Romans5:5 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” In my devotional this morning I read a thought that started me thinking about God’s love. It read, “We know it only as we know him.” That makes perfect sense when you think about it. John the Beloved said, 1John 4:19 “We love him, because he first loved us.” We can know God exists. We can know intellectually that God exists by simply looking at the universe around us and seeing the order that exists there. The odds of that happening naturally are one in trillions. The Scripture tells us, Psalms 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

Yet natural man cannot understand the principles of God or even how the universe operates with such effeciency and order. 1Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

How come so many people do not understand the Love of God? That is fairly simple to explain. Just like our thought from above, they cannot know His love until they know Him. When we receive Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. He brings the fruits of the Spirit with him into our lives. They are, Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

You see, the very first fruit He brings is love. We cannot know the actual love of God until we have the Holy Spirit living in us. Does that mean we do not need the love of God to be saved, you ask? The basics of salvation are the enumerated in the following verses. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” 1Corinthians 6:910 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

That is quite a list of people who will not go to heaven, yet there is hope in Christ. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus Himself said, John14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

It is not our love for God that saves us, it is God’s love for us. He provided a way to heaven for us. Jesus paid the wages of sin for us. Do not be fooled into believing a lie about many paths to heaven for the Scripture is plainly worded, Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

God first love us. He provided salvation through Jesus Christ for us. When we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are given the Holy Spirit along with all the gifts of the spirit He brings with Him. Love, joy and peace are the very first Godly emotions that assure us we are children of God after Salvation. We then can work on the other seven gifts given to us that do not come naturally to mankind. We need the Hol Spirit to comfort and guide us in our lives after salvation. Remember, God loves you. That becomes more plain every day you are saved. As we grow in grace, we become more Christ-like and we begin to exibit what save attributes of Christ. Love for your neighbor, treating them kindly even when they are not kind to you, that all comes from God’s love, Romans 5:5 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Do you have the love of God in your heart? Are you still angry and lash out at people? If you do, then I’d asked Jesus to save and cleanse you for in all likelihood you are not saved even if you have said a prayer for salvation. When you truly accept Christ, your life changes. And again the very first changes are given by the Holy Spirit…love, joy and peace.

Come visit us at Vian Baptist Chruch and aloow me the privelege of helping you to understand the scriptures and show you God’s love for you.