The Love God Has for Us (!!)

Praise God for His extravagant love for us! For loving us just as we are, saving us, and sanctifying us from glory to glory! No one can fathom the depths of such love – it conquers all, even the grave.

Let’s get right to the heart of this.

A man with a human soul and body subject to temptations just like us (see Hebrews 2:14-18), Jesus Christ lived a sinless life of continuous self-denial and submission to God’s will. Jesus had to be anointed by God (Christ means “anointed one”) to know our heavenly Father’s endless love for us all in order to overcome the deceit of our sin and accomplish this. Recall the climax of Jesus’ prayer to His Father in John 17: to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them [that’s us!] and that I myself may be in them (v.26b). God’s infinite love was key for Jesus, and Scripture bears witness that it is the greatest of the keys to the Kingdom that He gave us (see Matt. 16:19; 22:37-40; John 14:21-24; 15:9-17; 1 Cor. 13:13).

Now here’s the ultimate proof of God’s love for us: the Son of God endured being forsaken by His Father on our behalf. Ridiculed, mocked, beaten, flogged, then crucified over the course of nine hours, Jesus endured excruciating pain and the insults of men without comment (including those crucified with Him), but separation from His Father (His life-source!) on our behalf caused Him to cry out and die. At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, … “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:29-34). This is the depth of God’s love for you and for me, and we cannot fathom it. The indescribable love of God for His Son enabled Jesus to choose to endure separation from God (suffer His wrath) via the worst death possible on behalf of his future bride – us. Our minds can’t grasp it, but the Holy Spirit reveals it to our spirits as we seek Him with all our hearts…

We were all there with this sinless Lamb on His Cross; justice was served, and the root of our sins, our sin nature itself, was overcome by His death. Three days later, we emerged from the tomb with the resurrected Lord, forgiven, set free, made new! Those who receive this mercy and grace and believe it are now one with God in spirit, and are part of the glorious bride of Christ! (See Romans 6:3-8, 23; Eph. 2:1-10; Rev. 19:7, 21:1). Hallelujah!

This Love never fails (1Cor. 13:8). It rescues, delivers, heals, and purifies. God’s love overcomes death with resurrection Life in Jesus Christ! Praise God for loving us so!

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us…. How much more, having reconciled, shall we be saved through his life? (Romans 5:8, 10)

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. (1John 4:16a)

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22:17)

Set free and empowered by the love of Christ to bring the gospel to others with you, your sister deanna