Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Herein is love means that love did not begin with people loving God, but with God loving people and sending His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for their sins. He manifested that love by giving His only-begotten Son into the world, heaven's greatest gift with nothing more to bestow, that people might live through Him. That gift cannot be measured or fully comprehended, for God's love is full and deep and unchangeable, far beyond weak and changeable human love. Because God so loved, those who believe ought also to love one another, and this love in deed and in truth is the test of genuine experience and the life of the church. Beholding this love melts the heart, uproots selfishness, moves sinners to repentance, and transforms character into generosity, obedience, and devoted service.
Love Begins With God
Herein is love does not mean that people first loved God, but that God first loved people and sent His Son to be the propitiation for sins. Love began with God while the world was godless and corrupted, and the Father made the great sacrifice of sending His Son to make atonement and deal with sin. God manifested that love for the world by sending His only-begotten Son to save sinners, so that through His grace humans might be partakers of the divine nature and stand on vantage ground with God. That love is measureless and beyond human language, seen in Christ's life on earth, His sacrifice for sinners, His work in heaven as advocate, and the homes He is preparing for those who love Him, leaving only wonder at its height and depth.
God manifested His love toward us because He sent His only-begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. This sending was the work His message is to perform in heart and mind, giving the perpetual life of the church to love God supremely and to love others as self, with the bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness bringing life and hope as sinners behold Christ, hear His assurance to fear not because He lives forevermore, and apply the blood of the spotless Lamb to their own hearts so they shall live because He lives. Truly loving God is shown by manifesting Christlike love to all with lovingkindness of heart, judgment and righteousness, by uniting in sanctified association and cooperating with Christ, and by telling of the Saviour's love and the love His children should manifest for one another. Because God so loved, those who are loved ought also to love one another, and God's gift of His Spirit confirms that He dwells in them.
Sent to be the propitiation means the Father gave His Son as the atoning sacrifice, substitute, surety and Saviour to deal with sin, secure salvation, and give pardon and life. After Adam and Eve transgressed all hope was excluded, justice demanded the death of the sinner and the world stood guilty under condemnation, and Christ gave Himself in humanity's place by giving His life for the world. In spiritual destitution humans had nothing to offer, so Christ came to this world and on the cross offered Himself as the substitute heaven provided to secure salvation and save from eternal death. The world is pictured as the one lost sheep strayed from the fold, whose guilt as well as helplessness was charged against it and stood in the way hindering its return. Christ alone represents the Father and intercedes for people as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and no human priest can take His place.
The verse presents the righteousness of Christ as precious light, not new light, that had for a time been lost sight of and must be presented, repeated, and made prominent. It teaches acceptance of Christ as personal Saviour, by whom the righteousness of God in Christ is imputed. The verse was given because brotherly love was waning in the church, and it urges the constant exercise of love for one another as the duty that flows from God's love. It proves that everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, while one who does not love does not know God.
Lost World Needing Salvation
Herein is love is set against a humanity that was corrupt, idolatrous, rebellious, godless, apostate and ruined, with all hope excluded after Adam and Eve transgressed and the world standing guilty, helpless and under condemnation. The guilt as well as the helplessness of that strayed sheep hindered its return, for the world was charged as the one lost sheep strayed from the fold. After centuries of forbearance that ended in the flood cleansing the old world, humanity again multiplied into widespread rebellion and vice under Satan until the image of God was nearly obliterated.
Justice demanded the death of the sinner, with wrath and destruction of the world by fire, and outraged justice could have passed speedy sentence. Heaven and unfallen worlds waited for righteous condemnation when forbearance had not led to repentance and enmity was deep-seated, and angels expected the blow of justice. At the crisis when the earth was filled with transgression after centuries of patience with cruel treatment of His ambassadors and with His holy law despised and trampled underfoot, justice was due and expected, with the voices of the sacrificed crying beneath the altar for retribution, all heaven ready to move, and angels looking for God to punish the earth with fire, thunderings, lightnings, earthquakes and destruction at one word from Him. Although justice and retribution could have led God to give His angelic ministers the vials of wrath to punish a rebellious world for its treatment of the Prince of heaven, He did not do this.
Instead God unveiled the plan of salvation and in amazing grace sent His only begotten Son into the world to save the world, not to condemn it, so that through Him the world might be saved. In love and mercy God gave man another opportunity, and Christ's coming was an act of grace, not condemnation, by which taking sinless human nature He could bear every transgression and give His life to make reconciliation possible. Though sin separated man from God, benevolence kept flowing toward earth and increased through successive ages until, when the fullness of time had come, He poured out heavenly grace in one great gift of love. Christ's mission made evident that the race stood under the menace of incensed justice, on the verge of eternal ruin, in helplessness and ignorance, and Jesus came bringing full assurance of relief.
That plan of redemption was devised from all eternity and cannot be altered by thought or imagination, so that whether a lesser gift would have been adequate is unanswerable and it is not profitable to conjecture. Before the foundation of the world the Father in union with the Son devised it in a covenant of peace between them. When the fulness of time was come God could reveal Himself in no other way than by sending forth His Son, the Eternal Word made flesh dwelling among men, with mercy without parallel striving to melt the hardened sin-bound heart.
Sin began when Adam believed Satan rather than God, and the promised Saviour was a star of hope to humanity's first parents. In giving His Son, the perfect image of Himself, the Just suffered for the unjust, and its saving purpose makes God's goodness shine even more brightly than at creation. The gift answered death itself, for God loved humanity and gave His Son to save people from death and displayed His love for all to see.
Its full breadth was not understood until after the sufferings of Christ, His crucifixion and resurrection and proclamation as the resurrection and the life, His appearance to the five hundred in Galilee, His ascension, and the revelation of love when the Holy Spirit rested on the disciples at Pentecost. At Pentecost the disciples recognized this imparted gift as the Spirit's power was poured out, and words of repentance, confession, praise for forgiveness, thanksgiving, and prophecy followed, with power then bringing thousands to conversion.
Son Given to Save
The Father gave His only-begotten Son, the express image of Himself, as heaven's best gift and the greatest gift in His power, with nothing more to bestow. In Christ God gave Himself, a gift beyond all parallel of infinite value, giving the fullness with no reserve of grace or power or glory, so that He could not give less nor was it possible to give more. In giving Jesus to the world God gave the whole treasure of heaven, furnishing amply every power in grace and every efficiency that redemption requires so that people may be complete in Him, and through eternal ages its exhibitions will keep living freshness and increasing interest forever exceeding all conceptions. This is the great love and condescension of God in giving His Son to die so that people might find pardon and live, an exhibition of grace that cannot be surpassed.
