By Nick Bibile
There is power in the love of God. We see God's power displayed in creation itself. He merely spoke His word, and instantly the heavens and the earth came into existence. Such is the magnificent, omnipotent power of God.
Again, we see His almighty power manifested through miracles. When the children of Israel were trapped between Pharaoh's army and the Red Sea, God opened the sea before them, and they walked across on dry ground.
We see His power when King Nebuchadnezzar erected a golden image and commanded all people to bow before it. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the image, they were cast into a fiery furnace. Yet not a single hair on their heads was burned.
Likewise, when Daniel was thrown into the lions' den to be devoured, God shut the mouths of the lions and preserved His servant.
Throughout the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, we witness the power of God. He healed the sick, raised the dead, fed thousands with a few loaves and fish, calmed raging storms, and walked upon the sea.
But where do we see the love of God most clearly demonstrated toward the believer?
We see His omnipotent and unchanging love in this: that He came down from heaven to save His people from hell and to give them eternal life.
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)
Notice the certainty of this promise. The angel did not say that Christ may save His people or that He will merely make salvation possible. He declared that Christ shall save His people from their sins.
This reveals both the infinite power and the unfailing love of God toward His people.
When we know that our relatives, friends, or loved ones remain unsaved, our hearts are filled with compassion. We long for them to see the truth. We pray, plead, and witness to them. Yet despite our efforts, we do not possess the power to save a single soul. Only God can save sinners.
In order to understand the greatness of God's love toward believers, we must consider the humiliation of Christ.
Heaven is a glorious place. There is no sin there. There are no hospitals, doctors, ambulances, policemen, sorrow, sickness, or death. God is exalted upon His heavenly throne in perfect majesty.
Yet the Second Person of the Trinity, the eternal Son of God, willingly left the glory of heaven and came into this fallen world. This was an act of astonishing humility.
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:6-8)
The eternal Son of God was born into a poor family. He was laid in a manger. The King of Glory entered the world in humility. Why? Because of His love for His people.
We were born sinners. We violated God's holy law. We lived in rebellion against Him and stood under His righteous curse. We deserved His wrath and eternal condemnation.
Yet Christ came to rescue us.
The love of Christ is seen particularly in two ways:
His Active Obedience
His Passive Obedience
What is meant by Christ's active obedience?
It refers to His perfect fulfillment of the law of God throughout His entire life.
God's law requires perfect obedience.
"Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live..." (Deuteronomy 4:1)
Yet Scripture declares:
"There is none righteous, no, not one." (Romans 3:10)
No fallen human being has ever perfectly obeyed God's law. Therefore, no one can earn righteousness before God.
Yet Jesus came to do what we could never do.
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." (Matthew 5:17)
The Lord Jesus loved His people so much that He became their representative. Though we had broken God's law, Christ fulfilled every commandment perfectly on our behalf.
He never sinned. He never failed. Though tempted in every way, He remained perfectly holy and obedient.
How does His active obedience benefit believers?
By it, we receive His righteousness.
"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested..." (Romans 3:21)
At the cross, the perfect righteousness of Christ was imputed, or credited, to the believing sinner. Because of Christ's obedience, believers are accepted before God and given a title to heaven.
When we look at our unsaved relatives, children, and friends, we may instruct them concerning right and wrong. We may point them to Christ. But we cannot give them righteousness. Only Christ can do that.
What amazing love! He obeyed perfectly in our place so that we might be counted righteous before God.
The love of Christ is also revealed in His passive obedience.
The word passive does not mean inactivity. It comes from a Latin word meaning "to suffer."
Christ's passive obedience refers to His willing submission to suffering and death in order to bear the penalty for our sins.
When did His passive obedience begin?
It began as He crossed the Brook Kidron on His way to Gethsemane and ultimately to Calvary.
"When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron..." (John 18:1)
The Brook Kidron lay between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. During the reforms of godly kings such as Hezekiah and Josiah, the impurities and idols removed from the temple were cast into this brook (2 Chronicles 29:15-16; 30:14; 2 Kings 23:6).
How significant it is that the holy Son of God crossed this brook as He began His journey to the cross. Symbolically, He was preparing to bear the impurities, idolatries, and sins of His people.
After crossing Kidron, Christ entered the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives.
"Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42)
What was this cup?
The cup represented the sins of God's people, the curse of the law, and the full fury of God's righteous wrath against sin.
The Scriptures frequently use the cup as a symbol of divine judgment.
"For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup... all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them." (Psalm 75:8)
"The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God... poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation." (Revelation 14:10)
Every sin of God's people was gathered, as it were, into that dreadful cup.
Luke records:
"And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:44)
As Christ contemplated bearing the wrath of God against sin, His agony was so intense that His sweat became like drops of blood.
What love!
True love is demonstrated in suffering.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
Notice that Christ calls believers His friends. Once we were enemies of God, but through His grace we have been reconciled.
After praying, Christ rose and went forward like a mighty warrior to face the judgment awaiting Him.
He did not flee from Judas.
He did not avoid His enemies.
He willingly surrendered Himself.
He was mocked, beaten, scourged, and crucified.
All of this He endured for His people.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
Through Christ's suffering and death, our guilt was removed.
Our sins were forgiven.
Our punishment was borne by another.
Suppose a thief stole ten million dollars and was caught. Even if a wealthy friend repaid every dollar and compensated for all the damages, the thief would still be guilty of the crime. Justice demands punishment.
Likewise, our sins required judgment.
Therefore, Christ not only paid our debt, but He also endured the punishment that our sins deserved.
All our sins were transferred to Him.
The wrath of God fell upon Him.
"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows...
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5)
This is love in action.
This is true love.
True love willingly suffers for the good of another.
The greatest display of love in all history is the omnipotent love of God revealed in Jesus Christ.
He came to seek and save those who were lost.
His love does not change.
It does not diminish.
It is an everlasting love that endures forever.
Once you understand how deeply, humbly, and painfully Christ demonstrated His love for you, there can be only one proper response:
You will love Him in return.
"We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
If we love our spouse, children, possessions, hobbies, entertainment, sports, money, or the pleasures of this world more than Christ, those things become idols.
How can we continue to cherish sin when Christ suffered so greatly to save us from it?
The apostle Paul gives this solemn warning:
"If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha." (1 Corinthians 16:22)
The word Anathema speaks of being devoted to divine judgment. Those who reject Christ must drink for themselves the bitter cup of God's wrath which Christ drank for His people.
May God grant us hearts that behold the love of Christ, trust in Him alone for salvation, and love Him above all else.
Soli Deo Gloria.