Week 12 Does God Really Love Us?
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis
Passage
1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
3And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:1–8 (NASB95)
"Christ's hands gesturing towards his heart, with glow, thorns, cross - no matter how much someone hurts you, return only love, paint worn off from pilgrims touching & having conversations, Our Lady of Peace church & shrine, Silicon Valley, California, USA" by Wonderlane is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Background
Quote-F Clive Staples Lewis, FBA (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963) was a British writer and Anglican lay theologian. He held academic positions in English literature at both Oxford University and Cambridge University. He is best known as the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, but he is also noted for his other works of fiction, such as The Screwtape Letters and The Space Trilogy, and for his non-fiction Christian apologetics, including Mere Christianity, Miracles, and The Problem of Pain. Lewis was a close friend of J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings.
Passage-The book of Romans is a Pauline Epistle (letter from Paul). The Apostle Paul wrote it roughly about 56-57 A.D. The key personalities in the book of Romans are the Apostle Paul, and Phoebe who delivered this letter. Paul wrote the letter to the believers in Rome, hence the name “Romans”. He wrote it to give them a concrete theological foundation on which to construct their faith and to live for and serve God effectively.
The book of Romans reveals the answers to important questions and supplies information on many topics, such as salvation, the sovereignty of God, judgment, spiritual growth, and the righteousness of God. Many scholars also describe it as The Gospel and the Righteousness of God, which can be received only by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ.
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
The first question is the title. Does God really love us? Why is that important? More questions than answer including why even ask this question to begin with?
Ask: Does God really love us?
Point: Yes, He does.
16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
18“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
John 3:16–19 (NASB95)
Ask: How do we know God loves us?
Point: That answer is the point to this question, knowing in our heart that God loves us. Scripture says He loves us, but how do we “know?”
6For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6–8 (NASB95)
Ask: We’re in the middle of the storm, whatever challenge that looks like in our lives, and God didn’t stop it like we prayed for. Doesn’t that mean He doesn’t really care?
Point: To answer this question we have to look at how earthly parents respond to earthy children’s requests.
Ask: Do parents always give their children everything they ask for? Why/why not?
Point: Children do not always know everything concerning the thing they are asking for so the parent withholds something out of love for the child.
Ask: How is withholding something from a child demonstrating love?
Point: If it’s something that will harm that child, and they don’t know that but the parent does it is love to protect the child from that which they are not aware.
Ask: “I’m not a child. I’m a grown adult able to make my own decisions so why didn’t God give me what I asked for?”
Point: Please read the following:
17“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
Luke 18:17 (NASB95)
Ask: Is there ever a time that we as adults would withhold something another adult asked of us?
Point: When we as adults use our judgment and consider something dangerous we do not participate in it if we think it is going to break the social contract and impact others around us.
Ask: Would you give an addict the ability to gain access to the thing they are addicted to when it is determined that thing is destructive to them?
Point: Please read the following:
56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
57but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:56–57 (NASB95)
Ask: How does Jesus give us the victory over death through sin and the Law?
Point: Please read the following:
14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
15But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.
Romans 5:14–15 (NASB95)
Ask: How does Jesus’ gift of grace through His sacrifice equate to us rejoicing in our difficulties when God doesn’t answer our prayers to take the storm away from us?
Point: Please read the following:
42He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Matthew 26:42 (KJV 1900)
Ask: What in Jesus’ prayer to God asking that the cup of His crucifixion be taken away from Him reveal how we can endure the storm with joy?
Point: The last part of that passage reveals the secret, “…they will be done.”
Ask: How does accepting God’s will in the storm surrounding us let us “…exult in our tribulations?”
Point: Please re-read today’s passage:
1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
3And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:1–8 (NASB95)
Closing Statement
We rejoice in our difficulties if we accept the will of God that He knows what He is doing. Accepting God can make good things out of bad, we can have hope as today’s passage suggests that on the other side of our difficulties lies life-experience we can build on. Our perseverance through those difficulties give us the character to stand on the other side of that hardship able to guide others through it or at least to demonstrate that it is in fact survivable if nothing else.
God’s Will Works Perseverance that Breeds Hope
10For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
14And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
Jeremiah 29:10–14 (KJV 1900)
Questions for the Week
Question 1 Review the definitions at the end of today’s lesson alongside today’s passage from page 1.
Question 2 Write down things in your life that align with the four words meaning tribulations you are undergoing, things inside those difficutlies for which you can be exultant for, how the idea of God’s Will for you feeds your ability to persevere through those hardships, and how the idea that God is involved for your betterment gives you hope.
Question 3 Read all scripture found in today’s lesson in a Bible translation other than the one you usually read from or the one quoted in the lesson today.
Question 4 Write in your journal as much or as little as you are led to write concerning any differences and insights you receive from your comparative reading from Question 3.
Definitions
tribulation
trib-yuh-ley-shuhn
noun
grievous trouble; severe trial or suffering.
an instance of this; an affliction, trouble, etc.
exult
ig-zuhlt
verb (used without object)
to show or feel a lively or triumphant joy; rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated or jubilant:They exulted over their victory.
Obsolete. to leap, especially for joy.
perseverance
pur-suh-veer-uhns
noun
steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
Theology. continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.
hope
hohp
noun
the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best:to give up hope.
a particular instance of this feeling:the hope of winning.
grounds for this feeling in a particular instance:There is little or no hope of his recovery.
a person or thing in which expectations are centered:The medicine was her last hope.
something that is hoped for:Her forgiveness is my constant hope.
verb (used with object), hoped, hop·ing.
to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.
to believe, desire, or trust:I hope that my work will be satisfactory.
verb (used without object), hoped, hop·ing.
to feel that something desired may happen:We hope for an early spring.
Archaic. to place trust; rely (usually followed by in).