The Son was sent to save sinners and not to condemn them, and by grace He took human nature and bound His divinity with humanity so that people might share the divine nature and stand on vantage ground with God. By taking human nature while remaining sinless He could bear every transgression as an offering for the fallen race and give His life for humanity, making reconciliation with God possible. He was permitted to come where Satan claimed dominion as a helpless babe subject to the weakness of humanity, to meet life's peril, temptation and conflict in common with every human soul and to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it.
God permitted His Son to be delivered up for offenses, and toward the Sin Bearer He took the character of a judge, laying aside the endearing qualities of a father. In this the Just suffered for the unjust, the perfect image of Himself given to save people from death, a gift answering the sin that began when Adam believed Satan rather than God and promised as a star of hope to humanity's first parents. He met a bitterer conflict and a more fearful risk at the risk of failure and eternal loss, that the path of life might be made sure for little ones.
His life among men was far from ease or pleasure, in painful daily toil, weary, hungry, sorrowful, opposed and misrepresented, acquainted with grief and weighted with responsibility beyond any other human being, yet unfailing and undiscouraged in His mission. On the cross He bore sin alone, even as those He came to save turned against Him, and His love for them was expressed in His prayer for their forgiveness. Stepping lower and lower in humiliation until He could go no lower, He suffered and died, and His finished work became the propitiation for sins, making it possible to become clean through faith in Him.
Christ took human nature, elevated man in moral worth with God by a life of humiliation, carried that adopted nature to the throne of God, and presents His children to the Father to receive honor exceeding that bestowed upon angels. That measureless love, beyond human language, is seen in Christ's life on earth, His infinite sacrifice and dying agonies on the cross as the Prince of glory, His work in heaven as advocate, and the mansions He has gone to prepare for His obedient ones who love Him. Contemplation lingers only around the edge of a measureless love like a vast ocean without bottom or shore, leaving only wonder, amazement, silence and a faint conception of the height and depth of Christ's love which makes heaven.
The provision in sending the Son is for the whole world and not for a few only, extending to the sins of the whole world and revealing how God regards sinners dead in trespasses, far from the Father's house and perishing with hunger. Infinite benevolence pours out its treasures to save souls from sin so that man may be made one with God and the whole world encircled with grace, embracing the world with an atmosphere of grace that gives eternal life to all who choose to inhale it. Christ alone represents the Father and intercedes for people as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, shown at Calvary in a love beyond measure, and no human priest can take His place.
Measureless Gift of Love
Herein is love that cannot be measured or computed, with no line to measure it and no standard to compare it. Human language is far too feeble to depict it, and it is beyond the comprehension of the wisest human beings and even of angels. It is amazing, beyond language to measure and without parallel, defying all computation. That love is not that men loved God, but that God loved men while the world was godless and corrupted and in spiritual destitution with nothing to offer, and gave His beloved Son to die for them while they were yet sinners as the substitute heaven provided to secure salvation and save from eternal death. Angels exclaim in amazement over it as they think of the sacrifice Christ made, see how completely He identifies His interests with His blood-bought people, and see how tenderly He deals with the tried and tempted, leaving only wonder at the height and depth of Christ's love. It is seen in Christ's life on earth, His sacrifice for sinners, His work in heaven as advocate, and the homes He is preparing for those who love Him.
That love is full and deep and unchangeable, unlike weak and changeable human love. Infinite benevolence pours out its treasures to save souls from sin so that man may be made one with God and the whole world encircled with grace. Contemplating it should set souls aglow, for God who commanded light to shine out of darkness shines into the hearts of all who believe to give the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
It is matchless, incomprehensible, and wise, which all heaven bends low to behold and adore. That Love was revealed in power on the day of Pentecost when the Infinite One descended by the Holy Spirit as a rushing mighty wind upon the assembled disciples, after ages of restraint pouring the riches of the Spirit's power and grace upon the church with a fulness that reached every waiting, praying heart. Grasping that imparted gift brings wonder and adoration, with penitence and confession mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven, thanksgiving, and prophecy. What follows is converting power, for the sword of the Spirit edged with power cuts through unbelief so that thousands are converted in a day, and hearts are filled with a full, deep, far-reaching benevolence that impels going to the ends of the earth, glorying only in the cross, longing to add to the church those who will be saved until all nations hear the truth and the earth is filled with the glory of the Lord.
God loved to such an extent that He gave full and complete evidence, a gift whose value cannot be estimated, beyond all computation, heaven's best gift and the greatest gift in His power with nothing more to bestow, no reserve of grace or power or glory. He left no chance for the tempter to say He did not love, for had He done less Satan and his agencies would have inspired jealousy by intimating He could have done more. The gift is a wonder to all worlds and all created intelligences, ever enlarging ideas of the infinity and greatness of His love. Whether a lesser gift would have been adequate for redemption is unanswerable, and it is not profitable to conjecture, for the plan of redemption devised from all eternity cannot be altered by thought or imagination.
The gift proves He is unwilling to give up His people, with His heart turned and His repentings kindled toward a corrupt, idolatrous, rebellious race. It proves the Father is not unloving or vindictive but a tender, loving Father, a God of holiness and a God of love, who in union with the Son devised the plan of redemption before the foundation of the world in a covenant of peace between them and gave Himself in the gift of His Son. He permitted His only-begotten Son, the express image of Himself, to be delivered up for offenses, and toward the Sin Bearer took the character of a judge, laying aside the endearing qualities of a father. In the crucifixion on Calvary His justice and love are both expressed, manifesting the immutability of His holy law, where justice and truth meet together and righteousness and peace kiss each other. With wonder and admiration the heavenly angels declared that this self-sacrificing act of giving Christ to save men from the penalty of sin rather than condemn them, when men were without strength, ungodly and yet sinners and Satan's warfare seemed growing, is love.
Calvary is an everlasting monument reared for eternity to prove the interest of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for every believing soul, with this love inscribed upon it. That matchless love is never left without a witness in temporal blessings and spiritual blessings, in seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, in filling hearts with food and gladness and feeding with heavenly manna, in making the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice, and in day unto day uttering speech and night unto night teaching the knowledge of His great love.
