Understanding God's Love: Election, Wrath, and Repentance

 

Summary

In our exploration of God's love, we delved into the challenging concept of divine election and the limits of God's love as depicted in Romans 9. This passage confronts us with the notion of God's hatred, which can be unsettling given our usual perception of God as incapable of hatred. The text in Romans 9, where Paul quotes Malachi, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated," raises questions about God's righteousness and the nature of His love. This language, often interpreted as a Hebraism, suggests a preference rather than literal hatred. It reflects a greater intensity of love for Jacob compared to Esau, similar to how Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, making Leah feel unloved by comparison.

This idiomatic expression is further illustrated in the New Testament, where Jesus speaks of hating one's family to follow Him, emphasizing the supremacy of love and commitment to Him above all else. This doesn't imply literal hatred but rather a preference and prioritization of love for God. However, we must not dismiss the reality of God's wrath and abhorrence towards sin and unrepentant sinners. The Bible speaks of God's hatred for wickedness and deceit, highlighting a boundary to His love. This challenges the popular notion of God's unconditional love, which can be misleading if it suggests that repentance and faith in Christ are unnecessary for salvation.

Understanding God's love requires acknowledging both His profound love for sinners and His righteous wrath against sin. The concept of unconditional love, often preached, can lead to complacency and a misunderstanding of the necessity of repentance and faith. God's love is indeed vast and transcendent, but it is not without conditions. Salvation requires embracing Christ by faith, and without this, one remains under divine wrath. In our next session, we will explore the different dimensions of God's love, including the love that extends to all people, distinct from His saving love.

Key Takeaways:

1. The language of "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated" in Romans 9 is a Hebraism indicating preference rather than literal hatred. It reflects God's sovereign choice and the greater intensity of love for Jacob, similar to Jacob's love for Rachel over Leah. This understanding helps us grasp the depth and complexity of God's love and election. [02:18]

2. Jesus' call to "hate" one's family in Luke 14 is an idiomatic expression emphasizing the supremacy of love and commitment to Him above all else. It challenges us to prioritize our relationship with God, recognizing that true discipleship requires a love for Christ that surpasses all earthly attachments. [10:47]

3. God's hatred for sin and wickedness is a reality that underscores the limits of His love. The Bible speaks of God's abhorrence towards deceit and bloodthirstiness, reminding us that His love is not without boundaries. This challenges the notion of unconditional love and calls us to repentance and faith. [18:18]

4. The concept of God's unconditional love, often preached, can be misleading if it suggests that repentance and faith are unnecessary. Salvation requires embracing Christ by faith, and without this, one remains under divine wrath. This understanding is crucial for a true grasp of God's love and justice. [21:53]

5. While God's love is vast and transcendent, it is not without conditions. The necessity of repentance and faith in Christ is paramount for salvation. This challenges us to examine our understanding of God's love and to respond to His call with genuine faith and commitment. [23:24]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:31] - Introduction to God's Love and Election
[01:07] - Romans 9: The Doctrine of Election
[02:18] - Jacob and Esau: Love and Hatred
[03:20] - Malachi's Prophecy and Hebraic Expressions
[04:32] - Understanding Preference in Biblical Context
[06:00] - Jacob, Rachel, and Leah: A Case Study
[09:02] - The Hebrew Idiom of Preference
[10:47] - Jesus' Call to Discipleship in Luke 14
[13:15] - The Supremacy of Love for Christ
[14:25] - The Limits of God's Love
[16:07] - God's Hatred for Wickedness in the Psalms
[18:18] - The Reality of Divine Wrath
[19:53] - The Misconception of Unconditional Love
[21:53] - The Necessity of Repentance and Faith
[23:24] - Conclusion and Preview of Next Session

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 9:6-18
2. Malachi 1:2-3
3. Luke 14:25-27

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Observation Questions:

1. In Romans 9, what does Paul mean when he says, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated"? How does this relate to the concept of divine election? [02:18]

2. How does the story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah in Genesis 29 illustrate the concept of preference in love? [06:00]

