Jesus Loves People, BUT... - Part A

Jesus was the broken, but he doesn't want them to stay broken. He's come to heal the brokenhearted, to fix them. So in every case. In all cases.

It's always about change. Jesus came to bring change that we will discover in our text in Romans two that is his love that is to have an effect on people and lead them to repentance. Go back to explain just how critical repentance is to relationship God. He said repent and turn to God today on connect with Skip Heitzigs, explains why both the wrath and love of God are integral to his nature. At the end of today's program script that his wife might share how you can show God's love and truth to others around telling the truth is a loving thing to do. Number two.

Tell the truth in a loving manner.

There's an old saying if you want to win some, when some right so be nice to them, don't say it in a caustic kind of the matter, and since the gospel is the story of the greatest act of love known to mankind start their paint that picture Thanksgiving. If you want to hear more.

Please stay tuned after the teacher. Now we want to tell you about a great resource that shows what you can find great hope. Jesus resurrection. The aftermath of 2020 has left many of us wrestling with questions about the future and wondering what's next here. I think that's a question by the way that people ask anytime there is a catastrophe any kind of catastrophic event causes people to ask the question, what's next. There's a car accident that happens what's next guy to be able to walk after this disease strikes someone. What's next my going to be sure somebody we love dies, we ask what's next. My going to be able to go on. We want to help you live with confidence no matter what the future holds by sending you a powerful collection of Easter weekend messages from on the hope of the resurrection. Anything is possible if the one who said he's going to die and rise again, died and rose again.

That means all of the promises Jesus ever made our possible and to come true. That's why it's called a living hope the morning that changed everything with Skip I think it's a DVD collection of six life-changing Easter messages and it's our thanks for your gift of $35 or more today to help connect more people to the living hope of Jesus Christ to get online securely visit connectwithskip.com/offer or call 800-922-1888 okay will in Romans chapter 2 Skip Heitzig extorts today's if your love has no boundaries. It's dangerous to see true love requires love for the truth. The apostle Paul and the great chapter of the law of first Corinthians 13 said love does not rejoice in evil but rejoices in truth and truth always forms the boundaries for the expression of love.

We have spent 14 this week, 15 weeks, and Jesus loves people.

We have like diamond turned around and noticed his love for different groups of people. Jesus loves doubters. Jesus loves of the broken Jesus loves children. Jesus loves homosexuals.

Jesus loves haters. He loves traders he loves atheists he loves terrorists he loves addicts and he loves you, Jesus loves people. We began our study are series with the episode of Christ and the rich young ruler and the Bible says Jesus looked at him and love him.

We considered also the great anthem of love in first John chapter 4 verse eight.

You know what it says God is love. Today, however I have a very interesting title to this message. I'm calling it Jesus loves people, but Jesus loves people, but know why on earth would I do that. What I spent 14 weeks talking about the amazing love of Jesus toward all different classes of people, only to say Jesus loves people by, and here's why I want to bring balance to all of the teachings we have had on his love, and here's why we need balance without balance slot becomes license without balance the love of God becomes a license. A permission slip to do anything. After all, God loves me. I can do anything I can be anyone, and God will love me yes Jesus loves prostitutes but he does not love prostitution and he expects the prostitute coming to him to like everyone else turned from bad lifestyle and turn to him. Jesus loves doubters, but he doesn't love doubt he doesn't expect someone to persist in unbelief while claiming to be a believer. Jesus loves homosexuals he does not love homosexuality and he expects that person also turned from bad lifestyle regarding the claim to be a Christ follower Jesus loves the broken, but he doesn't want them to stay broken.

He's come to heal the brokenhearted, to fix them.

So in every case.

In all cases. It's always about change. Jesus came to bring change.

In fact, we will discover in our text in Romans two that it's his love that is to have an effect on people and lead them to repentance. It is love that should lead a person to repentance. And if that person refuses change refuses repentance, then there is inescapable judgment that will fall some of you know the name Oswald Chambers you have read the book or you are reading the book in your daily devotions called my utmost for his highest.

