Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiations for our sins. Dear Friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:7-12
Take a moment and think about why God sent His Son into the world? John 1:29 says, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Then He says in 1 John 4:10, “God … sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” He came to take away our sins and its the cause for God’s decision to send Jesus to earth; but its more than just the payment for sin.
John states two causes for why God sent HIs Son to Earth. Reread the verses above. Can you see what the causes are? God sent His Son to earth to satisfy the penalty of sin and appeasing the holy wrath of the Father poured out on all righteousness. The Atonement was the finale cause. However, first God’s love was revealed. God’s love for us, His creation, was the efficient cause. His love for us was for us before sin ever entered the world. He chose us in love. God’s plan all along was for Jesus’ incarnation and atoning work on the cross to save us, to redeem us, to be able to reconcile with Him again.
God loves His creation. He loves you, he chose you. He never changes.
Have you accepted God’s love for you? To live your life for Him? How can you share this love of God with others?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your plan of redemption. Thank you for sending your Son to earth to make the way for us to you. Thank you for loving us before sin. Thank you for choosing us. I pray that we will follow your plan and accept your plan of love.
In Jesus Name
Amen
