Many People Have a Wrong View of God Being Harsh or Distant When He Is Gracious, Kind, and Compassionate
There are many people (including Christians) who view God the Father as a very harsh, strict, or aloof God. But, these beliefs are not biblical because God is perfect Love (1 John 4:16). And, Abba God is gracious, longsuffering (patiently enduring), and gentle in dealing with His children, as a loving Father.
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| (This is not what Jesus actually looked like, but this painting by a young girl (a child prodigy) may capture an idea of the love that Jesus has for us. Click for source.) |
Psalm 86:5 says: "For thou, LORD, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee."
Exodus 34:6 says: "And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,"
Isaiah 41:10 says: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
Some Christians (like I used to struggle with) struggle with feeling that they have to perform for God's love and acceptance or perform to receive God's blessings in their lives. If they fail to do something they believe God wanted them to do, they might feel upset with themselves. If we do wrong, we need to genuinely repent, and then rest and receive God's forgiveness. Along with that, we need to forgive ourselves and seek to know God as our loving Abba Father, which is who He is.
1 John 1 is a very good chapter to read and meditate on. Here is a portion of it, below.
1 John 1, and Walking in the Light,
and in Fellowship with God
and in Fellowship with God
1 John 1:5-9 says: "[5] This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
[8.] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." [End quote]
God doesn't want us to kick ourselves or do "penances" for our sin. He just wants us to confess it, and forsake it, and move on. If we genuinely repent, we are truly forgiven, and our sin is washed away. Some people wrongfully feel that after they have sinned, that God wouldn't allow them to have close fellowship with Him.
They need to read 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."
Scripture References to Help Those
Who Struggle with Receiving God's Forgiveness
and His Everlasting Love
Who Struggle with Receiving God's Forgiveness
and His Everlasting Love
Here are some scripture references to help those who struggle with receiving God's forgiveness and His everlasting love: 1 John 1:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 3:18, Romans 8:1-2, 1 John 3:5, Romans 3:28, Romans 3:21-31, Romans 4:1-8., The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), and other scriptures. (Righteousness is imputed to us without works. Romans 4:6-7.)
God does not punish His children. Look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. Also, Jesus took the penalty for our sins upon himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). But, since God is a loving Father, would it be good for Him to let us turn toward destructive habits and worldly things? Please, don't misunderstand God's loving disciplinary correction. God is not like any man (Numbers 23:19). He is not like our earthly fathers.
Abba God corrects His children when they are in error, so that they will realize they need to repent from sin (Hebrews 12:5-10), and so that they can turn back to God and partake of His holiness (Hebrews 12:10). When they confess their sin and repent, they are forgiven (1 John 1:7,9).
There is no punishment or penalty for their sin because Jesus took the penalty for our sins upon Himself. If we confess our sins, Abba God forgives us. Again, God does not make us work for Him, nor receive any punishment for our sins, because Jesus took that punishment upon Himself. So, once we have repented, there is no more disciplinary correction. God's goodness leads us to repentance (see Romans 2:4).
2 Corinthians 5:21 says: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
[Note: Justified means that we are declared righteous "just as if I never sinned". If you would like to know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, click here.]
Romans 3:21-31
"[21] But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." [End quote]
Verses Showing How God Is
a Compassionate, Loving Father
a Compassionate, Loving Father
Look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 to see how God treats those who repent. He 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 us 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."
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;"
God the Father Loves Us in the Same Way
that He Loves His Son, Jesus
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, Mark 12:31), because God loves us the way He loves Himself.
In Jeremiah 31:3, Abba God says through the writer that God loves us 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 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 us 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.
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;" [End quote]
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