SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:45 "...he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
PROPOSITION: to use this text and others to show that God is infinitely benevolent to both sinners and saints, and also to show that there is a difference between the way God loves the just and the way God loves the unjust, and also to show why there is a difference in his benevolent love, and also to show that an unjust sinner can become just in the sight of God but only through the Lord Jesus Christ.
1.) Why are some sinners Just in God's eyes, and others unjust?
A. The "scripture hath concluded" that none of the decendants of Adam can be above sin, because we are "all under sin".
But through Christs atonement anyone can be declared just through faith in God's beloved Son.
Romans 3:24 "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"
2.) In what way does God have benevolent love for lost sinners?
A. God demonstrates a benevolence to sinners that they could in no way earn or in any way deserve, the unjust are infinitely undeserving, they have no merit only demerit, they have no virtue only vice, all their "righteousnesses are as filthy rags" and yet God gives them sunshine, and rain, and offers them salvation. Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
B. The benevolence that God shows to impenatent men is a benevolence without acceptance or approval, there is a great gulf fixed between vile sinners and a God of infinite holiness. God cannot and will not embrace unrepentant sinners. judicially he has separated himself from them, and his "wrath abides on them" he "is angry with the wicked everyday" while they remain in this unconverted state.
Psalms 5:5 "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity."
C. If sinners die impenatent, God's benevolence will make no objection against thrusting them down to hell, this is the sinners just dessert, and is in no way inconsistent with his benevolence, but in perfect harmony with it.
Psalms 9:17 "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."
3.) In what way does God have benevolent love for the just.
A. First, all born again believers were at one time spiritually dead and under the curse of sin, they were the unjust, but through repentance, and faith in God's Son, the curse has been removed, and a blessed state of justification given.
B. Second, the benevolence that God has bestowed upon believers is one of ACCEPTANCE, and APPROVAL. God can through Christ recieve the most heinous offenders of the law, because Christ has vindicated the law, both in his life and death, so repentant sinner are seen forgiven and righteous in Christ, the scripture declares that they are "the spirits of just men made perfect. "
Ephesians 1:6 "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us ACCEPTED in the beloved."
Matthew 25:23 "His lord said unto him, WELL DONE, GOOD and FAITHFUL SERVANT; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD."
So in this respect the benevolence God shows to the just, is much different than the benevolence He shows to the unjust.
CONCLUSION: God is an infinite spring of benevolence, "...he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." He has provided a way for vile sinners to be forgiven through the death of Christ. The only way a sinner can know the benevolence of acceptance, and approval is to receive the only one God accepts and approves of and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
