God Commends His Love
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
10/1/2017 PM
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Text:
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Romans 5:6-8
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Psalters: |
404, 249, 277, 81 |
Confession of Faith |
- The historic proof.
- To those into whose hearts God has profusely given His love, He “commendeth” it, i.e., evidences or demonstrates it.
- The historic evidence/proof of God’s love is the cross of Jesus Christ on which He willingly laid down His life for His sheep.
- We do not find the proof of God’s love in great weather or material wealth or the obtaining of our desires.
- While God’s love is seen in His giving His Son into our likeness and His life, His sacrifice is the heart of it all.
- God evidences His love in that Jesus died “in due time,” i.e., at the proper moment.
- The marvelous character of God’s love is seen in the character of those for whom He died.
- First, notice that Christ’s death was “for,” i.e., on behalf of us, for our benefit, as our substitute, taking our death on Himself.
- Jesus identified Himself with His people judicially that He might properly and completely represent them.
- His death was atoning because Jesus entered into our death as an act of His free will.
- Further, God’s love is demonstrated in the nature of those for whom He died: “without strength,” “ungodly,” “sinners.”
- For a good man, it can be conceived that someone might be willing to give their life.
- But the greatness of God’s love is that He gave His Son while we were contrary to Him, completely unworthy to be saved.
- God evidences the greatness of His unconditional and undeserved love.
- What does this prove or show?
- First, it shows God’s love does not have its source in the objects, but it has to have its source in God alone (I John 4:10).
- God’s love for us ungodly sinners is experienced to be sovereign; it is always first.
- The practical fruit of such amazing love.