HIS SACRIFICIAL LOVE
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends(John 15:13)
Our opening scripture brings to mind the words of the Spirit through the apostle Paul in Romans 5:8: *“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”* Think about such sacrificial love. He was condemned in our place. No wonder the Bible says, *“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…”* (Romans 8:1).
The word translated *”condemnation”* also means *”judgment”;* Jesus Christ was judged for us. 2 Corinthians 5:19 (NIV) says, *”…God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them….”* Did you notice that? God isn’t counting men’s sins against them because He laid their sins on Jesus. Jesus became the sin-bearer.
1 Peter 2:24 further makes it clearer; it says, *“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness….”* It’s the reason when we pray for sinners, we pray that they’ll come to terms with the revelation that God has given: Christ bore their sins and they don’t need to live in sin anymore. Hallelujah!
2 Corinthians 5:14 says, *”For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.”* This is absolutely legal and logical: He died for everybody; therefore, everybody died. Verse 15 says, *”And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”* Don’t live unto yourself but unto Him. This is the right response to His sacrificial love. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the priceless sacrifice of Jesus Christ who bore our sins and took our judgment upon Himself. Thank you for reconciling the world to yourself, and now we have the ministry of reconciliation, to share this glorious truth with others, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 4:9-10, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 2:20
1 Year Bible Reading Plan : Matthew 4 & Genesis 9-11
2 Year Bible Reading Plan : Matthew 2:13-23 & Genesis 4