Calvary shows how God regards sinners dead in trespasses and sins, far from the Father's house and perishing with hunger in sin. It is the costly offering for an apostate and ruined race, pictured as the one lost sheep strayed and wandering far from the fold, and all heaven is enlisted in sympathy for that wandering sheep. This provision is not limited to believers but extends to the sins of the whole world. When Satan's delusions are broken and the sinner looks to Calvary and sees what was given, he contemplates the love of God, is deeply moved, and becomes repentant, and comprehending even faintly that compassion changes how a person looks and lives, for by beholding Christ on the cross the poor sinner is changed and transformed in character from glory to glory.
Love One Another
Because God so loved, those who are loved ought also to love one another, and this mutual love is the perpetual life of the church, the pattern commanded by Christ, the credential that Christ is formed within, and the test and measure of genuine religious experience and sanctification. Love begins with God and not with human love for God, for God manifested love toward sinners by sending His only-begotten Son into the world to deal with sins as propitiation and atonement so that people might live through Him with life and hope. The message was given because brotherly love was waning and there was little love for God or man, urging the constant exercise of love for one another as the duty flowing from God's love and the work His message is to perform in every heart and mind. Those who receive it are greatly blessed, seeing the bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness with life and hope springing up in their hearts as they behold Christ, hear His assurance to fear not because He lives forevermore, and apply the blood of the spotless Lamb to their own hearts so they shall live because He lives. Truly loving God is shown by manifesting Christlike love to all with lovingkindness of heart, judgment and righteousness, by uniting in sanctified association and cooperating with Christ, and by telling of the Saviour's love and the love His children should manifest for one another.
Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, for God is love, while one who does not love does not know God and abides in death, for there is no loveless Christian. That love is the source and measure of Christian character, so everyone born of God and knowing God will love because God is love. Though no one has seen God at any time, when believers love one another God dwells in them and His love is perfected in them, which is known by His giving of His Spirit. This perfected love gives boldness in the day of judgment because as He is so are believers in this world, and it drives out fear.
This love is not in word or tongue only but in deed and in truth, springing constantly from within to help and bless others, even to laying down life for the brethren and to giving to a needy brother from this world's good instead of shutting up compassion. Its full breadth was not understood until after the sufferings of Christ, His crucifixion and resurrection and proclamation as the resurrection and the life, His ascension, and after the Holy Spirit rested on the disciples at Pentecost, when that love was revealed. The teaching is clear and explicit that action is to be fashioned after the divine standard, and the love of Christ in the heart works like leaven with life-giving power to bring all of mind and soul and strength into complete harmony with the divine life. He who loves God will love his brother also, for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen, and to claim otherwise is to lie.
When those who have surrendered their wills to God's will and their ways to God's ways are bound heart to heart in harmony and love in the faith and love of Jesus Christ in the bonds of Christian union, especially when a new church is formed, attending angels from heaven declare over that unity, Herein is love. That love is the Father sending His Son to be the Saviour of the world. Christ is present in its assemblies by His Holy Spirit, joining the work of the church in heaven with the church on earth, so the church united in the truth shines as a bright light to the world.
This love kept glowing in the heart reconciles the human will to God's will through Christ as Mediator, produces faith that works by love and purifies the soul, makes believers one as Christ is one with the Father, and makes them a life-giving influence for all for whom Christ died. It keeps a person warm and sympathetic instead of cold as an iceberg, makes believers pitiful and courteous in treating with care the souls Christ died to save, and leaves no room for strife, contention, suspicion, evil thinking and evil speaking against brethren. It spreads from home life into the church, the neighborhood, the community, and the nations, and its transforming power in the life is the sign of discipleship shown to church and world and a strong argument for genuine conversion, proving how precious every soul is in God's sight.
The coming of the Saviour to the world in human flesh is an expression of love coming from God as the Source of all love that the fallen race can understand. This love is to be made plain and simple by ministers of the gospel both by precept and by example so it can be easily understood, and though fallen, ministers can tangibly exemplify it in their own lives by manifesting the kindness, forbearance, mercy, and love of Christ. All who believe can reveal in their lives to the world and to the heavenly universe that they have this same love in their hearts, so that all will understand that love. Children should learn from their earliest years of God's love revealed in Christ by sending His Son, and this love teaches them to love one another.
Christ's love for fallen people, including the weak, erring, and sinful, is to awaken humility and a deep, active love for others, especially those struggling against sin. Love is the revelation of the love of God in practice, not love for self, and all gifts are of no value unless controlled by this softened, subduing spirit of love. Love for the brethren is essential for daily happiness in this life and in the life to come, and Christian love bears its fruit in loving what God loves because God loves it, which Christian religion requires to be lived out.
Living by This Love
Contemplation of this love uproots selfishness from the heart and so transforms the soul that generosity is cherished, self-denial is practiced, and God is imitated, changing character from glory to glory by beholding Christ, with seeing that love at the cross moving sinners to repentance. It is an exalted theme for contemplation, along with the beauty of holiness, that lifts thought beyond narrow worldly thinking into the vastness of the Infinite, unfolding justice and mercy to the moral perceptions and discerning the grievous character of sin with its results. Dwelling on Christ's love and mercy fills the soul with abhorrence for all that is sinful, inspires intense desire for the righteousness of Christ, and gives clearer discernment of defects of character. That dwelling leads to confessing sins to Christ with true contrition, putting them away in cooperation with Him, and believing they are pardoned because God's Word will not fail, with distrust and doubt of His goodness being wrong in light of such evidence that amazes angels and is beyond comprehension of the wisest. This love melts the sinner's heart, and when contemplated broadens and widens into infinitude beyond human comprehension. The sinner who consents to be drawn to the lifted-up Christ confesses it as purchased at infinite cost for full and complete pardon and everlasting life, embracing the world with an atmosphere of grace giving eternal life to all who choose it, following godly sorrow over frailty and depravity and showing man's eternal happiness is in giving God love in return. Presenting this love that is greater than any other breaks down prejudice and resistance to repentance and moves hearts. It is a chain let down from the throne of God long enough to reach into the lowest depths of sin and lift the lost and lowly from the pit, so it is the privilege of even the lowest to receive eternal life in union with God, to be acknowledged as children of God and heirs with Christ to an immortal inheritance, and to have life that measures with the life of God. This love in sending the Son to atone for sins is the means provided for overcoming sin, so no one has any excuse for sin. It gives power to resist and overcome evil, every encouragement to consent to yield and form new habits with persistent