What Love Is This? - Part 9
The sermon challenges the Calvinist view of God's love, emphasizing that God's sovereignty is not the issue, but rather His character and intentions to love and save all people.
This sermon addresses the prophecy of 'The elder shall serve the younger,' focusing on Jacob and Esau and the nations descended from them. It delves into arguments against the Calvinist perspective, emphasizing the goal to prove God's love for all and the misrepresentation of God's character. The core message is about understanding God's love, kindness, and desire for all to be saved, urging believers to seek the truth and stand up for the true nature of God.
Full Transcript
The elder shall serve the younger. If that was about the two individuals, Jacob and Esau, it was a false prophecy, because the elder never served the younger in their lifetime, those individuals, but it's very true of the nations that descended from them. What about Pharaoh and so forth? Well, you go into all these arguments with them, and what is the goal of the Calvinists? What are all the arguments, all of the turning to the Greek and the Hebrew, and all the complexities, and they're going to just overwhelm you with all of this.
They've studied this so much, and you haven't. What is the bottom line? All of their arguments have one purpose, to prove God doesn't love everybody, to prove Christ didn't die for everybody, to prove that God is not kind to everyone, and, in fact, that he delights in sending multitudes to hell. What love is this? God is love.
Love is kind. I think it's a misrepresentation of the God of the Bible, but you will have to come to your own conclusion as a good Berean. Father, thank you for your word, and, Lord, we do bring before you our concern.
We don't want to cause division in the Church, but, Father, we want to stand up for your character. The issue is not the sovereignty, your sovereignty. Lord, you are sovereign.
You can do whatever you want to do. The issue is, what do you want to do? And you've told us you're not willing that any should perish, that you so loved the world, you gave your only begotten Son to die, that the world, through him, might be saved. And, Father, we believe that, and we ask that you will clarify this in the hearts and minds of many, many people.
We don't want to bring division in the Church. Lord, we pray that many eyes would be opened to who you really are, and to your great love for all. We ask this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Sermon Outline
- The Problem with Calvinism
- The Sovereignty of God
- The Love of God
- God's Love for All People
- The Gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ
Key Quotes
“What love is this? God is love. Love is kind.” — Dave Hunt
“The issue is not the sovereignty, your sovereignty. Lord, you are sovereign. You can do whatever you want to do. The issue is, what do you want to do?” — Dave Hunt
Application Points
- We must stand up for God's character and love, even if it means challenging popular views or traditions.
- God's sovereignty is not the issue, but rather His intentions and character, which are rooted in His love for all people.
- The gift of salvation through Jesus Christ is available to everyone, and it is a demonstration of God's love and kindness.