This article was first published in Tabletalk, the Bible study magazine of Ligonier Ministries. Find out more at TabletalkMagazine.co.uk or try it free for three months today at TryTabletalk.co.uk.
‘God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life’ was a popular evangelistic catchphrase for many years. The statement’s goal was to welcome all people to hear the good news. The statement ultimately communicated a universalist message, however, and failed to capture the true message of the gospel.
I once heard the story of an evangelist speaking these words to a man who drank from a six-pack of beer on the beach. After hearing that opening statement, the man simply replied, ‘Sounds great,’ and immediately opened another can of beer. Doesn’t the man’s response make sense? His response showed that if God already loved him, then there was nothing else that he needed to hear or do. The lack of clarity had led to confusion.
Clarity
We need clarity when we consider the fatherly love of God. Zacharias Ursinus made this point in his commentary on question and answer 26 of the Heidelberg Catechism, regarding the opening statement of the Apostles’ Creed (‘I believe in God the Father, Almighty’).
