How Can I know God (YHVH)
Loves Me?
I realize that this question could be answered with many scriptural generalizations, and many subsections thereof (John 3:16; 16:27; Romans 5:8; 8:39 Ephesians 2:4; 5:2; 1 John 3:1,16; 4:9-10,19), but there are only three major specific proofs found in scripture and they are as follows:
A. The shedding abroad of his LOVE via the Holy Spirit of Promise (YHVH's eternal seal, down payment, token, deposit of what is to come) - Romans 5:5; 8:15; Ephesians 1:14-13; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; 1 John 4:13,16; John 14:21,23; James 2:5; 1:12
B. Chastisement/Discipline (not in the punitive sense) - Hebrews 12:5-7,11
C. Answering our Prayers - Not in the "gimmie-god" sense, but in the alignment with YHVH's Will sense - 1 John 3:22-24; 1 Corinthians 2:9.
How Can God (YHVH) Know That
I Love HIM?
Again I realize that this question could be answered with many generalizations (and many subsections thereof) found in scripture (1 John 2:3,5,15; John 14:14,21,23; 15:10), but there is only one major proof found in scripture and it is as follows:
A. The way we treat/maltreat HIS children, heirs, joint-heirs, bride member(s) - John 13:34; 15:12-17; 1 John 2:5,10; 4:20-21; 4:11-12; 3:14-16; 3:17-18; James 2:8,15-17; Romans 13:8
We also find in scripture that YHVH tested (or allowed them to be tested by Satan) Abraham (Genesis 22:2), David (2 Samuel 24:1,10; 1 Chronicles 21:1,17), Job (Job 1:8; 2:3), Peter (John 21:16-18), the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-26), etc. But in this consideration, are we thinking or saying that YHVH did not know (or does not know) the intents and thoughts of these men? If so, this would contradict the many scriptures that indicate the YHVH in fact does know all the intents and thoughts of humanity (Hebrews 4:12; John 21:17; 1 John 3:20; Proverbs 20:27). But if not, then why would YHVH test (or allow to be tested) individuals?
Is not this testing more about the discovery of our own intents and thoughts? The unveiling of how we truly feel and believe about YHVH and our loyalty to HIM and his children? The revealing of how we will react to the test, to see if we will do the right thing, like David, Job, Peter, Abraham, etc. did or whether we will fail the test like Judas, the Rich Young Ruler, etc., etc. Yahushua knew how much Peter loved fishing and the low stress income it produced. But did Peter know? Would he remain dedicated to ministry, feeding YHVH's sheep and lambs? Of course, the book of Acts reveals that he did. But at the time of Mashiyach's repeated challenging questions, it caused Peter to search his soul and make a resolve then and there. The tests we go through forces us to look within and if our heart condemn us, YHVH is greater than our heart. We must determine whether or not we will choose to live right and do the right thing. The pure in heart will rise above the test and become yet purer, as gold refined in the fire.
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