all men and for them not to perish, it apparently is not His ultimate desire. His ultimate desire is to glorify Himself. This mean as much as it gives God glory to save some, it also gives God glory to punish others. God does not rejoice in the destruction of the wicked, but it is good that He reserves the unrighteous for His holy wrath and judgment. 

Addendum 9/16/15 -  Two perspectives

When dealing with the matters of God’s election and His punishment (also called reprobation), we have two schools of thought. There is the Arminian view, and the Reformed (often referred to as the Calvinistic) view. The Arminian says that God desires to save all men, but does not because He values man’s will greater than His own. In other words, man gets to cast the deciding vote regarding his salvation or his reprobation. In the Reformed view, God desires to save all men, but God reserves the right to do what ultimately pleases Him and gives Him glory. The latter view is supported by scripture and the view the writer leans to (Romans 9; Ephesians 1:5,9).

Jesus said in Matthew 11:25-26, “I thank You Father, Lord of heaven and earth that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent (the religious leaders), and have revealed them to babes (the disciples). Even so Father for so it seemed good in Your sight (italics added).

Jesus is thanking God the Father because He has made known to babies the truth of the Messiah because it pleased the Lord to do so. Reiterating the point that God will ultimately will do what pleases Himself; to the praise of His glory.      

The Love of God. How does God love the world?

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever. Because He delights in mercy. He will have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of sea. You give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which you have sworn to our fathers from days of old -             Micah 7:18-20

In the beginning of this chapter the prophet Micah is bemoaning the nation Israel’s sins (vs 1-7). He also goes on to declare to Israel’s enemies not to rejoice over her demise for she (Israel) will rise again ( vs 8-13). And finally God will forgive Israel for her iniquities because of His compassion and love toward His people, and also He will remember his covenant He made with their forefathers – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (vs 15-20).

The opening three verses describe the loving kindness of our God. This is God’s disposition toward everyone. God’s overarching attitudes are compassion (pity) and mercy (or non-justice, not giving us what we do deserve). My purpose in this article is to counter balance it with the previous article I wrote before it, “Does God hate anyone?”  We are far more comfortable saying God is love than saying God hates anything or anyone. However, man’s definition of the love of God is usually unbiblical. What I will hope to explain in this article is the love of God from a Biblical perspective.

Let me say that God’s love is clearly defined in scripture, however it contains layers or levels if you would. Let’s go over them.

1.       God’s unlimited love is extended to all men – What this means God extends common grace to all indiscriminately. Jesus said, He (the Father) makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends his rain on the just and the unjust (Matt 5:45b). This passage is clear. All men enjoy the beauty of the sunshine, and the rain. All men have the right to work, marry, raise and provide for their families, establish a career, vacation and leisure time, etc. This love every person experiences every day of their lives. This is what I would call God’s initial love for the world. Just as Jesus said, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16a).

2.       God’s love is manifested in His warnings to us – The Bible is replete with warnings from the Lord so that we can avoid His judgment. In Ezekiel 18:31-32 says, “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies”, says the Lord. “Therefore turn and live!”  Any good parent will warn their children if they are about to make a bad decision, or engage in bad behavior. Why? Because of your love for your children; it is for the child’s protection and safety.

The wisdom of Solomon says declares this, “Do not withhold correction from a child. For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod and save his soul from hell” (Proverbs 23:13-14). God’s loving discipline initially may hurt us, but ultimately it is for our good and health (Hebrews 12:5-11). This is God’s compassionate love for mankind – He pities His creation so He warns us of impending danger.

3.       God’s love is limited in degree – What this means is God does not love everyone equally. God is sovereign and it is up to Him how He chooses to love each person. The clearest illustration of this love would be described in God’s choosing of Jacob over Esau, His choosing of the nation Israel, and His choosing of the Church. I need to spend significant time in this area.

In Genesis 25 we read that Isaac’s wife Rebekah was pregnant with twins. When Rebekah inquired of the Lord why there was struggling going on in her body, this is what God said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples shall be separated from your body; one shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger” (Gen 25:23).