3. What does Jesus mean in Luke 14 when He says that one must "hate" their family to be His disciple? How is this an example of Hebraic idiomatic expression? [10:47]

4. According to Psalm 5, what is God's attitude towards wickedness and deceit? How does this reflect the limits of His love? [18:18]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of divine election in Romans 9 challenge our understanding of God's love and justice? What implications does this have for our view of salvation? [02:18]

2. In what ways does the story of Jacob's preference for Rachel over Leah help us understand the nature of God's love for Jacob over Esau? How does this affect our understanding of God's choices? [06:00]

3. How does Jesus' teaching in Luke 14 about hating one's family for the sake of discipleship challenge common perceptions of love and commitment? What does this say about the cost of following Christ? [10:47]

4. How does the psalmist's description of God's hatred for wickedness in Psalm 5 inform our understanding of the boundaries of God's love? What does this mean for the concept of unconditional love? [18:18]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on the idea of divine election. How does this concept affect your personal understanding of God's love and your relationship with Him? [02:18]

2. Consider the story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah. Are there relationships in your life where you feel a sense of preference or neglect? How can you address these feelings in a way that honors God? [06:00]

3. Jesus calls for a commitment that surpasses all earthly attachments. What are some specific ways you can prioritize your relationship with Christ above other relationships in your life? [10:47]

4. The sermon challenges the notion of God's unconditional love. How does this affect your view of repentance and faith? Are there areas in your life where you need to seek repentance and embrace faith more fully? [21:53]

5. Reflect on the boundaries of God's love as discussed in the sermon. How does this understanding impact your approach to sharing the gospel with others? [19:53]

6. In what ways can you ensure that your understanding of God's love does not lead to complacency in your spiritual life? What steps can you take to actively pursue a deeper relationship with God? [21:53]

7. How can you balance the message of God's love with the reality of His wrath in your conversations with non-believers? What specific language or examples might you use to convey this balance effectively? [22:46]

Devotional

Day 1: Understanding Divine Preference
God's love for Jacob over Esau, as mentioned in Romans 9, is often misunderstood as literal hatred. However, this expression is a Hebraism, indicating a preference rather than actual animosity. It reflects God's sovereign choice and the intensity of His love for Jacob, similar to how Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. This understanding helps us grasp the depth and complexity of God's love and election, challenging us to see beyond our limited perceptions of love and preference. [02:18]

Malachi 1:2-3 (ESV): "I have loved you," says the Lord. But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the Lord. "Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to understand God's preferences or choices? How can you seek a deeper understanding of His sovereign love today?


Day 2: Supremacy of Love for Christ
In Luke 14, Jesus calls His followers to "hate" their families, which is an idiomatic expression emphasizing the supremacy of love and commitment to Him above all else. This doesn't imply literal hatred but rather prioritizing our relationship with God. True discipleship requires a love for Christ that surpasses all earthly attachments, challenging us to examine our priorities and the depth of our commitment to Him. [10:47]

Luke 14:26 (ESV): "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple."

Reflection: What earthly attachments are competing with your love for Christ? How can you prioritize your relationship with Him today?


Day 3: The Reality of Divine Wrath
God's hatred for sin and wickedness underscores the limits of His love. The Bible speaks of God's abhorrence towards deceit and bloodthirstiness, reminding us that His love is not without boundaries. This challenges the notion of unconditional love and calls us to repentance and faith, recognizing that God's love is profound yet righteous, demanding a response from us. [18:18]

Psalm 5:4-6 (ESV): "For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man."

Reflection: How do you perceive God's wrath in relation to His love? What steps can you take today to align your life with His righteousness?


Day 4: Misconception of Unconditional Love
The concept of God's unconditional love, often preached, can be misleading if it suggests that repentance and faith are unnecessary. Salvation requires embracing Christ by faith, and without this, one remains under divine wrath. This understanding is crucial for a true grasp of God's love and justice, urging us to respond to His call with genuine faith and commitment. [21:53]

Hebrews 10:26-27 (ESV): "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries."

