Does God Discriminate?

October 17, 2022 following Pastor Alex Hardt's sermon of October 16, 2022.
 
I so appreciated Alex’s sermon on Sunday.  So many times Christians are thought to be judgmental of the world, haters of the world and prejudiced against various groups that are not perceived as ‘like’ them.  What the world translate this to mean is that God is also like that, too.  That is NOT SO! We do know that Christians are sinners saved by faith in Jesus and not perfect.  We are all still ‘works in progress’ so to speak as we seek to be transformed though the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  This sanctification process takes a lifetime and we need to love and help one another in our daily walk with prayer, encouragement and correction when needed.

All this to say, we are not there yet but GOD is!  God is impartial and sees all of us in need of a Savior.  Our memory verse for this week gives God’s perspective perfectly, Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”   God desires that all come to know Him though His Son Jesus.  God’s grace to each of us is Jesus and the salvation He offers.  If God only wanted certain types of people to be in relationship with Him and His family, He would not have said ALL.   God does not lie or change His mind so we can take His word all to mean all.    However, what God sees when He looks at mankind is sin.  God cannot tolerate sin as he separated himself from Adam and Eve once they had sinned.  God’s plan to redeem us, bring us back from the sinful state in which we are born was to send Jesus to die for our sins and make us clean again.   I love Romans 5:8 “ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”   God knew we could never be good enough to wash away our sins, pay enough or do enough good works to redeem ourselves and that only His solution-JESUS would work!  God was/is motivated by love for His creation.  God was gracious and sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins so we can come to Him.  When God looks down upon the believer in Jesus, God sees the blood of Jesus covering their sins.  Praise God we are covered by Jesus and redeemed by His blood.

So back to our thoughts that God is impartial and desires all to be His, be saved, to be brought into a relationship with Him.  For that to happen takes faith and a willingness to do things God’s Way! Pastor Alex pointed out that Jonah was not willing to extend God’s grace to his enemy the Ninevites.  God had another idea and brought Jonah around to His way of thinking through the belly of a whale.   Paul and Barnabas encountered those who wanted their ways to be followed to ‘get to’ Jesus.  Meaning they wanted all Gentile converts to become Jews, following their practices, in addition to believing in Christ.  God used Paul and Barnabas to change the minds of the Jewish Christians to His way of thinking.  God desires that all should come to know Jesus, accept His gracious salvation and seek to love Him and others.  God does not play favorites all who come to Him must come through Jesus the Son.  John 14:6 ““I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.   Acts 4:12 “ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”   God is a jealous God and wants all who come to Him to come to Him through Jesus the Son and to worship Him alone.  

God is impartial but the way to Him is set forth in His Word.  His way is narrow and restrictive and the ONLY way, but it is freeing, open and leads to blessings untold.  Once a believer, God seeks through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit to transform each of us.  He seeks to grow our love for all mankind and help us to get rid of our biases and prejudices.  God desires that we grow in His Spirit and seek to tell all others about His love, grace and salvation.
Speak love and grace to someone today in His name.  Seek to see mankind through His eyes- all in need of a Savior.
Linda
 
SERMON LINK
Why? God... | Does God Discriminate?
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Sermon series, "Why? God...." Today Alex Hardt teaches from Luke 7:37-50

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