The Love Of God

In the first topic “God’s Word”, we learned how God has spoken to our world through Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and the Prophets as recorded in the Bible. And it is in the Bible where we discover how God has demonstrated His love for us by sending Jesus into this world to rescue us at our greatest point of need!

MANS NEED

When God created the first man and woman, He set the boundaries that would govern their lives. From the beginning, they disobeyed God, resulting in separation from Him and death.[1] Tragically, the same consequences which they suffered as a result of their transgression have become a reality for all of mankind because like them every person has broken God’s commandments.[2] But God had a plan which He formed before the foundation of the world to save mankind from the devastating results of sin.[3]

GOD’S PLAN

In the Law of Moses God had instructed the Nation of Israel to sacrifice animals on a regular basis for the atonement of their sins.[4] This was a temporary remedy for sin put in place until God set His plan of salvation in motion by sending Jesus to be the Savior of the world.[5] Even though Jesus was without sin, those who hated Him had Him arrested and executed by Roman crucifixion. All this took place, not by chance, but by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.[6]

THE GOSPEL

God’s plan, the apostle Paul tells us, was for Jesus to die on the cross in our place for our sins. While the Old Testament animal sacrifices made temporary provision for the forgiveness of sin under the Mosaic Covenant, Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross once and for all has made possible the forgiveness of sin under the New Covenant. This is the good news of the Gospel and it is the power of God at work to accomplish His plan of salvation![7]

THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN

Metaphorically speaking, the apostle Paul explains that each one of us has something he called a “certificate of debt” which lists all of our sins and declares us guilty of breaking God’s law. Unless that certificate of debt is totally wiped out, and all our sins are forgiven, we have no hope of being reconciled to God. On the cross the debt of sin was wiped away, and the perfect righteousness which one needs to be saved and live with God forever was purchased and can be ours as a gift from God through faith in Jesus![8]

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

The apostle Paul because of his faith in Christ, considered himself as one who had received this gift of righteousness from God. Paul explained that God allowed Jesus who was sinless to take upon Himself our sin, and to suffer the penalty of death on the cross in our place, so that those who believe in Him can also be declared righteous in God’s sight and reconciled to Him. All of this is a gift from God which can be received through faith, because good works cannot cancel out our sins. Jesus substitutionary death on the cross for our sins was the only way to accomplish God’s plan of salvation.[9]

THE LOVE OF GOD

The apostle Paul, realizing the depth of the love of God expressed in God’s plan of salvation marveled and rejoiced in it! This included the love of Jesus who being aware of His coming suffering and death went willingly to the cross of Calvary in the ultimate sacrifice of all time to make atonement for the sins of the world. The apostle Paul having been transformed by this love, which motivated every aspect of his life, wanted nothing more than for others to come to know this love for themselves![10]

So far, we have learned of our need for the forgiveness of our sins, and we have seen how God has demonstrated His love for us in providing for this need through the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross.

There is additional information in the “Library” and other resources available on the “Resources” page to learn more about this topic. But first, please continue to the next page to consider what one must do in response to God’s love and the Gospel message. What is God’s will for our lives when it comes to this great salvation which He has provided?

NOTES:

[1] Genesis 1:1; 26, 27; Genesis 2:15-17; Genesis 3:17-24; Isaiah 59:1-2

[2] Romans 5:12,18,19; Romans 3:23;1 John 1:8; Romans 6:23

[3] Isaiah 25:1; 46:9-10; 1 Peter 1:17-21

[4] Leviticus 4:27-31

[5] Hebrews 10:1-10; 1 Timothy 1:15; 1 John 4:14

[6] Acts 2:22-24; Acts 3:13-15; Acts 4:27-28;

[7] Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Romans 1:16-17; 1 Peter 3:18

[8] Colossians 2:13-14; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21; Romans 6:23

[9] Philippians 3:7-9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-9

[10] Romans 8:31-39; John 10:17-18; John 15:12-14; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Ephesians 3:14-19; Revelation 1:5-6