personal effort, providing a refuge for poor tempted souls with angels to help, shield and guide, requiring obedience to revealed will, prayer and watching, striving, fighting evil habits and unholy thoughts, repenting, confessing and forsaking sin and conforming life to God's word to come off more than conquerors, especially with a day of fire and storm about to burst on the world. True appreciation of the plan of salvation fills the heart with wonder and love, and hearts melted by the love manifested lead to devoted service and refusal to let time and attention be taken up with selfish worldly interests. When Christ abides in the heart there is a true conception of the sacrifices He made and of the perfection of the law He came to magnify and make honorable, so that the privilege of obedience becomes precious to the soul. Kept glowing in the heart this love reconciles the human will to God's will through Christ as Mediator, produces faith that works by love and purifies the soul, makes believers one as Christ is one with the Father, and makes them a life-giving influence for all for whom Christ died. When the soul is persuaded that Christ is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto Him, resigns itself entirely to Him as an all-sufficient Saviour, clings to the promises made and believes fully with childlike simplicity as a child depends upon its mother, God pronounces it one with Christ the Substitute, who is justification and redemption. Man must cooperate with saving agencies, for the gift brings light of truth, way of life, and facilities, ordinances, privileges and helps that must be appreciated and used by turning from sin to obedience and believing and obeying all divine requirements. Man is saved by faith, not by works, yet faith must be shown by works as Israel gave evidence of faith by obedience about the blood, Christ's sacrifice availing only for those who accept Him as Saviour and become one with Him in union that is the way to eternal life, and true conversion turning from selfishness to devoted love for God and others through love that comes from God. Because God so loved and gave, those redeemed are bought with a price and are not their own, and Christ has right to entire obedience, so they must glorify God in body and spirit and must not continue to cherish sinful practices which misrepresent Him and put Him to open shame. They must be merciful even as the Father in heaven is merciful, letting gratitude for immeasurable love flow forth in gifts and offerings and in loving, compassionate service as His helping hand to bear blessings to needy, perishing souls who had nothing to offer and faced eternal death. Those who receive this love for the whole world, not for a few only, pouring out infinite benevolence to make man one with God and encircle the world with grace, must cooperate by denying self, refraining from needless selfish spending, and sacrificing as Christ left His home, became poor and died to bring eternal riches. Such love reflected through loving deeds and words of sympathy leads many to respond to the gospel. The proper response is to render the whole heart in willing service to Jesus who died on Calvary's cross, to give self to God without reservation, walk in His way and do His will, glorying only in the cross and proclaiming Christ crucified. It calls for fixed purpose to consider the dear sacrifice, die to self and to the world, love and honor the Christ-life, and endure trial and opposition to the end in building a pure, holy character, lest one become spiritually blind and ashamed of Jesus and turn from Him, for regarding God's plans with cool indifference puts the soul in great peril when all heaven is working and nothing was withheld. Considering what God has done to give life, keep the heart in motion and the pulse beating and give breath to every member of His great earthly family moves the heart to love Him in return with sincere reverence and earnest devotion. The gift that cost heaven infinite pains to enable sinners to stand on vantage-ground with God and attain knowledge of God must be told to every sinner met, while God still requires an account for deeds done in the body and cannot take unrepentant sinners to heaven. This love should make people more spiritual-minded, increase sense of obligation to the Father, and awaken the mind to grasp God because of His great love in sending His Son at infinite sacrifice to save fallen man from utter ruin. Contemplating it purifies the chambers of the mind emptied of vanity and rubbish into a storehouse of knowledge, purity and truth, strengthening the intellect and bringing close communion with the Infinite One. Those who have experienced this love received from God can teach it to others, and teaching this knowledge to young people is part of helping them understand what they must do to be saved. The all-sufficient propitiation at Calvary trusted by faith is a surer foundation than purchased pardons, which are vain and worthless when facing death, giving unshaken hope and courage when all hope of recovery is gone and death is near. When experienced in coming back from the gates of death it leads to preaching the gospel with greater fervor and unwonted power, so those coming from attending the sick and dying feel as never before the value of the gospel and welcome it with joy. Though sin has accumulated for ages and Satan has cast false interpretation and black shadow upon God's Word, mercy and love have not ceased to flow earthward in rich currents revealing measureless depth. When human beings open the windows of the soul heavenward in appreciation of divine gifts a flood of healing virtue pours in, assuring even grave sins can be forgiven upon seeking pardon and surrender to be changed by grace. Grasping this imparted matchless, incomprehensible and wise gift, revealed in power at Pentecost when the Infinite One descended by the Holy Spirit, fills the heart with wonder and adoration and brings penitence and confession mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven, thanksgiving and prophecy. Then converting power follows as the sword of the Spirit edged with power cuts through unbelief so thousands are converted in a day, and hearts are filled with full, deep, far-reaching benevolence impelling going to the ends of the earth, glorying only in the cross, longing to add souls till all nations hear and the earth is filled with God's glory. Love in God's people is begotten by God's love for them as they continue in service depending on the merits of the crucified Saviour and trusting His atonement, imbued with pure fervent love with Christ formed within as righteousness and truth, forgiven, pardoned and looked upon with pleasure in whole-hearted obedience. Those with an abiding Saviour act out Christ and cherish and exercise this love by lifting up the risen Saviour in words, conversation and dealing with the erring, while those without Him reveal unchristlikeness by failing to cherish love. To despise Christ's purchase as the Pharisees despised the restored blind man with sneers and hatred is to unite with the adversary instead of working in harmony with God anxious to save the very one held in contempt. Christ reached down to lift the erring even in sin and degradation with mercy unfailing amid pride, ingratitude and resistance, and this moves Christians to set aside selfishness, help the helpless, encourage the discouraged, and lead sinners to God so His love is visible through their words and actions. God's love matters more than words of favor from people, and John's love for fellow believers is the example of love Christians should show one another. Jesus as the world's Redeemer, full of grace and truth and the only Potentate, is to be presented to the world as He is, with human workers laboring together with heavenly angels to make God known. Those who have received this love for souls must manifest the same love instead of being exacting and cherishing selfishness, living in that love by loving God and neighbor as self with strictest integrity practicing no robbery toward God or man, being a blessing to the church and strengthening brethren by cherishing love and manifesting confidence. In this gift God did everything He could do and made every provision for increase of moral power, deep religious experience and character after the divine model, giving the whole treasure of heaven and furnishing amply every power in grace and efficiency redemption requires so people may be complete in Him. Through eternal ages the exhibitions of that love and development of its relations and glory will keep living freshness and increasing interest, forever exceeding all conceptions by fresh excellencies.
