The Creator of the Catholics Is Love, for that Is His Name
Dear Catholic or Eastern Orthodox adherent,
I am writing to you today, as a Protestant, because I care about you and I am praying for you. God is our loving Creator and Father, and He desires to have close, personal, intimate fellowship with each one of us. He has no favorites (Romans 2:11). Like the father of the prodigal son embracing his wayward son, who returned to him (in Luke 15:11-32), so also does God the Father embrace those who turn to Him. Did the father of the prodigal son punish his son for living in sin and wasting his inheritance? Absolutely not!
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| ("For God so loved the world..." John 3:16. Click for source.) |
When the prodigal son returned to his father, his father saw him in the distance and ran to meet him, embracing him. Then, the father made a feast for his son and celebrated that his wayward son had returned to him.
That is what God does when one repents from his (or her) sins, and trusts only in the blood of Jesus Christ to save him from his sins, and to make him justified (just as if I never sinned) by his (or her) faith alone in Jesus alone (see Romans 5 and Romans 4:1-9).
Let's go to the Bible itself for what we believe about God. Jesus said these words in Matthew 4:4: "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
The Holy Spirit Is the Comforter (John 14)
Some people say that God is sometimes strict and harsh. Does this agree with what the Bible says about God? 1 John 4:16-18 speaks about what love is and how God is Love.
- 1 John 4:16-18 says: "[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."
In John 14, Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter, who comes into the life of a born-again believer in Jesus. The Holy Spirit comforts those who are His children and guides us into the truth (John 14:26-27, John 16:13).
- John 14:26-27 says: "[26] But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.[27] Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
If the Holy Spirit is strict, that would mean Jesus Christ and God the Father would be strict because they are three Persons in One Being (the Trinity) (1 John 5:7). Philip once asked Jesus to show him the Father.
Jesus Christ's reply is in John 14:8-9: "[8] Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. [9] Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?"
God Is Love (1 John 4:16)
God's Word says how God is a compassionate, kind, merciful, patient, loving Father who desires us to have close fellowship and friendship with Him. See Exodus 34:6, Psalm 86:5, Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 18:24 (b.), 1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Corinthians 1:2-3, John 17:22-23, Jeremiah 31:3, Psalm 103:8 and 103:13, 1 John 1:9, Jeremiah 31:3, 1 John 1:6-7, Isaiah 46:3-4, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43, 1 John 1:3, Isaiah 49:10-16, 1 John 4:16-18,
Zephaniah 3:17, and so on.
Of course, God does not want us to sin against Him. We would be walking in spiritual darkness if we walk in sin, and God could not answer our prayers until we repent. (See 1 John chapter 1 and Psalm 66:18.)
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God Is the Father of the prodigal son
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| (The father runs to his son with open arms. Luke 15:11-32. Click for source.) |
Again, look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 to see how God treats those who repent and who turn back to Him. God doesn't punish them. He doesn't threaten them. Rather, God welcomes them home with open arms and has a celebration.
Zephaniah 3:17 tells how God greatly rejoices over His children with great joy and love.
Zephaniah 3:17 says: "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."
God Is the Loving Father Who Desires Fellowship with Us
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1 Corinthians 1:9 says: "[9] God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."
1 John 1:3 says: "[3] That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
Psalm 103:13 says: "[13] Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him."
Psalm 103:8 says: "[8] The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."
2 Corinthians 1:2-3 says: "[2] Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. [3] Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;"
In John 17:22-23 Jesus Christ says this to His Father: "[22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: [23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."
In the last part of verse 23, Jesus said in essence that God the Father loves us (who He created) in the same way that God the Father loves Jesus (God the Son). And, Abba God speaks in His Word of loving others as we would love ourselves (Leviticus 19:18), because God loves us the way He loves Himself.
In Jeremiah 31:3, Abba God says through the writer that God loves His children with everlasting love and has drawn us to Himself with His lovingkindness.
Jeremiah 31:3: "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."
Isaiah 43
Isaiah 43 is a very encouraging scripture passage. Regarding verse 3, the Ethiopians, Egyptians, and people of Seba at that time in history were enemies of Israel. But, God knew that many of them would later turn to him.
Pay attention to how God encourages His children (who believe and turn to Him) by saying He created us, redeemed us, called us by name, said we are His, promised to always be with us no matter what, said He is our Savior, said we are precious in His sight, that He loves us, that we should not fear because He is with us, and He will bring us to Him. That applies to those who love God and who trust in the blood of Jesus to save them from their sins.
Isaiah 43:1-5
1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
Footnote:
Confessing Sins
When one sins, and it is not against another person, he should confess it to God alone as David did with his sins in Psalm 32:5. (See Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 32:5.). But, if one does wrong by another person, he should confess it to that person he wronged and ask for their forgiveness. (See Luke 17:4).
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