God Gave Jesus to Secure Our Salvation

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

When two persons break the same law, and one is punished and receive justice, but the other is pardoned and receive mercy, would this be fair?

Mercy is inherently unjust and grace is unfair. Thus every time when God pardons a sinner, He is committing injustice.

How does God reconcile mercy and justice? God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for the sins of the world. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus had died for their sin. Mercy is now freely available to the sinner because God had paid the price for justice.

But justice remain for those who refuse to believe.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 KJV)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Faith Love Hope

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 ESV)

1. Work (ἔργου) of faith
2. Labor (κόπου) of love
3. Endurance (ὑπομονῆς) of hope

Important To Experience The Grace Of God

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV)

Every true Christian would have experienced the grace of God. It is how he or she is saved. Every true believer must understand God's grace. It does not matter if he or she does not know theology. You do not even need to know the whole Bible.

But a preacher or pastor who knows theology and have Bible knowledge and preaches it without grace, he will produce Pharisees.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. (Matthew 23:23 BSB)

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:8 ESV)

What Must I Do To Inherit Eternal Life?

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25 NIV)

A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 18:18 NIV)

Two person came to Jesus to ask Him what they must do to inherit eternal life. One was a Jewish lawyer (Luke 10:25-37) and another a rich man (Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, Luke 18:18-23).

Jesus did not give them right answer directly, which is, "You can do nothing to inherit eternal life."

Instead, He asked the rich man to give away all his wealth and the lawyer, who was a Jew, to love the Samaritan. To both of them, it was an impossible task. The rich man went away disappointed. We were not told of the lawyer's reaction.

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us - for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree" - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:10-14 ESV)

Only Jesus can save. We can do nothing.

Love - Bible vs Koran

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NASB)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Who does Allah love?
The following answer came from the website "Who and What Does Allah Love?"
QUOTE
Short Answer: Allah loves the patient, the steadfast, the doers of good, those who act justly, those who purify themselves and repent regularly, those who are righteous / God-fearing, the God-conscious, those who do what their Creator asked them to do and refrain from what He prohibited them from doing.
UNQUOTE

Allah is merciful
According to Surah 39:53, Allah also give life long opportunity for sinners to repent. He is merciful. But mercy is injustice. But Allah does not give too much thought about that, unlike the God of the Bible, who has to be just and made effort to reconcile justice and mercy.

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." (39:53 Sahih International version)

Loving God
Jesus said if you love God, keep His commandments.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15 KJV)

According to Surah 3:31, if you love Allah, you must follow Mohammed, then Allah will love you.

Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (3:31 Pickthall version)

Ultimate difference
The ultimate difference between the God of the Bible and Allah is that God demonstrates His love for us by action, but Allah just speaks about love.

Loving God

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15 ESV)
Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (John 14:23 ESV)
Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3 NLT)

Another example of love:
So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. (Genesis 29:20 NIV)

We Love Because He First Loved Us

We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 ESV)

Nobody can experience true love with knowing God's love. Without understanding God's sacrificial love for us, our own unworthiness to receive this love, it would not be possible for us to truly love others. Usually our love for others is love for self masquerading as love.

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8 ESV)

Faith Love Growth

Faith
To trust in our self is the greatest impediment to our faith;
Next is to trust in money.

Love
To love our self is the greatest impediment to love God.

Growth
The easiest way to Christian growth is to grow the new man.

Proper Order of Love

And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised. (2 Corinthians 5:15 HCSB)

A proper order of love (JOY):

1. Jesus - love for God;
2. Others - love for others;
3. You - love for self.

An improper order of love
Self preservation, self protection

Love in Bible and Quran Compared - Postings From Other Websites

The following two websites made comparisons between love in Bible and Quran:
"Love" in the Qur'an
Love in the Bible and In the Quran (Koran)

Only One Way

All have sinned.
Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. (Ecclesiastes 7:20 NASB)
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23 KJV)

But God is merciful.
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (Ezekiel 18:23 ESV)

But God is also just and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.
The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, And clouds are the dust beneath His feet. (Nahum 1:3 NASB)
Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." (Exodus 34:6-7 NASB)

In demonstration of His love and in order to reconcile mercy and justice, God sent His only begotten Son Jesus to die for our sins.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NASB)
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)

That whosoever who believes in Him will be saved.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Those who believes not will be condemned.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16 ESV)
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:18 ESV)
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36 ESV)
If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (John 12:47-48 ESV)

For he has (1) trampled on the Son of God, (2) regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and (3) insulted the Spirit of grace.
Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:28-31 ESV)

There is only one way.
"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 NASB)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

Why Do You Do Right?

If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15 KJV)

There are those who do right because it is right, like the Stoics. They looked admirable, because they are willing to do right and even suffer for it.

But when we do right without knowing the true standard of righteousness, it can be dangerous.

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12 KJV)

Then there are those who do right because they love righteousness. When we love someone, we love to be like that person in everyway, in looks, in behaviour, in action. There is this guy from Philippines, Herbert Chavez, who idolized Superman. He spent money and risk his health to have 23 surgeries just to look like Superman. That is love, but the object of love is wrong.

We are told to love God and to imitate Him. When we love God, we will love His standard of righteousness. We will do right because we love it.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (Ephesians 5:1-2 NASB)

God Demonstrated His Love

Romans 5:6-11 KJV

6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Christians are weak(6), ungodly(6), sinners(8) and enemies of God(10), but saved(10) and reconciled(10) to God by the atoning(11) death(8,10) of His Son Jesus.

If you are weak, ungodly, a sinner and an enemy of God, rejoice! For Jesus had died for your sins and you are reconciled with God. All you have to do is believe.

Ultimate Description Of Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a HCSB

4. Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited,
5. does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs.
6. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.
7. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8. Love never ends.

Based on a sermon by Dr Mark Minnick (2003-12-09)

Passive and Active Response of Love
Passive response: patient(4)
Active response: kind(4)

Five self denials of Love
Does not envy(4)
Does not boast, brag or parade itself(4)
Not conceited, puffed up(4)
Does not act improperly or unseemly, not rude(5)
Not self-seeking(5)

Three refusals of Love
Refused to be easily provoked or exasperated(5)
Does not keep a record of wrongs(5)
Finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth(6)

Four universals of Love
Bears all things(7)
Believes all things(7)
Hopes all things(7)
Endures all things(7)

Love is Eternal
Love never ends(8)

Unconditional Love

The love is unconditional:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8 ESV)

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10 KJV)

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16 KJV)

The way is one:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

Let Us

Hebrews 10:22-24 ESV
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works

Love Is Action

Love is action.

God love us by dying for our sins.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NASB)
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. (1 John 4:9 NLT)

We love God by obeying Him.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15 KJV)
He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. (John 14:21 NASB)
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23 KJV)
Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3 NLT)
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. (2 John 1:6 ESV)