Herein is love means that love did not begin with people loving God, but with God loving people and sending His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for their sins. He manifested that love by giving His only-begotten Son into the world, heaven's greatest gift with nothing more to bestow, that people might live through Him. That gift cannot be measured or fully comprehended, for God's love is full and deep and unchangeable, far beyond weak and changeable human love. Because God so loved, those who believe ought also to love one another, and this love in deed and in truth is the test of genuine experience and the life of the church. Beholding this love melts the heart, uproots selfishness, moves sinners to repentance, and transforms character into generosity, obedience, and devoted service.
Love Begins With God
Herein is love does not mean that people first loved God, but that God first loved people and sent His Son to be the propitiation for sins. Love began with God while the world was godless and corrupted, and the Father made the great sacrifice of sending His Son to make atonement and deal with sin. God manifested that love for the world by sending His only-begotten Son to save sinners, so that through His grace humans might be partakers of the divine nature and stand on vantage ground with God. That love is measureless and beyond human language, seen in Christ's life on earth, His sacrifice for sinners, His work in heaven as advocate, and the homes He is preparing for those who love Him, leaving only wonder at its height and depth.
God manifested His love toward us because He sent His only-begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. This sending was the work His message is to perform in heart and mind, giving the perpetual life of the church to love God supremely and to love others as self, with the bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness bringing life and hope as sinners behold Christ, hear His assurance to fear not because He lives forevermore, and apply the blood of the spotless Lamb to their own hearts so they shall live because He lives. Truly loving God is shown by manifesting Christlike love to all with lovingkindness of heart, judgment and righteousness, by uniting in sanctified association and cooperating with Christ, and by telling of the Saviour's love and the love His children should manifest for one another. Because God so loved, those who are loved ought also to love one another, and God's gift of His Spirit confirms that He dwells in them.
Sent to be the propitiation means the Father gave His Son as the atoning sacrifice, substitute, surety and Saviour to deal with sin, secure salvation, and give pardon and life. After Adam and Eve transgressed all hope was excluded, justice demanded the death of the sinner and the world stood guilty under condemnation, and Christ gave Himself in humanity's place by giving His life for the world. In spiritual destitution humans had nothing to offer, so Christ came to this world and on the cross offered Himself as the substitute heaven provided to secure salvation and save from eternal death. The world is pictured as the one lost sheep strayed from the fold, whose guilt as well as helplessness was charged against it and stood in the way hindering its return. Christ alone represents the Father and intercedes for people as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and no human priest can take His place.
The verse presents the righteousness of Christ as precious light, not new light, that had for a time been lost sight of and must be presented, repeated, and made prominent. It teaches acceptance of Christ as personal Saviour, by whom the righteousness of God in Christ is imputed. The verse was given because brotherly love was waning in the church, and it urges the constant exercise of love for one another as the duty that flows from God's love. It proves that everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, while one who does not love does not know God.
Lost World Needing Salvation
Herein is love is set against a humanity that was corrupt, idolatrous, rebellious, godless, apostate and ruined, with all hope excluded after Adam and Eve transgressed and the world standing guilty, helpless and under condemnation. The guilt as well as the helplessness of that strayed sheep hindered its return, for the world was charged as the one lost sheep strayed from the fold. After centuries of forbearance that ended in the flood cleansing the old world, humanity again multiplied into widespread rebellion and vice under Satan until the image of God was nearly obliterated.
Justice demanded the death of the sinner, with wrath and destruction of the world by fire, and outraged justice could have passed speedy sentence. Heaven and unfallen worlds waited for righteous condemnation when forbearance had not led to repentance and enmity was deep-seated, and angels expected the blow of justice. At the crisis when the earth was filled with transgression after centuries of patience with cruel treatment of His ambassadors and with His holy law despised and trampled underfoot, justice was due and expected, with the voices of the sacrificed crying beneath the altar for retribution, all heaven ready to move, and angels looking for God to punish the earth with fire, thunderings, lightnings, earthquakes and destruction at one word from Him. Although justice and retribution could have led God to give His angelic ministers the vials of wrath to punish a rebellious world for its treatment of the Prince of heaven, He did not do this.
Instead God unveiled the plan of salvation and in amazing grace sent His only begotten Son into the world to save the world, not to condemn it, so that through Him the world might be saved. In love and mercy God gave man another opportunity, and Christ's coming was an act of grace, not condemnation, by which taking sinless human nature He could bear every transgression and give His life to make reconciliation possible. Though sin separated man from God, benevolence kept flowing toward earth and increased through successive ages until, when the fullness of time had come, He poured out heavenly grace in one great gift of love. Christ's mission made evident that the race stood under the menace of incensed justice, on the verge of eternal ruin, in helplessness and ignorance, and Jesus came bringing full assurance of relief.
That plan of redemption was devised from all eternity and cannot be altered by thought or imagination, so that whether a lesser gift would have been adequate is unanswerable and it is not profitable to conjecture. Before the foundation of the world the Father in union with the Son devised it in a covenant of peace between them. When the fulness of time was come God could reveal Himself in no other way than by sending forth His Son, the Eternal Word made flesh dwelling among men, with mercy without parallel striving to melt the hardened sin-bound heart.
Sin began when Adam believed Satan rather than God, and the promised Saviour was a star of hope to humanity's first parents. In giving His Son, the perfect image of Himself, the Just suffered for the unjust, and its saving purpose makes God's goodness shine even more brightly than at creation. The gift answered death itself, for God loved humanity and gave His Son to save people from death and displayed His love for all to see.
Its full breadth was not understood until after the sufferings of Christ, His crucifixion and resurrection and proclamation as the resurrection and the life, His appearance to the five hundred in Galilee, His ascension, and the revelation of love when the Holy Spirit rested on the disciples at Pentecost. At Pentecost the disciples recognized this imparted gift as the Spirit's power was poured out, and words of repentance, confession, praise for forgiveness, thanksgiving, and prophecy followed, with power then bringing thousands to conversion.
Son Given to Save
The Father gave His only-begotten Son, the express image of Himself, as heaven's best gift and the greatest gift in His power, with nothing more to bestow. In Christ God gave Himself, a gift beyond all parallel of infinite value, giving the fullness with no reserve of grace or power or glory, so that He could not give less nor was it possible to give more. In giving Jesus to the world God gave the whole treasure of heaven, furnishing amply every power in grace and every efficiency that redemption requires so that people may be complete in Him, and through eternal ages its exhibitions will keep living freshness and increasing interest forever exceeding all conceptions. This is the great love and condescension of God in giving His Son to die so that people might find pardon and live, an exhibition of grace that cannot be surpassed.
