How can I know if God loves me?
Romans 5:1-11
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
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I. Justification by faith in Christ Jesus is the foundation of us knowing that we are loved by God.
In Romans 1–4, Paul explains that humanity is universally condemned by sin and cannot be saved by following laws. Instead, God freely justifies (declares righteous) anyone who places their faith in Jesus Christ. This righteousness is a gracious gift, not an earned wage.
II. We now have peace with God, access into a grace relationship with God and the joyful anticipation of being in intimate relationship with God for all eternity.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as [we are, yet] without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [Heb 4:14-16 NASB95]
III. God’s love for us does not give us a life without suffering. Romans 5:3-5
· Suffering produces perseverance: Difficult circumstances and afflictions test faith, developing steadfastness and the ability to endure.
· Perseverance produces character: Steadfastly enduring trials refines a person, proving their faith is genuine and building moral maturity.
· Character produces hope: A proven, mature faith gives believers a confident expectation of future salvation and God's promises.
Paul concludes in verse 5 that this hope will not disappoint or "put us to shame." The foundation of this unshakable hope is the Holy Spirit, who has "been poured into our hearts". This means that even in the midst of pain, believers have the active, internal presence of God reminding them of His unconditional love, preventing them from feeling abandoned or foolish for trusting in Him.
Five truths that help me
1. God in Christ is good, I can trust his character
2. God in Christ is great, I can trust his competence
3. God in Christ is full of grace, I can trust his compassion
4. God in Christ chooses to grieve with all my griefs, I can trust his companionship
5. God in Christ guarantees that all my grief will bring gain, I can trust his commitment.
I would recommend Tim Keller’s book Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering
IV. Romans 5:6-8 explains the depth of God's love by highlighting that Christ died for humanity not when people were good or deserving, but while they were still helpless, ungodly sinners. It emphasizes that God's grace is unconditional, sacrificial, and entirely unearned
V. Romans 5:9-11 teaches the ultimate security of the believer. Because Jesus' death paid for our sins and justified us, we can be absolutely certain that God's grace will save us from future wrath, reconcile us to Him, and give us eternal joy in our relationship with Him.
VI. Conclusion – What makes you doubt God loves you? What can you do when this happens? - Preach the gospel to yourself –
17 So faith [comes] from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. [Rom 10:17 NASB95]
Isaiah 53:1-12
1 Who has believed [confidently trusted in, relied on, and adhered to] our message [of salvation]? And to whom [if not us] has the arm and infinite power of the LORD been revealed? 2 For He [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender shoot (plant), And like a root out of dry ground; He has no stately form or majestic splendor That we would look at Him, Nor [handsome] appearance that we would be attracted to Him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and pain and acquainted with grief; And like One from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or esteem Him. 4 But [in fact] He has borne our griefs, And He has carried our sorrows and pains; Yet we [ignorantly] assumed that He was stricken, Struck down by God and degraded and humiliated [by Him]. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, We have turned, each one, to his own way; But the LORD has caused the wickedness of us all [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing] To fall on Him [instead of us]. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth [to complain or defend Himself]; Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before her shearers, So He did not open His mouth. 8 After oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation [His contemporaries], who [among them] concerned himself with the fact That He was cut off from the land of the living [by His death] For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke [of death] was due? 9 His grave was assigned with the wicked, But He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. 10 Yet the LORD was willing To crush Him, causing Him to suffer; If He would give Himself as a guilt offering [an atonement for sin], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall prolong His days, And the will (good pleasure) of the LORD shall succeed and prosper in His hand. 11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He shall see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge [of what He has accomplished] the Righteous One, My Servant, shall justify the many [making them righteous--upright before God, in right standing with Him], For He shall bear [the responsibility for] their sins. 12 Therefore, I will divide and give Him a portion with the great [kings and rulers], And He shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because He [willingly] poured out His life to death, And was counted among the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore and took away the sin of many, And interceded [with the Father] for the transgressors. [Isa 53:1-12 AMP]
Song “Son of Suffering”
Chorus
Blood and tears how can it be
There's a God who weeps there's a God who bleeds
O praise the one who would reach for me
Hallelujah to the Son of Suffering
Verse 1
O the perfect Son of God in all His innocence
Here walking in the dirt with You and me
He knows what living is He's acquainted with our grief
Man of sorrows Son of Suffering
Chorus
Blood and tears how can it be
There's a God who weeps there's a God who bleeds
O praise the one who would reach for me
Hallelujah to the Son of Suffering
Verse 2
Some imagine You are distant and removed
But You chased us down in merciful pursuit
To the sinner You were grace and the broken You embraced
And in the end the proof is in Your wounds
In the end the proof is in Your wounds
Chorus
Blood and tears how can it be
There's a God who weeps there's a God who bleeds
O praise the one who would reach for me
Hallelujah to the Son of Suffering
Bridge (3x)
Your cross my freedom Your stripes my healing
All praise King Jesus glory to God in Heaven
Your blood still speaking Your love still reaching
All praise King Jesus glory to God forever
Chorus
Blood and tears how can it be
There's a God who weeps there's a God who bleeds
O praise the one who would reach for me
Hallelujah to the Son of Suffering
Hallelujah to the Son of Suffering
Verse
What can wash away my sin
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Chorus
Oh precious is the flow that makes me white as snow
No other fount I know nothing but the blood of Jesus
Tag
Glory to God forever glory to God forever
Glory to God forever glory to God forever