There is so much we can say about God's love. Because we are invited to sit at the Lord’s Table on Sunday, lets emphasise this aspect of his love today: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4: 10) Out of love God sent his Son "as an atoning sacrifice."
Firstly, Jesus was sent as a sacrifice. This means that Jesus died. This means his blood was spilled on the altar of the cross. God sent Jesus to die. God sent his one and only Son to die for us.
What love. What tremendous, awesome love!!
Secondly, Jesus, out of love, was sent as an "atoning" sacrifice. To atone means to pay a ransom or to be set free from slavery by paying the “value” of the slave to his owner. See Mark 10:45. This means Jesus' sacrifice does something to us: His atoning sacrifice flushes out our sin and the guilt of our sin, setting us free from its ownership. It also means that Jesus' sacrifice does something to God. It takes away God's wrath. It satisfies the demands of God's justice that sinners pay for sin. Jesus removes the wrath of God by suffering and dying in our place.
What love. What tremendous, awesome love.
When we eat and drink at the Lord’s Table, remember the Father's love that caused him to send his Son into the world as an atoning sacrifice. We may leave his Supper with the full knowledge of being washed and cleansed and with a certain faith-knowledge that God’s anger as a result of our sins, has been satisfied. Our loving relationship with the Father is restored. Completely and fully restored. We are free to serve God again!
What love. What tremendous, awesome love
Yes, we are celebrating this love of God when we on Sunday morning enjoy the Lord's Supper. But can you celebrate this love along with his people? Do know this love of God? Is it visible in your life that you know God’s love given by the atoning sacrifice of his Son on the cross?
"Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God" (1 John 4:7). On the other hand, everyone who does not love, has not been born of God and does not know God.
What happens is this: God's wonderful, tremendous, awesome love flows into us and out of us. This love that God gives to us, we absolutely want to give to others. It is a love that is willing to sacrifice for the good of others. Lets celebrate, then, God's love for us at his Table. And, in doing so, let us also celebrate our love for one another.
What love. What tremendous, awesome love!
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