Sacrificial love is the greatest form of love. John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
I have heard Atheists say that Christianity is "a cult of human sacrifice", and they hilariously believe that this is a good argument against Christianity. There is no greater expression of love than one sacrificing himself for someone else. There is not a more valuable love than this. And there is not a more valuable and greater love story than the love story of Jesus Christ for sinners. God left glory to experience his own creation mock him, ridicule him, spit on him, hit him and crucify him and He took all of that on for that very creation, for you, for me, for everyone, for even the vilest and lowest of men.
The love of The Lord Jesus Christ is so deep that it is beyond understanding. The love of Christ passeth knowledge (Ephesians 3:19).
People will ask why can't God just forgive? Why does he have to die for mankind? Forgiveness cannot come without cost. In order for a man to be acquitted there must be a payment made for what he has done. Why? Because God has a nature that is distinct and governs his will. His will is not arbitrary. Thus we read in Habakkuk 1:13 - Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
Take for example, a man named Jeff has murdered a member of your family. He's taken into custody and appears in court. The judge says "I wish to show mercy to Jeff and set him free, with no ransom or recompense even though I know he's guilty." You would be rightfully angry, because justice was not served. So why do you question God for doing that which you want and expect an earthly judge to do?
If a judge just arbitrarily forgave the criminal, would you say the judge is just? No. Of course not. By doing that he has besmirched the value of the man that he murdered.
Jesus Christs death is the ransom and recompense for our sins in order that God may be just when He declares us sinners righteous. So what's the reason why God can't just forgive? Because He has to be just when he justifies the wicked. There must be a payment made, because He will by no means clear the guilty (Exodus 34:7).
God hates evil because of the purity of His eyes, because He is perfect, just and holy. Evil is something He hates within his nature. Thus if He wills to acquit man of his sins, payment must be made.
This is why Paul says in Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Propitiation means a satisfaction of wrath.
People will ask why did God have to become a man in order to save other men? If two objects A and B are similar in their properties then a change in A can cause a corresponding change in B. In order for the effects of Jesus Christs atonement to reach other men, an ether link channel must be established. An antenna was set up so that that frequency would create an ether link, a channel whereby He could affect another man. God had to become a man to create that ether link, where the effects of His atonement could accrue to those who have faith in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 Peter 2:24 - Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Don't deny the gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Now is the day of salvation. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today.
The love of The Lord Jesus Christ is so deep that it is beyond understanding. The love of Christ passeth knowledge (Ephesians 3:19).
People will ask why can't God just forgive? Why does he have to die for mankind? Forgiveness cannot come without cost. In order for a man to be acquitted there must be a payment made for what he has done. Why? Because God has a nature that is distinct and governs his will. His will is not arbitrary. Thus we read in Habakkuk 1:13 - Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
Take for example, a man named Jeff has murdered a member of your family. He's taken into custody and appears in court. The judge says "I wish to show mercy to Jeff and set him free, with no ransom or recompense even though I know he's guilty." You would be rightfully angry, because justice was not served. So why do you question God for doing that which you want and expect an earthly judge to do?
If a judge just arbitrarily forgave the criminal, would you say the judge is just? No. Of course not. By doing that he has besmirched the value of the man that he murdered.
Jesus Christs death is the ransom and recompense for our sins in order that God may be just when He declares us sinners righteous. So what's the reason why God can't just forgive? Because He has to be just when he justifies the wicked. There must be a payment made, because He will by no means clear the guilty (Exodus 34:7).
God hates evil because of the purity of His eyes, because He is perfect, just and holy. Evil is something He hates within his nature. Thus if He wills to acquit man of his sins, payment must be made.
This is why Paul says in Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Propitiation means a satisfaction of wrath.
People will ask why did God have to become a man in order to save other men? If two objects A and B are similar in their properties then a change in A can cause a corresponding change in B. In order for the effects of Jesus Christs atonement to reach other men, an ether link channel must be established. An antenna was set up so that that frequency would create an ether link, a channel whereby He could affect another man. God had to become a man to create that ether link, where the effects of His atonement could accrue to those who have faith in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 Peter 2:24 - Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Don't deny the gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Now is the day of salvation. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today.
31-35, M