When the Lord says the older shall serve the younger, it is not saying that Esau himself served Jacob, but that the descendants of Esau (the Edomites) would be subservient to the descendants of Jacob or Israel [(the Israelites), (2 Samuel 8:13-14; I Kings 11:15-16)]. Why did God do this, have the Israelites greater than the Edomites? This was the plan of God before either child was born. God made a sovereign choice to love Jacob more than Esau.

In Malachi 1:1-4 we read, “I have loved you”, says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?” Was not Esau your brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated, and have laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness.” Even though Edom has said, “We have been impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places, “ Thus says the Lord of hosts, “They may build, but I will throw down; they shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, and the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever”.

Understand the love/hate relationship God is describing here is the two nations, not the two men. God made an everlasting covenant with the nation Israel (Jeremiah 31). He never made a covenant with the Edomites. God also did not covenant with Israel because they were better than Edom. They certainly were not (Read Ezekiel 16 regarding Israel’s birth and unfaithfulness to God, along with God’s everlasting love for His chosen). God sovereignly chose to love them and make them His own.

In Deuteronomy 7:6-8a we read, “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God. The Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but, because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers…

This proves God is not a respecter of persons. He chose Israel as His own because it pleased Him to do so (Psalm 115:3).

In Romans 9:11-13 Paul is quoting Malachi 1:1-4. It reads, “The children not born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls, it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

Paul in comparing the two nations of Israel and Edom,  provides a perfect illustration of God’s love being limited in degree. God’s love for the nation Israel is unlimited in that they will last for eternity, whereas the Edomites no longer exist. If one follows the Edomites history carefully, you will discover that the Edomites (later called Idumeans) were totally destroyed in the first century A.D.; around the time when Rome sacked Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

As an aside, there are some that believe when Paul is talking about Jacob and Esau (the nations in particular), that Paul has chosen (or elected) Jacob for service only and not Esau. In other words, God is not talking about sovereign election unto salvation. The reason these individuals do not believe Paul is discussing salvation is because they do not like the doctrine of predestination; that is God choosing some for salvation before the foundation of the world while excluding others, reserving them for judgment which God has every right to do.

In the final analysis, God’s love is greater for His own than those who do not belong to Him; that is He loves His own to the max (John 13:1). God’s love for His enemies is quickly running out because of their refusal to repent.

4.       God’s loves the world by sending Jesus to die for mankind’s sins – Once again John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son. That whosoever should believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not (italics mine) send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through might be saved”.

God sent Jesus to earth on a recovery mission – to gather His lost sheep from Israel and the Gentiles (John10:16). As I mentioned in the prior article, the supreme act of love ever demonstrated was the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for the atonement of mankind’s sins forever (John 15:13). Anyone who believes in this vicarious act; that means trust, rely on, and place their complete trust on what Jesus did, they would be saved from their sins – have them removed and no more counted against them. They would be from that point moving forward declared righteous in the sight of God (2 Cor 5:21).

Understand this love is available to anyone who desires it. Jesus said, “All those the Father has given to Me will come to Me, and those who come to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

Jesus also declared, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28).

This is God’s invitational love is to all of mankind; so that they may hear the gospel, repent and believe and be saved.

In Summary

God’s love is varied and complete. First, God’s love is unlimited in length. It reaches to all people in the form of common grace. Second, His love is manifested to all in the form of warnings throughout scripture. Third, God’s love is limited in degree; He does not love all equally. He has temporary love for His enemies, but an everlasting salvific love for His own.  And fourth, His love is sacrificial in that He sent Jesus who was/is sinless and perfect to die for the sinful and non-perfect. 

What should be our response to God’s love? First, we need to repent and believe the gospel for this is God’s desire (1 Timothy 2:4). Second, Jesus said it perfectly, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love another as I have loved you, that you also love another” (John 13:33).

Third, we must tell others about His love since it has been shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5).

As I mentioned in the previous article, men cannot imprison God’s love to the exclusion of His other attributes. In other words, just because God is love does not mean he will not punish evil doers or chasten His children. These are expressions of God’s love as well but another dimension of it. We must not think of God’s love as just warm and fuzzy with harps playing in our ears; a love that overlooks sin.  God’s love forgives sins and at the same time punishes every sin. This puts God’s love on display and causes it to shine brighter when His love conquers evil.

