Doctrine of Hell: Sermon Notes of John MacArthur

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The phrase, "God is love," does not mean we are to love you all the way to hell. People worship the attribute of God and do not worship the one true God. You cannot take one attribute of God, isolate that attribute, and use that attribute to define God. The world says that the God of love loves everyone unconditionally. The God of love says, "...anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed!" (1 Corinthians 16:22, NIV). In Scripture, only one attribute of God is raised in repetition, not to the first degree or the second degree but to the third degree. It's not, "God is love, love, love," but the seraphim shout, "God is holy, holy, holy!"

God is not some Say You, Say Me, sentimental lover. Most people think Jesus is just the loving, peaceful, sentimental Son of God. But Jesus is ready for the fire of judgment more than anyone, and this may be alien to your understanding of who Jesus is. "I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" (Luke 12:49, NKJV).

The world says that the God of love loves everyone unconditionally. The God of love says, "...anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed!" (1 Corinthians 16:22, NIV). In Scripture, only one attribute of God is raised in repetition, not to the first degree or the second degree but to the third degree. It's not, "God is love, love, love," but the seraphim shout, "God is holy, holy, holy!"

When many people say, "God is love," they are saying God will accept their godless lifestyle, and if you try to correct them, you are a narrow-minded, right-wing, Bible-thumping bigot. People try to conceive that when they are living in a sinning, loving relationship, it's okay; it's God-ordained because God is love. Wrong! For many, the love of God means that God is good-natured, easy-going, kind, and a benevolent Granddaddy sitting way off in the heavens, goo-gooing over everything you do in your godless life and smiling at your sin as you waddle into the House of God every Sunday or two. Wrong!

John, who wrote about the God of love, is the same God who opened up the fountains of the deep and drowned every man, woman, boy, girl, and animal on purpose because of sin. The God of love whom John speaks of is the same God who sent Israel into captivity, where they lived in poverty, were beaten to a bloody pulp, and watched their children die because they disobeyed Him. Paul, who speaks about the God of love, is the same God who sent fire and brimstone to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for the sin of homosexuality. The God of love is the same God who will cast you into the lake of fire if you live a life of sin and reject the gospel. You can only introduce the love, grace, and forgiveness of God after you have warned about the consequences of a godless lifestyle. A godless lifestyle will not reap the love, grace, and forgiveness of God.