Who is God? For that matter, who are we? Chris Tomlin sings, “You’re a good, good Father. It’s who you are. And I am loved by you. It’s who I am.” For Paul, the good news which transforms the world is a message of God’s love. We have peace with God precisely through Jesus. Even in our sufferings, God is working for good to produce perseverance, character and hope. Hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
Paul explains who we are when God’s love found us with interesting words. We were powerless, ungodly, sinners and enemies of God. That’s who we were. But we are loved by God. That’s who we are. So how do we know that God loves us? He died for us.
Brennan Manning took on the name Brennan in honor of a friend who jumped on a grenade for him in a foxhole. Visiting with his friend’s mom after his friend died, Brennan asked, “Did your son love me?” The mother of the deceased friend stood up and said, “What more could my son have done for you?” Jesus’ death declares once and for all that God loves us. What will we do with God’s sacrificial love? Receive it and live in the very center of it!
