The Security of God\'s Watchful Love
“The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:7-8)
How secure is God’s love? Is His love really unconditional? The answer, of course, depends … Jesus told Nicodemus this entirely depends on whether you believe in Him.
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:18)
As soon as you trust Jesus Christ alone as your Lord and Savior, you receive eternal life, which cannot be lost because it’s eternal; it’s not temporary life. So, for the true believer, God’s love is completely secure, because God’s love for His people is unconditional. The Apostle Paul gives us six linkages to the security of God’s love for the Christian (see Romans 5:1-11).
First, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. This is not about how we feel toward God, but rather about His relationship with us.
Secondly, we have access to God because we now stand in grace. We know our access to God is totally undeserved. We deserve justice, but instead we have received His grace and mercy.
Thirdly, we have hope of the glory of God. We know that one day we will be glorified. God’s glory will radiate through us as we reflect the glory of God.
While the first three linkages above deal with what we know, the fourth linkage relates to our heart—how we feel inwardly. It’s the possession of God’s love. His Spirit fills our spirit with the inner confidence that we belong to Christ and His Father is also our Father. This assurance, however, may rise or fall depending on our obedience to Him.
We also have the certainty of being saved eternally, since what He has already done by loving us when we were His enemies is so much more than what He must continue to do for us, now that we are His friends, to preserve us to the very end.
And finally, our joy is in God, a fruit of the Spirit of God. These six blessings help convince us that God will watch over us forevermore. With that conviction, we know nothing will ultimately harm us. Can you rejoice with me over God’s love, which endures forever?
By Jim Connell
How secure is God’s love? Is His love really unconditional? The answer, of course, depends … Jesus told Nicodemus this entirely depends on whether you believe in Him.
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:18)
As soon as you trust Jesus Christ alone as your Lord and Savior, you receive eternal life, which cannot be lost because it’s eternal; it’s not temporary life. So, for the true believer, God’s love is completely secure, because God’s love for His people is unconditional. The Apostle Paul gives us six linkages to the security of God’s love for the Christian (see Romans 5:1-11).
First, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. This is not about how we feel toward God, but rather about His relationship with us.
Secondly, we have access to God because we now stand in grace. We know our access to God is totally undeserved. We deserve justice, but instead we have received His grace and mercy.
Thirdly, we have hope of the glory of God. We know that one day we will be glorified. God’s glory will radiate through us as we reflect the glory of God.
While the first three linkages above deal with what we know, the fourth linkage relates to our heart—how we feel inwardly. It’s the possession of God’s love. His Spirit fills our spirit with the inner confidence that we belong to Christ and His Father is also our Father. This assurance, however, may rise or fall depending on our obedience to Him.
We also have the certainty of being saved eternally, since what He has already done by loving us when we were His enemies is so much more than what He must continue to do for us, now that we are His friends, to preserve us to the very end.
And finally, our joy is in God, a fruit of the Spirit of God. These six blessings help convince us that God will watch over us forevermore. With that conviction, we know nothing will ultimately harm us. Can you rejoice with me over God’s love, which endures forever?
By Jim Connell
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