God's Love: While we were yet sinners.

Romans 5:8  "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." NIV 

John 3:16 ¹⁶ “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." NLT 

As we start the study of God's love lets look at these familiar verses.  God shows His love in these verses in two ways.  First He loves us before we accept Him as Lord and King, before we are changed by His power and transformed by His light.  He is our creator and could require our aligence through sure might, but instead He desires willing love, and willing fellowship.  He loves us even when we don't love Him.  He loves us even when we ignore His existence.  He seeks to draw us to Himself, but He never usurps our will.  He paid the price of salvation even before anyone accepted Him.  Secondly God the Father gave Jesus  God the Son to us as gift so that we would have a way of Salvation.  He sacrificed because He loved us before we ever made a move toward Him. 

I want you to understand God loves you just as you are right now.  Many may be upset at that statement because they think you have to be perfect to receive God's love.  God loves people even when  they still have some stains and disobedience.  I didn't say Jesus wants us to stay as we are..(in fact even if you've been saved for 20 years you still have things Jesus is working on in your life) He surely will help us and He will transform us as we renew our mind to the Word of God.  He does however, love us right now mistakes, shortcomings, faults and all.  He doesn't wait until we've gain a level of goodness...He is our righteousness.  He doesn't wait for us to have our life all together perfect.  He loves us now.  Say that out loud.  God loves me.  I'm not perfect, I still have a ways to grow in Him...but He loves me now.