The love of God, the Father, for His covenant people is greatly emphasized throughout Holy Scripture. In the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 31:3 the prophet says, "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Again, the New Testament in I John 4:9-10 says, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." That is, the great manifestation of the Father's love appears to us in the Father's sending of His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins. The greatness of the manner of the Father's love is evident in making every true believer an adopted son through faith in Christ. (v. 1) So then, believers have assurance of their Father's love; being made true sons of God by the promise of God, that Christ shall return again at the last day, and they as sons of God "shall be like Christ; for they shall see Him as He is." (v. 2) Therefore, the effect of every believer's hope in the Father's love, and in Christ's coming again is the grace of seeking to be spiritually pure as Christ is infinitely and absolutely pure. – Rev. Jonathan Merica |
