So God loves us but he doesn’t love his son, by allowing Him to die?
Answer: Jesus’ own words best explains this profound mystery.
- John 10:17-18 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again [three days after his death he would be resurrected]. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
This deep mystery finds its explanation encased within the truth that all of God’s perfect attributes work in perfect symmetry at all times.
God does NOT abandon perfect Justice to display perfect Mercy and perfect Love. Each of those attributes as well as all the others are perfectly displayed in every action.
- Hebrews 9:22 and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Sin is horrific! Only the death and shed blood of a Perfect eternal being could satisfy God’s wrath to pay the price necessary to cover sin and produce forgiveness. Jesus: Perfect Innocent Man died so the sins of the Guilty could be forgiven. Only in this way could the Guilty be restored back into a loving relationship with their Creator. God, in the form of the Son became a Man to satisfy the death penalty for forgiveness. Thus, perfect God came to earth as a Man, lived a perfect life as a Man, fulfilled perfectly all the Laws and Requirements in perfect obedience and willingly offered Himself as the SUBSTITUTE in place of any person who would believe, trust and love Him.
This is the way a guilty, sinful person can be cleansed and reconciled back to God as he was BEFORE the universe and human beings were created.
- Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus died voluntarily. Nothing can compel the holy, omnipotent God to do anything!
Jesus, the Perfect Son and Perfect Man of God, voluntarily chose to be the “sin bearer”, the sole sacrifice for sin. For this voluntary act, God the Father not ONLY RECEIVED His perfect Son back to Himself in heaven, but credited Jesus’ perfect actions to anyone who would believe in Jesus. Thus, God’s perfect love for Jesus was exponentially EXPANDED because Jesus brought many, many people into God’s eternal family that He loves JUST AS HE LOVES Jesus, His Son.
- Hebrews 2:9-18 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect [complete] through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren … Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage . . .Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation [covering] for the sins of the people.For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Summary Truth: God the Son voluntarily chose to leave heaven, come to earth and fulfill the death payment for sin so mankind could be redeemed and reconciled back to God.
- John 10:14-16 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
As we ponder God’s incredible love and sacrifice, we can only bow our heads, give thanks and join with the writer of Hebrews who declared:
- Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
So, how do we receive His forgiveness and gain salvation?
- Acts 16:29-31 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
All our love to All, In Christ –
Your friends @ WasItForMe.com