Reflection: How has your understanding of God's love been shaped by the idea of unconditional love? What changes can you make to ensure your faith is active and genuine?


Day 5: Conditions of Salvation
While God's love is vast and transcendent, it is not without conditions. The necessity of repentance and faith in Christ is paramount for salvation. This challenges us to examine our understanding of God's love and to respond to His call with genuine faith and commitment, recognizing that His love invites us into a transformative relationship. [23:24]

Acts 3:19 (ESV): "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively demonstrate your repentance and faith in Christ today? How can you invite others to experience the transformative love of God?

Quotes


And anytime we wrestle with that question of election of those who are redeemed and those who are passed over, we ask about the limits to the love of God, and in fact, when we examined Romans chapter 9, we hear references to the hatred of God, not of man's hatred for God, but of God's hating people. [00:00:20]

The standard method of interpreting this difficult text is to see these words, first by Malachi, and then as they are repeated by the Apostle Paul in Romans, as simply a manner of speaking. Kind of a Hebrewism, Hebraism, kind of an idiomatic expression not to be taken in a direct literal sense, but rather simply expresses the idea of some sort of preference. [00:04:23]

He loves them both, but he loves one more than the other, and in order to express the preference, and the greater intensity of love that he has for Jacob over Esau, by way of contrast, the greater love that God has for Jacob makes the love that he has for Esau seem like hatred in comparison. [00:05:29]

And these people that want to jump on the bandwagon of Jesus, and follow along in his train, and sit there and receive all the blessings that he's giving as he's healing the sick and the blind and the deaf, and so on, he says to them, "Just a minute. If you want to be my disciple, there's a price tag attached to it. [00:11:29]

So Jesus presents to his contemporaries a prerequisite for discipleship of hating one's family. Now, this is Jesus, who keeps the law of God perfectly throughout his life, who clearly understood the fifth commandment to honor one's father and mother, to love one's neighbor as much as they loved themselves, no one understood the dimension of the love that is required by the law of God to the degree that Jesus did. [00:12:25]

And one of the things that the Scriptures emphasizes over and over again is that while we were still sinners, God's love was so great for us that even then, while we were in estrangement towards him, his love overcame our hostility. And therefore there must not be any hostility in God. [00:14:44]

But I think it might come as a surprise to you if I would say that God or the Bible speaks as much about God's hatred for us as it does of his love for us. And I don't think it will answer the question fully to merely see these expressions as Hebraisms or idioms of preference, because there is a dimension to the attitude of God towards the sinner that reflects a kind of utter disgust and loathsome character that God has for his rebellious race of human beings. [00:15:13]

Twice in this one section of the Psalm the psalmist speaks of God's hatred towards the wicked. You hate those that are involved in iniquity. And then, you abhor the bloodthirsty and the deceitful man. It's not that God is moderately disturbed with the bloodthirsty person or the person who's a liar and a cheat and deceitful. It's that God abhors them. [00:18:18]

And the reason that we struggle with these differences where on the one hand the Bible talks about the incredible dimension of the love of God, that while we're still sinners he loves us, and yet on the other hand it speaks of his abhorring us, and that we're loathsome in his sight, and he can't stand to even look at us because of our iniquity. [00:19:23]

There is a concept that I hear all the time from preachers that I never find in Scripture, and it is this concept: the unconditional love of God. I'm going to explore this in greater detail in our next session. But for now, I want to just say this. First I want to ask a question. Where did this idea come from, that God's love is unconditional? [00:20:34]

Suppose I am preaching to non-believers, and I'm saying to those people, "God loves you unconditionally." You know they tell us in seminary that when you preach, you don't preach one sermon, you preach three sermons. There's the sermon that the people hear, there's the sermon you thought you preached, and then there's the sermon that was actually preached. And they're not the same. [00:21:20]

God has placed an absolute condition upon the salvation of any person. That person must embrace Christ by faith and trust in Him and Him alone, or that person will know only the divine wrath forever. Now, there is a love that comes from God that reaches all people, which is different from his saving love. [00:23:08]

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Transcript
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