Does God hate anyone?

There are two words for hate in the Bible. The Hebrew word is sane. The Greek is miseo. The word has a variety of meanings. It can mean hostility, intense unjustifiable malice toward someone or something, or simple disregard. A similar word would be to abhor or despise. A milder meaning would mean to prefer one thing or person over another.[i]

The idea that God would hate anyone will spark intense debates in any conversation since we know that God is love (I John 4:7-8). John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. The question would have to be asked, “Where in the Bible does it declare God hates anyone?”

Leviticus 20:23 – Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nations which I shall drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I have abhorred them.

In Psalm 5:5-6 David says, “The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all the workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood. The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man."

In Psalm 11:5 reads, “The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates."

Psalm 139:21-22 David said, “Do I not hate them O Lord that hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with perfect hatred. I count them my enemies.” Remember David was speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; so these inflammatory words were given to him by God.

Proverbs 6:16-19 – These six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil. A false witness that speak lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. 

Hosea 9:15 – All their evil is at Gilgal; indeed, I came to hate them there! Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house! I will love them no more; All their princes are rebels.

Jesus said He hated the deeds of this apostate faction called the Nicolaitans (Rev 2:6, 15).

One thing we do not want to make the mistake of doing is looking at God’s hate through our own human eyes; otherwise we will harbor ill feelings toward Him and our perception of Him is skewed. Another way of saying this is that we by default make God in our own image; a perpetual mistake people make everyday.  God’s hate is pure, holy and good. It is one of His virtues. It is always justifiable. Also, as much as we would like to dismiss God’s hate in our minds, we cannot – it is taught in the Bible evidenced by the aforementioned texts and many others. We cannot make God a prisoner of His love for mankind. We cannot divorce God’s love from His other attributes – His justice, wrath and judgment. In other words. God’s love does not mean He will show kindness and favor at the expense of His wrath. Whatever God does is good and loving even if man hates and blasphemes Him for it. God is never accountable to us. God never does something without a purpose even if He never explains that purpose to us; He is not required to!  We MUST trust Him (Read the entire book of Job).

God hates the sin but loves the sinner right?

We have all used this phrase especially Christians. Let us carefully think about it. Could sin exist without human beings? The answer is no. Sin is not a force, or a spirit looking to possess someone. Sin is the absence of what is good and right. Sin is a negation and deprivation of holiness. It is the residence of wickedness living inside of us. That is why God despises those that commit it. Sin is antithetical to the holy nature of God. Sin itself is never punished alone, the person who committed the sin is punished right? The Bible never uses the phrase, “God hates the sin but loves the sinner!” But, does the Bible even imply the phrase? I would say yes and no. For those whom God has elected for salvation He definitely hates their sin, yet he loved them to send Jesus to die to take away their sins. For the unrepentant sinner, God’s love is not everlasting. God will eventually abhor that person for their persistent, non-relenting evil ways. He will judge that person guilty and cast them into the lake of fire (Rev 20:15). It definitely does not give God pleasure to hate, but it is necessary in order to show a person their wrong. God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, but it is good that He punishes them so that He can put His wrath, anger and holy justice on full display (Ezekiel 18:30-32). We as humans love and hate at the same time. Is it any great wonder that God does the same? This subject of God loving and hating obviously brings about tremendous tension to our minds.

At the end of this life when judgment comes for those who die in their sins, the sinner is the one cast into the lake of fire not the sin itself (Rev 20:15). Why? Because one cannot argue and say, “Sin made me do it!”.  No, once again sin exists because people willfully actively choose to commit evil from their hearts which manifests itself through their actions. That is what God hates, and why He must ultimately punish evil doers. In order to get rid of evil, God must get rid of those that commit evil.             

So, it would be fair to say that God hates sinners, and His hatred of sinners is good. Why? Because it reveals to us what displeases God, and what clearly pleases Him – righteousness. If God never punished us for our sins, we would not know it was wrong to commit evil. Here is the good news; God’s hatred of sinners does not have to be everlasting. We can repent and turn from our sin and be saved. While God is hating sinners for their sins, He at the same time is loving those same sinners and desires we all repent – that is turn from our sins and run to Jesus and thus be saved.

