"Poured Out Into Our Hearts"

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1-5 ESV)

What is so important about this verse is the word “because.” The conjunction “because” introduces clauses of cause and reason, which makes it a subordinate conjunction. The clause the word “because” introduces requires an additional clause to make it complete. “And hope does not put us to shame.” Why? To complete this proposal Paul tells us we are not put to shame, “because” “God has poured out his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Why the English lesson? This verse tells us that our understanding of God’s love is experiential. I pray you have this experience. This understanding cannot be found in Aristotelian logic. Many things in the Bible can be understood by deductive reasoning. For example, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” I am of the world therefore, God loves me. This is fine.  One could also reason, “If I believe in God’s Son, I will have eternal life. This is Aristotelian logic and deductive reasoning; no experience is needed to understand this text fully.

When God pours His love into your heart, it is not the same as when He pours it into your mind. Understanding both is good. It is good to realize that you are loved because God loves the world. It is necessary to understand this, but you will not experience anything because of this knowledge. Another example is “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). I am part of all, and therefore, I fall short of the glory of God. The text helps me understand my depravity, yet nothing is experiential about it.

Paul writes, “because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” This is not love that touches the mind but one that enters the heart. Not only does it enter the heart, but it is delivered there by the Holy Spirit, who resides in all believers of Jesus Christ. This verse is not a conclusion or a deduction; it is a deeply personal experience or nothing.

It is wonderful to have knowledge, ideas, and understanding, but it is much, much better to have experience.  You can read a recipe for your favorite dish and understand all the ingredients, how to prepare it, how to cook it, and how to serve it so it looks appealing. The picture on the recipe is exactly what our mind tells us is good. However, would it not be better to sit at a quiet dinner table and share that delicious meal with your loved one? It is the experience that is fulfilling. It is the same with God’s love.

Many are learning about Christ but have not yet accepted Him as their Savior. They read about Him in the Bible, speak to believers about Him, and attend church—all necessary to know and understand who Jesus is and what He did for sinners. Yet even with all this knowledge, they have yet to experience the love of God.

Many Christians live such hurried lives, rushing here and there, with no time to pray and no time to read the Bible, and while they have given their hearts to Christ, they may never have fully experienced the love of God. But there will come a time when we face what seems to be the most difficult time in our lives. You will feel God pick you up and hold you. You will truly feel the love of God, maybe for the first time. When you do, you will never be the same. This experience is not just a feeling, it's a transformation. I know I had my time and experience, and in my heart, I still know I only scratched the surface of the unending love of God.

Seek Christ and know the love of God. Salvation through the finished work of Christ is not just life-changing, it is life-transforming, and it continuously changes for the better.

Grace and Peace.