December
20, 2003
GOD'S
AMAZING LOVE!
"In
this 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 4:10, NKJV).
"Love
is the underlying principle of God's government in heaven
and earth, and it must be the foundation of the Christian's
character... And love will be revealed in sacrifice.
"The
plan of redemption was laid in sacrifice--a sacrifice so broad
and deep and high that it is immeasurable. Christ gave all
for us, and those who receive Christ will be ready to sacrifice
all for the sake of their Redeemer.
"When
Adam's sin plunged the race into hopeless misery, God might
have cut Himself loose from fallen beings. He might have treated
them as sinners deserve to be treated. He might have commanded
the angels of heaven to pour out upon our world the vials
of His wrath. He might have removed this dark blot from His
universe. But He did not do this. Instead of banishing them
from His presence, He came still nearer to the fallen race.
He gave His Son to become bone of our bone and flesh of our
flesh.
"The
gift of God to man is beyond all computation. Nothing was
withheld. God would not permit it to be said that He could
have done more or revealed to humanity a greater measure of
love. In the gift of Christ He gave all heaven.
"Those
who have professed to love Christ, have not comprehended the
relation which exists between them and God, and it is still
but dimly outlined to their understanding. They but vaguely
comprehend the amazing grace of God in giving His only-begotten
Son for the salvation of the world.
"In
order to secure man to Himself and ensure his eternal salvation,
Christ left the royal courts of heaven and came to this earth,
endured the agonies of sin and shame in man's stead, and died
to make him free. In view of the infinite price paid for man's
redemption, how dare any professing the name of Christ treat
with indifference one of His little ones? How patiently, kindly,
and affectionately should they deal with the purchase of the
blood of Christ!"--God's Amazing Grace,
p. 176.
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