Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John 4:10-11
Why did God save us at all? Was it because we deserved mercy? No, Was it because of our good works? No, Was it because God needs us? Absolutely not, the only reason God saved any of us, is because God loves us, period! It’s amazing when you hear the non-believer or atheists state that God is hateful or cruel. God gave His only begotten Son to save us from our sins, that’s true love demonstrated on the cross!
If I ask you “Do you love Jesus”? You might say Yes! But why do you love Jesus? The reason you love Jesus is because He loved you first! God called you by name, He regenerated your heart, and put the love of Christ inside you. The only reason we are saved is because God loved us first, not that we loved Christ first
The Apostle John says here “This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved Us” Before you were saved you didn’t love God, in fact you were an enemy of God. In fact by your actions, you hated God. You rebelled against God in every aspect of your life, you blasphemed his name, you disregarded His laws, yet God still loved us and saved us from our sins.
How did God save us? As the Apostle John continues “And sent His Son (Jesus) to be the propitiation for our sins” The original Greek word translated as propitiation is “hilasmon” which can also mean “atoning sacrifice” Christ is the propitiation and atoning sacrifice for Your sins! Think about that! God has every right to send us to eternal Hell for our sins, however Christ took our place on the cross to pay our debt. That is the true love of God demonstrated for us!
So how do we respond? As the Apostle John says here “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to also to love one another” We love the Church, because Christ loves Us. Those who neglect the Church, have trampled on the blood of Christ. You have no choice but to love others, this is your calling and your orders by Christ, this is not an option.
We don’t do “good works” to be saved, yet because we are saved we produce “good works” because the Holy Spirit is living inside of us! This is not a hard concept to understand, yet many live in rebellion against God to not “Love their neighbor”. If you are truly saved, you will love your neighbor because Christ loves you. As Jesus said “A good tree produces good fruit” (Matthew 7:17)
Remember you love Jesus because Jesus loved you first! God has called you, cleansed you, and sanctified you to be Born Again, Amen!
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