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Love, Mercy, Life, and Grace


           But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5)

          The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)

          Having spent yesterday talking about the fact that there are two trinities, and two groups, today’s passage may sound unfair. God has great love for us, shows us mercy, gives us grace, but they get nothing. Except, that’s not true. They are granted physical existence, and the common grace involved in their not watching their Christian neighbors get needed rain, sunshine, oxygen, food, wealth, wisdom, knowledge, health, etc. In fact, sometimes it seems as if those who have rejected God get more common grace than those who accept Him, meaning that God gives those who reject Him as much love, mercy, life, and grace as they 1) need in order to exist apart from him, and 2) are willing to accept, within the parameters of their rejection. He treats them like visiting children, which means that, yes, sometimes, He disciplines them, but the punishment is sending them back to their trinity of parents: the Devil, the flesh, and the world.
          We also need to keep the second passage in mind. It isn’t God’s goal for anyone to end up in Hell. He’d rather everyone be saved. He’s willing to pay for that with the life of His Son (who volunteered for the job), but it’s not that He won’t give up His Godhood. God isn’t being mean, He’s being real. He can’t make someone else God any more than you or I can - not a real God, anyway. 
          God’s love for us is not that kind of love. It is like the love of a parent. That often means less of something things, more of others. We get more love, more mercy, life, and grace than they do because we get the kind that comes with God, the kind that lasts forever, and sometimes, when we look at what the guests get, it doesn’t seem as good… but it’s better because it’s a parent’s love, not a neighbor’s, and we get it forever.

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