| The Love of God... By Timothy W. Burnett |
| Let's shine more light on the subject of God's perfect love. It is written, "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1John 3:16). Jesus demonstrated God's love by laying down his life for us. Because of this, we are able to know God's love by laying down our lives for the brethren. Jesus Christ's crucifixion and death helps to better understand God's love. Luke 23:26-43 records a number of ways Jesus demonstrated God's love. Jesus Christ faced two illegal trials. He was beaten, spit on and falsely accused by his own people. He was beaten and whipped by Roman soldiers. By the time he bagan his walk to his crucifixion, nobody could recognize him. His physical strength was so drained, the soldiers had to seize another man named Simon to carry the heavy beam. During this walk he still had a sound mind to prophesy of the "daughters of Jerusalem." Jesus was one of three malefactors led in together. He was placed between the others. Next he prayed for his Father to forgive the soldiers who were nailing him, because they did not know spiritually what they were doing. The soldiers then parted his garment. Nearly everbody mocked him. His accusation was nailed above him. While hanging on the tree, one of the malefactors continued to rail on him saying, "if thou be the Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, 'Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, but this man hath done nothing amiss.'" then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." And Jesus said unto him, "verily I say unto thee today, thou shalt be with me in paradise." The malefactor knew Jesus Christ's kingdom would come in the future. Jesus also knew that his everlasting kingdom was yet to come. Still, after all he suffered and endured, he was able to show God's love and forgiveness toward the malefactor. When all is fulfilled, and the "new Jerusalem" is established according to Revelation 21:1-2, the other malefactor will be in paradise with Jesus. So, how do God's children during the Age of Grace show His love? "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1John 3:17). Because of what Jesus Christ did, God's children now have the authority to show God's perfect love with truly good deeds, even as Jesus Christ did throughout his ministry on earth. Difference is we are not called unto dead sacrifices, but living sacrifices in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. |