Truthfully, of course, we can't eject the Bible in favor of "I feel" to arrive at what is or isn't true. No less than Jesus said so. "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth" (John 17:17). It is unavoidable ... according to Christ. Oddly enough, of course, we have to rely on the Bible to know that Jesus said that the Bible is truth. But that's where we are. That or nothing. Still, we all at times are not internally convinced that "Jesus loves me." We don't feel warm and fuzzy, don't sense His presence, His arms around us. Sometimes we're pretty sure He doesn't like us at all. Certainly not as much as He likes that guy (or girl) who gets all His attention and affection. Look at them. They can feel it deep in their hearts. Why can't I?
We are not left on our own to figure out if Jesus loves us. We are not left to our emotions or perceptions or opinions to know if it's true. Nor are we left to childrens' songs. Here's what we do have available as unequivocal truth.
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8)That word "demonstrates" in Greek is "συνίστημι" -- sunistēmi. It means literally "to stand near." God stands with love in hand and brings it in front of you to show you -- "demonstrates." How does He personally show you? Well, basically, "Christ died for us." On the basis of Christ dying on our behalf, we can know God loves us. But it is magnified by the description of us. Not "because we were so loveable" or "so good." It wasn't while we deserved it; it was while we didn't. It was while we shook our fists in His face. It was while we were yet sinners. "I want no part of You," we cried and He sent His Son to die for us. Paul goes on to say, "While we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son" (Rom 5:10). "While we were enemies." That's when God made His love abundantly clear.
The most famous verse on this subject is John 3:16. You know it ... or do you? We understand it to be a reference to how much God loved the world. It isn't. It refers to the method in which God loved the world. "God loved the world this way." What way? He gave His one and only Son. And how does that prove God's love? "Whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." Jesus was satisfied with "I do believe; help my unbelief" (Mark 9:24). Your faith, meager as it might feel, is sufficient proof of God's love, regardless of your sense of it. Your feelings in this are not a valid measure. Remember that. Jesus loves you ... even if the father of lies is whispering the opposite in your ear.
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