this is really beautiful - I first got a copy of this from a friend - and it really hits home in my heart the Love of the Father - Praise His Mighty Name!!!!!

That is amazing...i just had to print it off...brought tears to my eyes as i read it

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Wonderful...just wonderful! It helped me remember my Father's love for us. Thank you so much.

Alicia

Whoo boy, here goes.

Am I the only one who sees this as a mis-representation of who God is?

I read this in John the other day.....Jesus speaking to the Pharisees

John 8:
42Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

43Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

So if we are not Christians, God is not our father. Jesus himself said it! Every unregenerate sinner is a child of the Devil. If they die in their sins they go to be with their father, in Hell. They don't seek after God. If they repent of their sins and trust in the Savior, God is faithful and just to forgive them their sins, and grant them everlasting life. BUT if they don't they will be damned to eternal Hell.

We keep preaching "God is Love" without ever showing why God is love. He showed His love on the cross. He had to go to the cross because humanity is depraved, filthy and sinful. We have taken the Commandments of God and have broken them all. God is a rightous judge, who will judge the world according to our works. If we have broken even one of His commandments we will go to Hell. (see James 2:10) So God showed His love in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) That is the amazing love that God has manifested. That is what sinners need to hear. That is what makes Grace amazing!

The vast majority of those old testament verses were written to a specific group of people. The Israelites. The verses that weren't written to the Israelites were written to people who have REPENTED and put their trust in the Savior.

If repentance is absolutely essential for salvation, how can a gospel message that doesn't even mention it be useful? I would go as far as to say it does more damage than good, because sinners get a misrepresentation of who God is, and what He requires.

The reason everyone loves these verses, is because you are all Christians. God is your father. He has adopted you into His family with the Sacrifice of His Son. That is why we all find it so touching. But as an evangelical tool, it does more damage to the Gospel of Jesus than good.

What was the first thing Jesus said when he started his ministry? Repent! No repentance no salvation. Yet we as Christians keep trying to take repentance out of the Gospel message! "Ask Jesus into your heart" is what we are now told. We say we are followers of Christ, yet we don't listen to His most basic command!

I understand that people will be upset with me, but please search the scriptures. These verses were not intended for unrepentant sinners. They were intended for children of God.

In Christ
Bill

Yes ,it is .God loves us very dearly .
Many a times I have failed to see that .God allows unfavourable situations in our lives for us to draw closer to HIM
It is a lovely feeling to be loved and to love someone .

How is this love letter a mis-representation of who GOD is? GOD loves us and came to save the lost = everyone by default. Does GOD not love the lost sheep (unbelievers)? We are invited by GOD through redemption, adoption through Jesus Christ alone. He wants to be our Father as originally intended. Is the Word not a love letter to all lost? Yes, it is indeed. So please do not ruin the thread and discourage others. This is a beautiful thread and let's keep it that way. Don't forget the prodigal son also. Did the "Father" in that story refuse to be the father of the son who walked away and did his own thing? No! He welcomed the son with love, open arms upon that son's return to the Father. Unrepentant sinners are those who refuse THIS invitation from GOD.

Rather strange that of all the people who responded joyfully in this thread, your the only one with an issue with this.

All GLORY to GOD