LOVE DEMONSTRATED

“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 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 4:9-10)

Our ideas of love often involve words—saying, “I love you,” writing a love note, sending a card, or singing a love song.  God has said that He loves us, but it goes beyond words.

Often we think of love as a special feeling we have—and doubtless God has an incredible feeling of compassion towards us, but it goes beyond a feeling.

Love is an action.  God did something—and the  giving of His Son is the indescribable demonstration!  We may be tempted at times to doubt God’s love, when we face trials and tragedies, but I ask you to look at Calvary and you cannot question God’s love!

That love was not given to the deserving, but to the damnable.  He loved us when we did not love Him!

Many try to make Allah the same as Yahweh.  They are not.  Islam’s god loves those who love him.  He gives his love to those who earn it.  Christianity’s God loves all—even the infidel.

He has paid the price for our sins. That is the meaning of “propitiation.”  It declares God’s wrath that we merit has been appeased because of Christ’s death in our place.

Although God loves all people, those who are His children receive a special love.   “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John‬ ‭3:1-2‬)

OUR GREAT DELIVERER

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.  (Hebrews 2:14-15)

No matter who you are or what you have done—none is without the need of salvation or beyond the reach of the Savior.  He is mighty to save.  Jesus came into this world to deliver us from sin and bring us into the family of God.  This is the theme of Hebrews 2.

We are DELIVERED FROM THE CURSE OF SIN (v.5-9).  This speaks of Christ’s incarnation as the Last Adam. Jesus stepped out of the splendor of heaven into this sin-cursed world and did so to reverse the curse as the Last Adam.  It was the first Adam—a man who brought the curse upon this creation and it would be another Man—God become Man—that would establish a new creation.  The writer stresses that it will be a Man, not an angel that will rule over the new world to come (v.5).  Verses 6-8 come from Psalm 8.  In that psalm, David looks into the vastness of the night sky, considers the countless stars, and is amazed that he a little speck on a planet which is but a tiny particle in the cosmos, could claim the attention of the Creator who made it all.  What grace is this!  Yet, it is true.  God knows you and cares for you.  He placed humans in this world to exercise dominion over the creation.  Jesus came in human flesh as the Son of Man.  He has not brought all things under subjection to Himself yet—but He will!

We are DELIVERED BY THE CAPTAIN OF SALVATION (v.10-13).  We have Christ’s identification as the Captain of Salvation.  Jesus has so identified Himself with us that as the Father sees Him, so He sees us.  The sinless One perfectly fulfilled His mission and in His suffering on the cross could cry, “It is finished!”  The expression, “the captain of…salvation” shows Him charging the gates of Hell, securing our freedom, and leading us victoriously, “bringing many sons to glory” (v.10)!  It is our position in Christ that makes us acceptable to Holy God.  As C.S. Lewis said, “The Son of God became the Son of Man that the sons of men might become the sons of God.”  We are now in the family of God and can call God our Father in Heaven!

We are DELIVERED FROM THE CAPTIVITY OF SIN (v.14-16).  This is Christ’s intervention as the Seed of Woman.  This expression is found in Gen.3:15—the serpent struck His heel, but His heel crushed the serpent’s head.  He became one of us that He might die for us.  Jesus didn’t come to redeem fallen angels, but sinful people.  He sets us free from the fear of death.  Jesus came in fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.

We are DELIVERED FROM THE CONDEMNATION OF SIN (v.17-18).  That is Christ’s intercession as the Great High Priest.  He was the Priest and the offering.  He is “merciful”—willing to save; He is “faithful”—able to save!  “Propitiation” means that God is satisfied with the sacrifice.  His righteous wrath is appeased.  Our High Priest understands for He has walked among us.  Jesus knows what you’re going through.  He is not aloof from our affliction.  More than caring—wonderful grace that is—He is able to deliver you!