“For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16

WHAT A WORLD we are living in today! Statistics show us that thousands are being murdered yearly in America by shootings, knifings, muggings, rapes, child abuse, vandalism and thievery. Prisons are overcrowded and law en-forcement agencies are at their wit’s end. Even in the home, almost half of all marriages end in divorce. The Bible sums it up — “living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another” (Titus 3:3). “Being filled with all un-righteousness, fornication, wickedness (homosexuality — the gays), covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder . . . haters of God” (Romans 1:29,30).

In the midst of such depressing and sobering facts, how wonderful it is to know that there is a supreme love show-ered from heaven upon the wretched, guilty sons of men. Man’s utter and total ruin through Adam’s fall is the rea-son for the sad results we see in our world today. Yet God, in His matchless love, has provided a means whereby man can be cleansed of his sin, elevated into the very presence of God, and constituted an heir of God with an in-heritance in heaven. This divine love is not the love of complacency or affection — it is not a love flowing because of any virtue in us, for we have none. God’s love is higher than that! His love is the exercise of Divine will in delib-erate choice made without assignable cause, other than that which lies in the nature of God Himself. It is the deep and constant love of an absolutely perfect Being toward entirely unworthy objects. Friend, you are the object of God’s love.

GOD’S LOVE MANIFESTED

Love can be known only from the action it prompts. God’s action has proved His love, without a shadow of doubt. “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (I John 4:9).

What a wondrous event it was, when God sent His only Son from heaven to earth to become incarnate at Bethle-hem. “As the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same” (Hebrews 2:14). He clothed Himself with humanity — God sent His own Son in the likeness ofsinful flesh (Romans 8:3); yet in His very nature and being, He was sinless. “He was rich (in heaven), yet for your sakes He became poor (on earth)” (II Corinthians 8:9). The glory that He had with His Father in eternity, was veiled. He took the place of ab-ject poverty. He was “a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). Why? All in love to you!

GOD’S LOVE PROVED

If a friend was condemned to die for a crime, and the governor decreed that if one were willing to die in the crimi-nal’s place, the criminal could go free — would you volunteer? If so, you would be manifesting the greatest love a mortal could exhibit, for the Lord said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Paul speaks of “God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us” (Ephe-sians 2:4). This great love was proven at Calvary. “God commendeth (or, giveth proof of) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God “spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all” (Romans 8:32). Think of it, we, termed by God as “enemies,” “ungodly” and “sinners” (Romans 5:6,8,10), yet He loved us! “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:10). “Propitiation” simply means that Christ, through His death on the Cross, has paid the penalty for sin (made expiation). This act has enabled God to come forth in mercy and forgive you of all your sins and guilt, if by faith you trust His Son as your Sacrifice and Saviour. Why was there such an offer from God? — It was all in love to you!

GOD’S LOVE BESTOWED

All who have trusted the Lord Jesus can exclaim like John, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (I John 3:1). Think of it! Forgiven! Redeemed! Saved, and made a child of God eternally! I can say like Paul, “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Can you? Or are you like those of whom the Lord said, “I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you”? (John 5:42).

GOD’S LOVE PRAISED

As John begins to write the Book of The Revelation, thinking of the supreme greatness of our Lord, he exclaims, “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood . . . to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5,6).

His love never diminishes or fails — His blood ever cleanses! Why not trust the One who died for you in love. To-day!

“GOD IS LIGHT. . . GOD IS LOVE"
I JOHN 1:5; 4:8