An Over Emphasis On Love

Ephesians 2:1-9

After the week we have had, this seems like a crazy thought. There has been so much hate and vitriol spewed from people on both sides of every argument, you would think we would want more emphasis on love. I want to make a point that unfettered love is not what we need. Love should be unconditional, but it should not be unrestrained. There should be limits to which we allow love to carry us. When love goes out of bounds it ceases being love and becomes harmful. An example might be a boy robbing a bank to buy his girlfriend an engagement ring. Sure, he loves her. His love is strong enough to drive him to extreme lengths. However, he will have to express his love at prison visitation for the next twenty years. Sometimes as Christians, we take love too far as well.

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"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Ephesians 2:1-9

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So often when we share the plan of salvation, we make it all about love. We will weave this passionate tale of God's boundless love for humanity that drove Him to come down from Heaven and take on human flesh so that He could die in our place. By the time we are finished, the hearer is so gushy with emotions until they want whatever we are selling purely based on emotions. While the love aspect of the story is true, it is only one aspect of salvation.

The first part I color coded black. That is because it deals with our sin and spiritual death. Just as I said in an earlier devotion, we must proclaim sin. People must be made aware that they are sinners who have violated God's holy standard. It is because of our sin that we are condemned to eternal punishment and separation from God. It is this condition that we need saving from. While we all like to think of ourselves as good people, the Bible says that "there is none righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10).

The second part is in red because it deals with God's love. Yes, we violated God's standard of holiness, but He still loved us so much that he made salvation from our condition possible. It is true that He became a man and lived a sinless life, so that He could pay the price for our sins. He paid the price to purchase our pardon so that we could go free. However, this love was neither boundless nor reckless. His love was restrained so that salvation is only given to those who will accept it. He does not force it on anyone. That is why Paul wrote, "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). "Whoever" leaves it open, as an option.

The green part focus on grace and faith. Paul also wrote that "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). This is why it is so important for people to hear preaching. It is why we must share scripture when we share the Gospel, rather than just tell a love story. When we proclaim God's word to people, His Holy Spirit will work in the heart of the hearer to convict them of their sins. If they accept that they are sinners in need of a Savior, that turns into faith, and then they can be saved by the grace of God. On the other hand, if when they are convicted of their sins, and they resist God and push Him away, He will not force His grace upon them. He lets them live with their choice, and the consequences of that choice.

Yes, our world needs love right now. They need to see us live love. However, they need grace as well. They need to see grace modeled in us, and they need to see our faith. If our faith is weak, then there are two things we need to do.

1. Get in the Bible and sit under good preaching - "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17)

2. Pray - Just like the father in this verse asking Jesus to heal his child cried out "Lord I believe, help my unbelief" (Mark 9:24).

Father, so often we lose perspective. Some of us shout sin but never share love and grace. Other times we become so focused on love that we do not paint a clear picture either. Help us to see You as You are. Help us to keep a clear perspective. And Father, when we need it, help our unbelief!