He writes in the teachings of Jesus Christ. The element of judgment is always brought out because judgment is the sign of the love of God to an unusual statement. Judgment is the sign of the love of God, and I want to show you why today, many years ago in the frontier days of our country warmers be tells a story in one of his commentaries and a and a small frontier town. There was a young child sitting in a stagecoach teamed up with horses. Something spooked the horses and often the stagecoach with a child trapped inside a young man saw what was going on quickly apprise the situation and went after and rescued that young boy saved his life. The little boy grew up to become a criminal. The young man who saved him became a judge in years later, after the criminal was brought into court for a crime committed a very greediest crime that at that time deserve the death penalty that was called for in this country that criminal stood before that judge and recognize the judge is the one who saved his life and he was young boy and appealed to the judge on the basis of that past experience to save them now to us.

The judge replied son on that day I was your Savior today. I am your judge and sentenced him to be hanged to death. That was justice is what he was called to do as a judge in that particular case.

Today I want to balance out the love of God with the holiness of God with the justice of God. I want to balance out the Jesus loves people with three qualifications found in Romans two, and there is followed Jesus loves people be balanced theologically, Jesus loves people, but be bold spiritually and Jesus loves people, but be bountiful or generous.

Practically, we begin in Romans chapter 2 let's read together. Let's look at it together.

Romans chapter 2 and get the first one. The theological balance. Paul writes this, therefore you are inexcusable, old man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself for you who judge practice the same things, but we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things and do you think this old man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same you will escape the judgment of God, or do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance. But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each one according to his deeds eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. Romans is called the Magna Carta of the Christian faith. It is Paul's finest of writings and noticing what we just read how he balances out God's love.

God's patience is long-suffering his goodness. He balances that out. With God's wrath and his righteous judgment and Paul you should know this begins his book without balance. Did you know that he begins this book by telling people the good news as well as the bad news all in the same couple of sentences and here's why he does it so important until you understand the bad New Zealand never appreciate the good news so please notice in chapter 1 verse 16. Paul says, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also the Greek.

That's all good news is all about the gospel, which means good news is all about salvation and believing good news for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith as it is written, the just shall live by faith.

All good news. Look at the very next verse for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Good news, bad news. That's the balance the theological ballots you'll never appreciate the good news to you understand the badness and you notice he talks about those who suppress the truth in their unrighteousness. If ever there was a country that suppress the truth in unrighteousness. It's the one you're living in this country was founded on truth. This country was shaped like biblical truth, the gospel florist and grew in this country like no other country but the truth has been as time has gone on and is being suppressed by unrighteousness. I've heard people tell me God's good judge America excuse me, I disagree God is judging American were already down that road.

It's too late were already there and I know this because of what Roman says that one of the first marks the God is judging a society is when he gives over that society to all the immorality they're clamoring for when guiding God finally says okay you want you can have it. It's a sign that he is judging them and so he continues in Romans chapter 1.

Look at verse 24 therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lust of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the V lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the creator who is blessed forever. Amen seatbelt live a lie is it's all about me.

It's all about what I feel, it's all about what I want. I decide what is right for me. This is the way I am. And they disregard the creator.

For this reason, verse 26, God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the women burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. Here's the setting. Here's the setting that you need to know in chapter 1 Paul begins by placing the entire world under God's judgment. The entire world is guilty before God.

But then, in Romans two he turns to the religious person, the moral person may be the legalistic person. The person who would say he add those evil people in the world should be judged, and he does hold on let me now address you moral, religious people and say you think you're off the hook. You do the same things they do only do it secretly, inwardly, privately, like the story of a man who was driving down the road in the woods and he had a skunk and that he was going and he thought, boy, there's gotta be a skunk somewhere around here in the woods and he Driving on the street and it got worse and worse and worse and drove for miles. He could still smell it. And so, he concluded there must be thousands of scones out here in the woods, not knowing that he is taking the stance with him wherever he goes. And so the balance is that God is loving and forbearing and gracious.

That's the good news. The bad news is if that forbearance and love doesn't lead you somewhere to change than a certain judgment is going to come. Yes, God is love. But that's not all. Here's is also perfectly infinitely holy and just and will judge unrepentant sin, and frankly's too many people place too much of the focus and emphasis on the love side of the fulcrum and become imbalanced or we all of first John 48. God is love, and I've heard that misquoted hundreds of times but I wonder how many have in their Bibles. Psalm seven underlined word David writes God is a just judge in God is angry with the wicked every day that's in there. God is a just judge them. God is angry with the wicked every day in our country we have a legal system of jurisprudence system and it's all based on truth and truth.

