god’s love the message pastor ron smith malachi 1:2-3 “how have you loved us?”

God’s Love

The MessagePastor Ron Smith

Malachi 1:2-3

“How have you loved us?”

Unconditional Election

God chose Jacob and rejected Esau before they were born.

Is God’s Love Unconditional?

I. It depends on what he meant when he said, “you.”

II. Did he mean God’s people don’t have to repent?

In one sense God’s love is not unconditional.

But in another sense it is unconditional.

“I loved Jacob but Esau I hated.”Romans 9:11-13

Before they were born, God chose to give Jacob faith instead of Esau.

“God is love.”

Is it love to hate Esau?

How about John 3:16?

“In this way God loved the world…”

God also Chose the Means of Salvation

God’s love is conditional, but His choice to grant faith to some and not to others is unconditional.

The Flesh Disagrees

You can freely choose to not believe, but you cannot believe God unless God

chooses to give you faith.

Did God Make Esau an Unbeliever?

Esau freely chose disobedience.

“How have you loved us?”

“I have laid waste Esau’s hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”

Does Christ Pray for the World?

“I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me” (John 17:9).

How Does God Love His People?

The Father chose us like He chose Jacob.The Son prays for us, but not for the world.

And the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

In What Way Does God Love the World?

“He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil” (Luke 6:35).

Did God Hate Job?

Job said, God “has torn me in his wrath and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me” (Job 16:9).

How Can I Know God Loves Me?

• You know God loves you if you love Christ.• You know God loves you if you love His church.• You know God loves you if you are growing in

grace and keeping His commandments better and better.

How Can I Know God Loves Me?

• You know God loves you if you have the witness of the Holy Spirit.

• You know God loves you because “if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Lord of Hosts

“Lord of the armies.”It’s used 24 times in Malachi.

The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace.

“They that are with us are greater than those against us” (2 Kings 6:17).

Have you ever been rejected?

God says, “I’m with you. Isn’t that enough?”

God’s Messenger

The MessagePastor Ron Smith

Malachi 1:1

“The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.”