The Son was sent to save sinners and not to condemn them, and by grace He took human nature and bound His divinity with humanity so that people might share the divine nature and stand on vantage ground with God. By taking human nature while remaining sinless He could bear every transgression as an offering for the fallen race and give His life for humanity, making reconciliation with God possible. He was permitted to come where Satan claimed dominion as a helpless babe subject to the weakness of humanity, to meet life's peril, temptation and conflict in common with every human soul and to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it.
God permitted His Son to be delivered up for offenses, and toward the Sin Bearer He took the character of a judge, laying aside the endearing qualities of a father. In this the Just suffered for the unjust, the perfect image of Himself given to save people from death, a gift answering the sin that began when Adam believed Satan rather than God and promised as a star of hope to humanity's first parents. He met a bitterer conflict and a more fearful risk at the risk of failure and eternal loss, that the path of life might be made sure for little ones.
His life among men was far from ease or pleasure, in painful daily toil, weary, hungry, sorrowful, opposed and misrepresented, acquainted with grief and weighted with responsibility beyond any other human being, yet unfailing and undiscouraged in His mission. On the cross He bore sin alone, even as those He came to save turned against Him, and His love for them was expressed in His prayer for their forgiveness. Stepping lower and lower in humiliation until He could go no lower, He suffered and died, and His finished work became the propitiation for sins, making it possible to become clean through faith in Him.
Christ took human nature, elevated man in moral worth with God by a life of humiliation, carried that adopted nature to the throne of God, and presents His children to the Father to receive honor exceeding that bestowed upon angels. That measureless love, beyond human language, is seen in Christ's life on earth, His infinite sacrifice and dying agonies on the cross as the Prince of glory, His work in heaven as advocate, and the mansions He has gone to prepare for His obedient ones who love Him. Contemplation lingers only around the edge of a measureless love like a vast ocean without bottom or shore, leaving only wonder, amazement, silence and a faint conception of the height and depth of Christ's love which makes heaven.
The provision in sending the Son is for the whole world and not for a few only, extending to the sins of the whole world and revealing how God regards sinners dead in trespasses, far from the Father's house and perishing with hunger. Infinite benevolence pours out its treasures to save souls from sin so that man may be made one with God and the whole world encircled with grace, embracing the world with an atmosphere of grace that gives eternal life to all who choose to inhale it. Christ alone represents the Father and intercedes for people as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, shown at Calvary in a love beyond measure, and no human priest can take His place.
Measureless Gift of Love
Herein is love that cannot be measured or computed, with no line to measure it and no standard to compare it. Human language is far too feeble to depict it, and it is beyond the comprehension of the wisest human beings and even of angels. It is amazing, beyond language to measure and without parallel, defying all computation. That love is not that men loved God, but that God loved men while the world was godless and corrupted and in spiritual destitution with nothing to offer, and gave His beloved Son to die for them while they were yet sinners as the substitute heaven provided to secure salvation and save from eternal death. Angels exclaim in amazement over it as they think of the sacrifice Christ made, see how completely He identifies His interests with His blood-bought people, and see how tenderly He deals with the tried and tempted, leaving only wonder at the height and depth of Christ's love. It is seen in Christ's life on earth, His sacrifice for sinners, His work in heaven as advocate, and the homes He is preparing for those who love Him.
That love is full and deep and unchangeable, unlike weak and changeable human love. Infinite benevolence pours out its treasures to save souls from sin so that man may be made one with God and the whole world encircled with grace. Contemplating it should set souls aglow, for God who commanded light to shine out of darkness shines into the hearts of all who believe to give the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
It is matchless, incomprehensible, and wise, which all heaven bends low to behold and adore. That Love was revealed in power on the day of Pentecost when the Infinite One descended by the Holy Spirit as a rushing mighty wind upon the assembled disciples, after ages of restraint pouring the riches of the Spirit's power and grace upon the church with a fulness that reached every waiting, praying heart. Grasping that imparted gift brings wonder and adoration, with penitence and confession mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven, thanksgiving, and prophecy. What follows is converting power, for the sword of the Spirit edged with power cuts through unbelief so that thousands are converted in a day, and hearts are filled with a full, deep, far-reaching benevolence that impels going to the ends of the earth, glorying only in the cross, longing to add to the church those who will be saved until all nations hear the truth and the earth is filled with the glory of the Lord.
God loved to such an extent that He gave full and complete evidence, a gift whose value cannot be estimated, beyond all computation, heaven's best gift and the greatest gift in His power with nothing more to bestow, no reserve of grace or power or glory. He left no chance for the tempter to say He did not love, for had He done less Satan and his agencies would have inspired jealousy by intimating He could have done more. The gift is a wonder to all worlds and all created intelligences, ever enlarging ideas of the infinity and greatness of His love. Whether a lesser gift would have been adequate for redemption is unanswerable, and it is not profitable to conjecture, for the plan of redemption devised from all eternity cannot be altered by thought or imagination.
The gift proves He is unwilling to give up His people, with His heart turned and His repentings kindled toward a corrupt, idolatrous, rebellious race. It proves the Father is not unloving or vindictive but a tender, loving Father, a God of holiness and a God of love, who in union with the Son devised the plan of redemption before the foundation of the world in a covenant of peace between them and gave Himself in the gift of His Son. He permitted His only-begotten Son, the express image of Himself, to be delivered up for offenses, and toward the Sin Bearer took the character of a judge, laying aside the endearing qualities of a father. In the crucifixion on Calvary His justice and love are both expressed, manifesting the immutability of His holy law, where justice and truth meet together and righteousness and peace kiss each other. With wonder and admiration the heavenly angels declared that this self-sacrificing act of giving Christ to save men from the penalty of sin rather than condemn them, when men were without strength, ungodly and yet sinners and Satan's warfare seemed growing, is love.
Calvary is an everlasting monument reared for eternity to prove the interest of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for every believing soul, with this love inscribed upon it. That matchless love is never left without a witness in temporal blessings and spiritual blessings, in seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, in filling hearts with food and gladness and feeding with heavenly manna, in making the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice, and in day unto day uttering speech and night unto night teaching the knowledge of His great love.