Testimony if you ever ever done jury duty and your part of the jury. That's what you therefore you are, therefore, to determine what is true and not true truthful testimony verse that which is not why because the goal as a jury and the judge is to punish the guilty and to acquit the one who is not guilty ballots and judge has all the evidence it's all true and it points to this guy as a murderer but then the judge turns the murders of Genoa. I just I am in a good mood today and you just go home. That would make that judge unfair, unjust and unloving. He didn't care about the victims. She's not loving society will so it is with God. God never ceases to be loving God never ceases to be perfectly holy and because he is holy, I just judge he demands payment for sin. The penalty is a just judge must be met.

He demands payment for sin.

That's as a judge, but in his love, he is compelled to pay the penalty himself.

That's what the cross is all about the cross is the demonstration of the perfect righteous holiness, justice of God is the demonstration of the perfect love of God in taking the penalty himself, you know why he was compelled to do that because there was no other way to get those people on earth saved in getting to heaven. There was no other way to see sin is such a grievous offense against God. It demands payment by somebody perfectly innocent is only want to fit that bill. That was Jesus Christ and he came to take your sin and mine, and there was no other way.

That is why Jesus in the garden pray this prayer you know what father if it's possible let this cup pass from me was a possible know it was impossible.

It was impossible to be saved any other way. So Jesus said, nevertheless not my will but yours be done. And he went to the cross because the penalty must be paid, but he was compelled to pay the penalty himself have another story about Amanda grew up to be a judge. These were two friends in Australia.

They went to school together and graduated together. One became a judge. The other became a banker and the banker was good, but after a while it got a little bit crooked and embezzled old huge sum of money.

They stood in court before the judge. His friend his friend graduated from school with.

So his friend, the judge is facing his friend, the embezzling banker. So there's a conflict of interest. The judge that leveled the stiffest penalty possible. Monetarily against the criminal gavel went down. He read the sentence and then the judge stood up, took off his robe walked down to his friend and before he embraced and said I want you to know I have emptied my bank account.

All of my savings to pay your fine is a judge he leveled the sentence as a friend.

He paid the penalty and that is a picture of what Jesus did on the cross. The penalty must be paid. He paid the penalty himself without punishing sin. God would be unjust in forgiving sin. Like any judge in a courtroom, so that is the balance theologically, Jesus loves people, but be balanced theologically is the second thing I want in the series with Jesus loves people would be bold spiritually. Be bold, spiritually a please notice how old Paul is, I think you arty have noticed it knows how bold he is in a speech like in verse four. Do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, long-suffering, not knowing the goodness of God leads you to repentance. But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Most people would walk out at this point who will render to each one according to his deeds eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath. He's bold. Why was he so bold by the way, this is the only time you know the writings of Paul.

Paul even said I am bold to say this to what I was able because of the statement. He said in chapter 1 verse 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and you know what you should be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. You should be ashamed.

You have nothing to be ashamed of.

It is the power of God unto salvation, it says for everyone who believes, however, you are living in a culture in a country you are living now in a society that is doing everything it can to make you feel ashamed of the gospel that Skip the message from the series Jesus loves. Now let's hit into the studio with Skip line as they share show God's love and truth others around today for balancing the how can we maintain that biblical balance when it comes to showing that that family members, especially the first of all, the most loving thing you can do is to tell somebody the truth. Your you're willing to put yourself on the line. Humble yourself telling the truth, even if it's not comfortable. That is a loving gesture. Doctors do it all the time to tell patients the test results in a bit on fudge lawyers tell their clients the chances of them winning the case are not winning the case. So telling the truth is a loving thing to do.

Number two. Tell the truth in a loving manner. There's an old saying if you want to win some be when some right so be nice to them, don't say it in a caustic kind of a manner, and since the gospel is the story of the greatest act of love known to mankind. Start there and paint that picture and and get into the heart that that is turning away. The Bible is full of fact and they think Hannah says he is faithful you can be sure he will carry out this time. If it continues sharing the promises of Scripture that their status have ran and you can help make that possible. So please come out and help these teachings come to you and many others around the world hundred 90 I got nothing hundred nine, 17, 18 waits for connect with.com/donate connect with.com/donate again tomorrow.

Skip six years while you can boldly share the gospel with those around Skip presentation of connection communications to go through