What Does God Think of Me?

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God Loves You

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Things that can’t separate us From the love of God
Tribulation
distress
persecution
famine
nakedness
peril
sword
There is a break here and Paul notes that Christians are more than just conquerors in these things that are happening to them through Jesus. It should be noted Jesus is referred to here as the one “that loves us”.
Other things that can’t separate us from the love of God.
Death
Life
Angels
Principalities
Powers
Things present
Things to come
Height
Depth
Any other creature
Paul opens with a question “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
The word separate here is used in Hebrews 7:26, to describe how Jesus is totally separate or set apart from sinners as our new high priest. This word is also translated as put asunder, used when Jesus states what no God has joined together in marriage no man should separate. This word notes leaving. When Paul is asking this question it goes a little further than just being separated from God, what is going to cause God to leave off loving you?
We then get this list of things which Paul is asking if they are cable of separating us from God’s love.
First is tribulation, or anguish separate you from God’s love? Is there any hardship of hard thing that is able to do this? This is a similar thing to the second thing Paul mentions.
Distress is similar to tribulations, it has the ideas of anguish.
Why are these things Paul mentions? Why would these be things that would separate us? If anythings these are the things that would make us really rely on the love of God. There are two things to think about here.
If you have ever gone through tough times or things, and it doesn’t have to be very serve but for you at the time it was a rough time, were there people who distanced themselves? Whatever the reason, either we have personally had people distance themselves or seen people distance themselves from others when they were going through it. God is not like that when things are bad for us, and maybe the stress and anguish is getting to us and we aren’t any fun to be around. God is still right there loving us.
Troubles aren’t punishment for our wrong doing always. The reason I say always is because sometimes are actions bring correction on ourselves. It isn’t fun but it is for our benefit.

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Sometimes we face troubles that aren’t because of us. That just resolute from us living in a fallen and sinful world. Either way God is right there even in chastisement God’s love is displayed.
Famine is the next thing on the list. This starts the physical needs that are not being had. Famine lack of food.
Nakedness lack of clothing
If our basic needs are not being met. If the things we need in life to simply just live are not being met does that mean God doesn’t love us? The answer should be low and clear no.
Peril the last two are dangers from others. This is danger from others.
Sword violence from others.
Paul was very familiar with perils. We have a record of some of the things Paul faced during his ministry

23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; tin labours more abundant, uin stripes above measure, vin prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, lin hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches

When Paul mentions these things he had a lot of experience with this perils and troubles.
Paul has more things to his list of things that are not able to separate us from the love of God, but before he goes on to them he throws in this quote from the Old Testament.
Paul quotes Psalms 44:22 he reminds them it is for the sake of God that they face persecution and these things. Like sheep easy animals to kill.
Paul answers gives the answer to his question Nay. No, not only do these things not separate us from the love of God, look at what Paul says.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Not only do these not separate us, Paul says we are not only conquerors but more than conquerors. Its not through our power that these are true but its because of him who loves us, which is God.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 hWho is he that condemneth? It is Christ that idied, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

3 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. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Vs 4 we belong to God we are of God. We are our of or from God. Our origins are changed. We were from the world our origins was in sin, but now they are of God. We are now foreigners of this world, but natives of heaven.
Vs 5 People who are still natives of this world speak the language of this world. That language is selfish and personal gain, as well as many other things you can fill in the blank here with a number of things.
Vs 6 Christians are not native to this world and just like there is a language barrier between people groups we see around the world there is a language barrier between christians and non christians. Does this make us better than non believers? No our status has been changed by God because we believed. What it does mean is we can’t teach them this language of the new man, so it is God who does the work of conviction and change in a person’s life, all we can do is share.
Vs 7,8 We are supposed to love because love real love is of God. So if you are really from God than you should display love. If you love you are born of God and know God.
Vs 9-11 How is the love of God manifested, or revealed? The Father sent the only begotten Son into this world to die, that it says we might live through him. How is the love of God revealed? Jesus was sent to this earth to die for our sins that we could have our origins changed.
Vs 12-13 No one has seen God at anytime, ever, never, but if love one another God dwells in us. Not only that but his love is perfected in us. The proof that we have God dwelling in us and God in us is the Spirit. Notice it is said both ways, because God wants us to be saved but he will not force it and we do not save ourselves but come to accept what is offered. which is an amazing thing.
Vs 14-15 When he says we have seen he really means it, John and the other apostles had seen Jesus and walked with him on earth. They testify that Jesus was who he said he was he. And we are given the requirements for salvation those who confess (acknowledge). Also notice is says whosoever.
Vs 16 The apostles believed that God loved them. They believed in part because they has seen love incarnated. Again it is stated that God is love. You can see who dwells or is saved by how they dwell in love. Don’t let this word dwell confuse you. It means to remain in love.
Vs 17 Because our love is perfect there is a result that we may have boldness. Boldness about what? In the day of judgement. When the world is going to be judged we will not be. What does it say that just as Jesus was on this earth, he was not apart of the world, we are not apart of this world even tho we are here on this earth. Just as Jesus was a stranger here on this earth so we are strangers here on this earth.
Vs 18 There is no fear in love. Why is that? What should we fear if we truly believe that God loves us? Nothing not even death and pain should be able to deter us. We are even given a reason why fear has no part in love. fear brings torment. Those who have fear are not made perfect in love.
Let me give a little comfort cause this maybe gives a little torment in the form of mental anguish. We worry about some of these things that are being said. Maybe you say I still get afraid about things, does that mean God’s love is not complete in me. Or maybe your still caught up on the dwelling in love, and your thinking well I don’t dwell in love I get angry.
If we look again it says we are to boldness in the day of judgement because we have the same origins as Jesus we are the same kind of person that Jesus is. What we are not fear is judgement of God. If we are free of judgement and punishment from God then there is nothing else in life that really has any terror to it. Second part is look again at vs 12 who’s love is it? Its God’s love. And who is perfecting this love the Holy Spirit is. That word perfected is completed. God love is completed in us. What is God’s love look back to verse 10 John defines love. God’s love is salvation. So if we accept salvation we accept God’s love and it is completed in us we have the Holy Spirit. Nothing else needs to be done nothing can stall or change it.
Dwell in love means to abide, or remain. Dwell is were you live if I ask you were you dwell I’m asking where do you live. You live at home. Do you leave your home ever? Yeah some of us are away from home more than we are there. But its still our home its still where we dwell. Now in this case we want to dwell in love. When we are dwelling in love we are also dwelling in God. If we don’t abide in love that means we aren’t dwelling in God. Have we lost our salvation? No remember we have already had the love of God salvation through Jesus completed. It just means we left the house and need to go back. Think of it as a child running away from their parents. They can always go back.
Vs 19 Lets end with this statement we love God, because he first loved us.
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