Calvary shows how God regards sinners dead in trespasses and sins, far from the Father's house and perishing with hunger in sin. It is the costly offering for an apostate and ruined race, pictured as the one lost sheep strayed and wandering far from the fold, and all heaven is enlisted in sympathy for that wandering sheep. This provision is not limited to believers but extends to the sins of the whole world. When Satan's delusions are broken and the sinner looks to Calvary and sees what was given, he contemplates the love of God, is deeply moved, and becomes repentant, and comprehending even faintly that compassion changes how a person looks and lives, for by beholding Christ on the cross the poor sinner is changed and transformed in character from glory to glory.
Love One Another
Because God so loved, those who are loved ought also to love one another, and this mutual love is the perpetual life of the church, the pattern commanded by Christ, the credential that Christ is formed within, and the test and measure of genuine religious experience and sanctification. Love begins with God and not with human love for God, for God manifested love toward sinners by sending His only-begotten Son into the world to deal with sins as propitiation and atonement so that people might live through Him with life and hope. The message was given because brotherly love was waning and there was little love for God or man, urging the constant exercise of love for one another as the duty flowing from God's love and the work His message is to perform in every heart and mind. Those who receive it are greatly blessed, seeing the bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness with life and hope springing up in their hearts as they behold Christ, hear His assurance to fear not because He lives forevermore, and apply the blood of the spotless Lamb to their own hearts so they shall live because He lives. Truly loving God is shown by manifesting Christlike love to all with lovingkindness of heart, judgment and righteousness, by uniting in sanctified association and cooperating with Christ, and by telling of the Saviour's love and the love His children should manifest for one another.
Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, for God is love, while one who does not love does not know God and abides in death, for there is no loveless Christian. That love is the source and measure of Christian character, so everyone born of God and knowing God will love because God is love. Though no one has seen God at any time, when believers love one another God dwells in them and His love is perfected in them, which is known by His giving of His Spirit. This perfected love gives boldness in the day of judgment because as He is so are believers in this world, and it drives out fear.
This love is not in word or tongue only but in deed and in truth, springing constantly from within to help and bless others, even to laying down life for the brethren and to giving to a needy brother from this world's good instead of shutting up compassion. Its full breadth was not understood until after the sufferings of Christ, His crucifixion and resurrection and proclamation as the resurrection and the life, His ascension, and after the Holy Spirit rested on the disciples at Pentecost, when that love was revealed. The teaching is clear and explicit that action is to be fashioned after the divine standard, and the love of Christ in the heart works like leaven with life-giving power to bring all of mind and soul and strength into complete harmony with the divine life. He who loves God will love his brother also, for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen, and to claim otherwise is to lie.
When those who have surrendered their wills to God's will and their ways to God's ways are bound heart to heart in harmony and love in the faith and love of Jesus Christ in the bonds of Christian union, especially when a new church is formed, attending angels from heaven declare over that unity, Herein is love. That love is the Father sending His Son to be the Saviour of the world. Christ is present in its assemblies by His Holy Spirit, joining the work of the church in heaven with the church on earth, so the church united in the truth shines as a bright light to the world.
This love kept glowing in the heart reconciles the human will to God's will through Christ as Mediator, produces faith that works by love and purifies the soul, makes believers one as Christ is one with the Father, and makes them a life-giving influence for all for whom Christ died. It keeps a person warm and sympathetic instead of cold as an iceberg, makes believers pitiful and courteous in treating with care the souls Christ died to save, and leaves no room for strife, contention, suspicion, evil thinking and evil speaking against brethren. It spreads from home life into the church, the neighborhood, the community, and the nations, and its transforming power in the life is the sign of discipleship shown to church and world and a strong argument for genuine conversion, proving how precious every soul is in God's sight.
The coming of the Saviour to the world in human flesh is an expression of love coming from God as the Source of all love that the fallen race can understand. This love is to be made plain and simple by ministers of the gospel both by precept and by example so it can be easily understood, and though fallen, ministers can tangibly exemplify it in their own lives by manifesting the kindness, forbearance, mercy, and love of Christ. All who believe can reveal in their lives to the world and to the heavenly universe that they have this same love in their hearts, so that all will understand that love. Children should learn from their earliest years of God's love revealed in Christ by sending His Son, and this love teaches them to love one another.
Christ's love for fallen people, including the weak, erring, and sinful, is to awaken humility and a deep, active love for others, especially those struggling against sin. Love is the revelation of the love of God in practice, not love for self, and all gifts are of no value unless controlled by this softened, subduing spirit of love. Love for the brethren is essential for daily happiness in this life and in the life to come, and Christian love bears its fruit in loving what God loves because God loves it, which Christian religion requires to be lived out.
Living by This Love
Contemplation of this love uproots selfishness from the heart and so transforms the soul that generosity is cherished, self-denial is practiced, and God is imitated, changing character from glory to glory by beholding Christ, with seeing that love at the cross moving sinners to repentance. It is an exalted theme for contemplation, along with the beauty of holiness, that lifts thought beyond narrow worldly thinking into the vastness of the Infinite, unfolding justice and mercy to the moral perceptions and discerning the grievous character of sin with its results. Dwelling on Christ's love and mercy fills the soul with abhorrence for all that is sinful, inspires intense desire for the righteousness of Christ, and gives clearer discernment of defects of character. That dwelling leads to confessing sins to Christ with true contrition, putting them away in cooperation with Him, and believing they are pardoned because God's Word will not fail, with distrust and doubt of His goodness being wrong in light of such evidence that amazes angels and is beyond comprehension of the wisest. This love melts the sinner's heart, and when contemplated broadens and widens into infinitude beyond human comprehension. The sinner who consents to be drawn to the lifted-up Christ confesses it as purchased at infinite cost for full and complete pardon and everlasting life, embracing the world with an atmosphere of grace giving eternal life to all who choose it, following godly sorrow over frailty and depravity and showing man's eternal happiness is in giving God love in return. Presenting this love that is greater than any other breaks down prejudice and resistance to repentance and moves hearts. It is a chain let down from the throne of God long enough to reach into the lowest depths of sin and lift the lost and lowly from the pit, so it is the privilege of even the lowest to receive eternal life in union with God, to be acknowledged as children of God and heirs with Christ to an immortal inheritance, and to have life that measures with the life of God. This love in sending the Son to atone for sins is the means provided for overcoming sin, so no one has any excuse for sin. It gives power to resist and overcome evil, every encouragement to consent to yield and form new habits with