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FROM THE PASTOR'S STUDY

Topic: Message Outlines: Chapter 5 (Include Audio)

Romans 5:1-11 (10)

by Darrel Cline
(darrelcline biblical-thinking.org)

Chapter # 5 Paragraph # 1 Study # 10
March 28, 2006
Lincolnton, N.C.
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(208)

Thesis:   The love-based provision of God is far greater than what was actually necessary for our salvation.

Introduction:   There are two sides to the "love of God" thesis. We all know that God's "love" does not keep Him from pouring out His wrath upon the objects of His love. We see this at Calvary where the wrath was poured out to the uttermost upon One Whom He had to have loved enormously or John 3:16 does not mean anything. We also see this declared and demonstrated throughout the Bible as God declares His love for men and, yet, pours out His wrath upon them. Thus, we must understand that there are two sides to the "love of God" thesis. There is the absolute reality of His love for men, whether enemies or friends. The magnitude of this absolute reality is in the words of Paul in Romans 5:6 and 8 -- Christ died for the ungodly while we were yet sinners. But, of what use is such "love" if, in fact, it does not deliver us from His wrath? This question forces us to understand that there is another side to the issue. That other side is the absolute reality that love is impotent in the face of disbelief. It, frankly, does not matter how much God loves me if I remain resolute in my refusal to believe it. The "other side" of the "love of God" thesis is the human response -- whether the "beloved" will permit his mind to embrace the facts and his heart to embrace to reality. It is to this "side" of the thesis that Paul addresses his words in Romans 5. It is his intention to declare the reality of the love of God for men so that those who read the words of his declaration may be moved to faith in that truth.


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