Psalm 5

Good Morning “Shielded”.  Today we are in Psalm 5.  

God loves the little children… Matthew 19:14.

For God so loved the World… John 3:16

Much of society, and even Christianity has taken a leap with passages such as these, and defined them to mean…

We are ALL Gods children…

God Loves EVERYONE…

God hates NO ONE…

If you’ve already read Psalm 5, and let it soak in, likely your head is spinning.  If not pay special attention to vs 1-6.  Here’s an excerpt…

“The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

But Pastor Jason, when it says “hate” that’s not what it really means… God doesn’t hate.  Let’s see what it meant in the original language.  Here is the word translated into our language as “hate”.

Original Word: שָׂנֵא
Transliteration: sane'
Pronunciation: sah-NAY
Definition: To hate, detest, be hostile to
Meaning: to hate

Head spinning yet?  Categories messed with now?  Wait, if that’s True then it seems to contradict other passages we cling to.  

Does it really?  
Consider the passage most memorized and most often referred to in this context… John 3:16.  Say it with me…

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

See!  There it is… for God so loved “the world” - that’s EVERYONE!  Quit teaching Heresy Pastor Jason!  

Believe me, that’s what I’m trying to do…

Let’s focus on the word that comes into our language as “world”.  
Original Word: κόσμος
Transliteration: kosmos
Pronunciation: KOS-mos
Phonetic Spelling: (kos'-mos)
Definition: World, universe, order, adornment

Although humanity its self, created in His image, is no doubt a part of the universe… that word does not prove love for every individual person.

Romans 8:38-39 is yet another passage people point to… but go ahead and read it and then the surrounding passages.  Pay attention to who is Paul talking about?  Paul is speaking about True Believers. Followers of Jesus.  He’s speaking about those suffering for Jesus it’s not applicable to EVERYONE.

2 Peter 3:9 reminds us that God is slow to anger not wanting anyone to perish… absolutely!  He gave His Son to pay the price for ALL sin - the Sin of all people.  Make no mistake however; when His Way (Jesus John 14:6) is rejected, a choice has been made - a choice that eliminates from the privilege of Gods love. No it can’t be earned Ephesians 2:8-9 but like any free gift - it must be received by genuine “Belief”!

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—” John‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Those who genuinely “believe” are defined as Gods children in this context.  Therefore… those who don’t… aren’t.

Genuine “Belief” is defined or confirmed with action, life changing action (Romans 10:9).

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” Acts‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Gods love, and therefore His forgiveness and restoration through Jesus is NOT universal.  It is NOT automatic.  The thinking that His love is universal opens the door to unrepentant sin, and acceptance and conformity to it all around us.  Why?  Think about it… If God automatically loves everyone, how could anyone actually be condemned to hell?  Why would we ever “fear” Him.  Sin runs rampant.

I know this is tough stuff!  To be clear… it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around too.  However; it’s clearly stated if we care to know the Truth.

Love you all!  Dig in!