persistent personal effort, providing a refuge for poor tempted souls with angels to help, shield and guide, requiring obedience to revealed will, prayer and watching, striving, fighting evil habits and unholy thoughts, repenting, confessing and forsaking sin and conforming life to God's word to come off more than conquerors, especially with a day of fire and storm about to burst on the world. True appreciation of the plan of salvation fills the heart with wonder and love, and hearts melted by the love manifested lead to devoted service and refusal to let time and attention be taken up with selfish worldly interests. When Christ abides in the heart there is a true conception of the sacrifices He made and of the perfection of the law He came to magnify and make honorable, so that the privilege of obedience becomes precious to the soul. Kept glowing in the heart this love reconciles the human will to God's will through Christ as Mediator, produces faith that works by love and purifies the soul, makes believers one as Christ is one with the Father, and makes them a life-giving influence for all for whom Christ died. When the soul is persuaded that Christ is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto Him, resigns itself entirely to Him as an all-sufficient Saviour, clings to the promises made and believes fully with childlike simplicity as a child depends upon its mother, God pronounces it one with Christ the Substitute, who is justification and redemption. Man must cooperate with saving agencies, for the gift brings light of truth, way of life, and facilities, ordinances, privileges and helps that must be appreciated and used by turning from sin to obedience and believing and obeying all divine requirements. Man is saved by faith, not by works, yet faith must be shown by works as Israel gave evidence of faith by obedience about the blood, Christ's sacrifice availing only for those who accept Him as Saviour and become one with Him in union that is the way to eternal life, and true conversion turning from selfishness to devoted love for God and others through love that comes from God. Because God so loved and gave, those redeemed are bought with a price and are not their own, and Christ has right to entire obedience, so they must glorify God in body and spirit and must not continue to cherish sinful practices which misrepresent Him and put Him to open shame. They must be merciful even as the Father in heaven is merciful, letting gratitude for immeasurable love flow forth in gifts and offerings and in loving, compassionate service as His helping hand to bear blessings to needy, perishing souls who had nothing to offer and faced eternal death. Those who receive this love for the whole world, not for a few only, pouring out infinite benevolence to make man one with God and encircle the world with grace, must cooperate by denying self, refraining from needless selfish spending, and sacrificing as Christ left His home, became poor and died to bring eternal riches. Such love reflected through loving deeds and words of sympathy leads many to respond to the gospel. The proper response is to render the whole heart in willing service to Jesus who died on Calvary's cross, to give self to God without reservation, walk in His way and do His will, glorying only in the cross and proclaiming Christ crucified. It calls for fixed purpose to consider the dear sacrifice, die to self and to the world, love and honor the Christ-life, and endure trial and opposition to the end in building a pure, holy character, lest one become spiritually blind and ashamed of Jesus and turn from Him, for regarding God's plans with cool indifference puts the soul in great peril when all heaven is working and nothing was withheld. Considering what God has done to give life, keep the heart in motion and the pulse beating and give breath to every member of His great earthly family moves the heart to love Him in return with sincere reverence and earnest devotion. The gift that cost heaven infinite pains to enable sinners to stand on vantage-ground with God and attain knowledge of God must be told to every sinner met, while God still requires an account for deeds done in the body and cannot take unrepentant sinners to heaven. This love should make people more spiritual-minded, increase sense of obligation to the Father, and awaken the mind to grasp God because of His great love in sending His Son at infinite sacrifice to save fallen man from utter ruin. Contemplating it purifies the chambers of the mind emptied of vanity and rubbish into a storehouse of knowledge, purity and truth, strengthening the intellect and bringing close communion with the Infinite One. Those who have experienced this love received from God can teach it to others, and teaching this knowledge to young people is part of helping them understand what they must do to be saved. The all-sufficient propitiation at Calvary trusted by faith is a surer foundation than purchased pardons, which are vain and worthless when facing death, giving unshaken hope and courage when all hope of recovery is gone and death is near. When experienced in coming back from the gates of death it leads to preaching the gospel with greater fervor and unwonted power, so those coming from attending the sick and dying feel as never before the value of the gospel and welcome it with joy. Though sin has accumulated for ages and Satan has cast false interpretation and black shadow upon God's Word, mercy and love have not ceased to flow earthward in rich currents revealing measureless depth. When human beings open the windows of the soul heavenward in appreciation of divine gifts a flood of healing virtue pours in, assuring even grave sins can be forgiven upon seeking pardon and surrender to be changed by grace. Grasping this imparted matchless, incomprehensible and wise gift, revealed in power at Pentecost when the Infinite One descended by the Holy Spirit, fills the heart with wonder and adoration and brings penitence and confession mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven, thanksgiving and prophecy. Then converting power follows as the sword of the Spirit edged with power cuts through unbelief so thousands are converted in a day, and hearts are filled with full, deep, far-reaching benevolence impelling going to the ends of the earth, glorying only in the cross, longing to add souls till all nations hear and the earth is filled with God's glory. Love in God's people is begotten by God's love for them as they continue in service depending on the merits of the crucified Saviour and trusting His atonement, imbued with pure fervent love with Christ formed within as righteousness and truth, forgiven, pardoned and looked upon with pleasure in whole-hearted obedience. Those with an abiding Saviour act out Christ and cherish and exercise this love by lifting up the risen Saviour in words, conversation and dealing with the erring, while those without Him reveal unchristlikeness by failing to cherish love. To despise Christ's purchase as the Pharisees despised the restored blind man with sneers and hatred is to unite with the adversary instead of working in harmony with God anxious to save the very one held in contempt. Christ reached down to lift the erring even in sin and degradation with mercy unfailing amid pride, ingratitude and resistance, and this moves Christians to set aside selfishness, help the helpless, encourage the discouraged, and lead sinners to God so His love is visible through their words and actions. God's love matters more than words of favor from people, and John's love for fellow believers is the example of love Christians should show one another. Jesus as the world's Redeemer, full of grace and truth and the only Potentate, is to be presented to the world as He is, with human workers laboring together with heavenly angels to make God known. Those who have received this love for souls must manifest the same love instead of being exacting and cherishing selfishness, living in that love by loving God and neighbor as self with strictest integrity practicing no robbery toward God or man, being a blessing to the church and strengthening brethren by cherishing love and manifesting confidence. In this gift God did everything He could do and made every provision for increase of moral power, deep religious experience and character after the divine model, giving the whole treasure of heaven and furnishing amply every power in grace and efficiency redemption requires so people may be complete in Him. Through eternal ages the exhibitions of that love and development of its relations and glory will keep living freshness and increasing interest, forever exceeding all conceptions by fresh excellencies.