Some texts have such a huge impact with certain words that our attention can focus on just one part of the sentence and take away the full meaning of it.
I see this detail in some texts in the Bible and also in those that mention faith, where, if we don’t have an open heart, we can focus on just a few parts and forget the context.
Aversion to sin
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Certainly, you have heard the phrase “God hates sin, but loves the sinner”. This phrase is not in the Bible, but it has become very famous. The word “hates” becomes something so impactful for us that it steals our attention only on it, but I want to invite you to read the rest of it.
The Lord truly abhors sin; He does not accept it, and His desire is for sin to be destroyed. But He loves those who sin because the way God sees us goes far beyond our mistakes.
He knows our hearts deep down and knows who we are in Him. The Father gave us the identity of children, and even knowing our sins, calls us by our name for a true transformation. While the enemy, even knowing our name, calls us for our sin, so that we understand that we are our mistakes, reading the phrase as if God hated and rejected us.
Love for the sinner
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.“
Psalms 136:1
We must read with fear the part that talks about God’s aversion to sin because in this way, we rethink our steps and actions, we are led to return to God’s will, ashamed of our mistakes, generating true repentance and change.
But this process also needs to be done with the heart focused on the part that says that the Father loves us above that.
He loves us when we make mistakes, when we recognize the error, and when we correct the error. We are loved throughout the process.
What changes is not God’s love; no action of ours has power over Who He is. What changes is how much we open our hearts and our lives to receive everything the Lord has for us.
Sin takes us away from God, but the love He has for us draws us closer and brings us closer. His grace and mercy forgive us and unite us with the Father.
Deliver and transformation
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:1
When Jesus died, the disciples thought He had forgotten them. Their frustration was evident, feeling rejected by God, as if the Father’s promise had not been fulfilled.
However, they did not realize that this was the promise itself: that the Son would come, die for our sins, and rise again in love and grace.
Yes, it was because of our transgressions that the sacrifice of the spotless Lamb became necessary, and sin separates us from the love of God. Nevertheless, His love continues to be offered by grace. We are loved in the same way in any situation, but we need to position ourselves in the face of this, not give up on this love, and understand Christ’s surrender and the weight of it in our Christian life.
The sacrifice brought us lightness and forgiveness, but we need to understand its weight and importance. This surrender must shape our lives and guide our steps.
You are a chosen, set-apart, and loved child. If Jesus died to give you this identity, live for it!
