--Job 25:4-6 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? 5 Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. 6 How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
In the comparison of man next to God, man is but a worm. His salvation is dependent solely upon God's grace and mercy. Reality produces a proper fear and reverence toward the Lord leading to His love.
--Psalms 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
If you have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, your status changes and are dearly beloved children. If you have not done so, you are not a child of God.
--Mark 9:43-44 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Our interpretations differ. Mine warns the lost to die without Christ is to die without God's love but His wrath. I fear yours makes them too comfortable in their sins. If God already loves them, what else do they need? If God already loves them, why preach, turn to Jesus to receive God's love and mercy.
There are some fine lines that have to be rightly divided. God loved the world so he gave everyone an opportunity to be redeemed; salvation is ours to lose. I love my garden, but I pluck the weeds (tars) out and burn them. What is left is what I love.
--John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Each to his own on what they think is the proper message.
Our interpretations aren’t that different, my friend. I agree with you that hell is real. I agree with you that we need to believe in Jesus to be saved. I agree with you that if we die in our sin, we end up in an eternity separated from God.
But I also assert that God loved us even while we were still sinners.
It’s his kindness to us that leads us to repentance. It is not thinking that we are worms. That leads to depression.
Repentance comes when you know that God loves you, no matter how badly you’ve messed up, and He not only saves you from the penalty of sin, but also gives you His Spirit to save you from the power of sin.
We have a few differences. I believe both sides need to be heard so I am not trying to disparage but live Malachi 3:16.
As I stated, reality is what is needed: reject Christ and you are not separated from God, you burn in a lake of fire for eternity. Euphemisms to obscure the truth of the horror that awaits does not evoke the realism of the necessity to turn to God. Many couldn't care less about being separated from God, in fact that is their greatest desire.
Anyway, lets not beat the horse to death. I get your point.
--Job 25:4-6 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? 5 Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. 6 How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
In the comparison of man next to God, man is but a worm. His salvation is dependent solely upon God's grace and mercy. Reality produces a proper fear and reverence toward the Lord leading to His love.
--Psalms 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
God became a worm to save us.
Indeed, in our sin, we are low.
But we are made in God’s image. We are dearly beloved.
Jesus calls us His friends.
Paul addresses his letters to the saints — not to worms.
In our eyes, in sin’s eyes, we are worms.
In God’s eyes, we are His dearly beloved children.
If you have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, your status changes and are dearly beloved children. If you have not done so, you are not a child of God.
Certainly; a great deal changes when we believe and are born again.
But even before that, we are dearly beloved by God, made in His image.
He loved us while we were yet sinners.
--Mark 9:43-44 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Our interpretations differ. Mine warns the lost to die without Christ is to die without God's love but His wrath. I fear yours makes them too comfortable in their sins. If God already loves them, what else do they need? If God already loves them, why preach, turn to Jesus to receive God's love and mercy.
There are some fine lines that have to be rightly divided. God loved the world so he gave everyone an opportunity to be redeemed; salvation is ours to lose. I love my garden, but I pluck the weeds (tars) out and burn them. What is left is what I love.
--John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Each to his own on what they think is the proper message.
Our interpretations aren’t that different, my friend. I agree with you that hell is real. I agree with you that we need to believe in Jesus to be saved. I agree with you that if we die in our sin, we end up in an eternity separated from God.
But I also assert that God loved us even while we were still sinners.
It’s his kindness to us that leads us to repentance. It is not thinking that we are worms. That leads to depression.
Repentance comes when you know that God loves you, no matter how badly you’ve messed up, and He not only saves you from the penalty of sin, but also gives you His Spirit to save you from the power of sin.
We have a few differences. I believe both sides need to be heard so I am not trying to disparage but live Malachi 3:16.
As I stated, reality is what is needed: reject Christ and you are not separated from God, you burn in a lake of fire for eternity. Euphemisms to obscure the truth of the horror that awaits does not evoke the realism of the necessity to turn to God. Many couldn't care less about being separated from God, in fact that is their greatest desire.
Anyway, lets not beat the horse to death. I get your point.
https://www.unleavenedfaith.org/repentance/