Here is a wonderful verse of scripture, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). This passage and numerous others reveal to us the love of God toward sinners and His willingness to save all those who believe in Jesus.

We must not reduce God’s hatred to that of our own

One thing we MUST always remember, God’s ways and thoughts are not like ours (Isa 55:8-9). God is transcendent and ultimately beyond our ability to comprehend. God is omnipotent, perfectly holy and righteous in every way, and in Him there is absolutely no darkness. His judgements are righteous and true. He is incapable of ever making a mistake. As a matter of fact, God’s hate is greater than all human love! But, because we are finite beings, sinful, corrupt and wicked, we often wrestle with the decisions God makes and the emotions He exhibits toward mankind. The idea that God hates anyone is repulsive to us. For most even many in the Church, the hatred of God casts a shadow they believe on His benevolent character. Most would rather not discuss God’s hatred; it’s a negative topic many would say. Do we ever wonder how repulsive we are to God sometimes? I often do of myself when I am stuck on stupid. Despite my foolishness, the Father God set His infinite love on me and sent His perfect sinless Son to die for the thing He hated in me, my sins.

Once again God’s hatred of unrepentant impenitent sinners is pure, holy, just and fair. It is under control and perfect; it is also terrifying, that is why all should be willing to zealously repent (Hebrews 10:31)! We must not define God’s hatred like ours – filled with rage, evil and raw emotion. Whenever we do not get what we deserve (God’s hatred leading to His judgment), we are loved by Him which is His nature. When we are loved by God we experience His marvelous benefits and favor. For the believer when we sin, God no longer despises us. He is displeased and will rightfully chastens us because He is a loving Father who desires our good and holiness (Heb 12:5-11). Also, the true child of God will repent of their sins continually (I John 1:9). God cannot hate us any longer because we are no longer in sin, we are in Christ – clothed in His righteousness (2 Cor 5:17-21). Our sins have been forgiven and taken away from us forever. There is nothing but everlasting love for the child of God. God will never hate us (Eph 1:7).

With the non-believer God’s love is temporary. Only God knows when a sinner is irredeemable. Eventually God’s love toward that sinner will turn to hate because of the unwillingness of the sinner to repent from their sins. They love their darkness and hate good and the light (John 3:19). Therefore God’s wrath will abide on them since they have chosen to despise the love of God offered to them in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ that they might be saved (John 3:36). God has every right to hate that person; which will ultimately lead to God’s righteous judgment[ii] – they have exhausted God’s love toward them.

If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ let him be accursed. The Greek word for accursed is anathema which means that person will go to everlasting destruction – most tragic (I Cor 16:22).

Never degenerate to the point in your life where God will stop loving you. Repent of your sins and receive the love of Jesus today.         

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[i] Remember the Bible says God love Jacob and hated Esau. In Malachi where this phrase

Originates means God blessed Jacob and his descendants (The Israelites) far greater than Esau and his

Descendants (The Edomites who no longer exist read the book of Obadiah for the judgment and destruction

Of Edom; it’s a one chapter book). So in this sense God loved Jacob and his descendants because of the preferential treatment he received over his brother.

Another scenario would be with Jacob and his two wives Rachel and Leah who were sisters. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. That is why the Bible says Leah was hated or despised (not literally because Leah bore Jacob seven children proving Jacob loved Leah by laying with her).  That is why Jacob worked a total of 14 years for his uncle – father in law Laban to marry Rachel (Genesis 29).

[ii] The Father sending Jesus Christ to come and die for mankind’s sins is the greatest expression of love ever exhibited on the world. Jesus said to His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s

Life for His friends (John 15:13)”. For anyone to despise this premiere, ultimate love act has proven that they are

A despicable, evil person deserving God’s judgment; It is most fair; if one despises ultimate love, that is the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for forgiveness of sins, then it makes perfect sense that person should receive God’s ultimate hate, the eternal lake of fire. All mankind must embrace one or the other. There is no middle ground.