This is Love

1 John 4:10 ~ "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

In dozens of countries around the world, people will rise to celebrate a tradition called Valentine's Day. Love and affection will be the theme, and many will express their love with the purchase of any variety of gifts. Chocolates will be enjoyed, cards exchanged and for the most part it is a gentle holiday that lends itself to the warmth of human affection. 

But what, in truth, is "love?"

​For many, love is experienced only when agreement can be reached and acceptance or affirmations offered. That is to say, many people don't believe that they are loved unless the person offering love is also offering unlimited affirmations. No matter the condition of life, whether noble or wicked, if they don't get affirmed in their life (or lifestyle) then they reject the idea of being loved.

For others, love is merely an emotional connection to the object of their affection. They feel some form of desire for the other and thus they believe they are, according to our modern expression, "in love." Without that continual presence of emotional desire, their love is assumed to have waned and vacated the heart.

None of what is described above is actually what the Bible considers real love.

To understand love, we must look to the One who is love. 1 John 4:8 states quite clearly, "God is love." 1 John 4:19 includes this: "We love because he first loved us." Many have seen the John 3:16 banners waved at sporting events which declares with absolute truth, "For God so loved the world." But how is that love expressed? How is it revealed? It is revealed in a gift--His Son.

In our text today, we see that Jesus is given as the "propitiation for our sins." Beloved, you must understand this. God does not love us with affirming expressions that uplift our lives in their state of sin. God's love makes the case against us that we are absolute sinners and desperately need a propitiation (an atoning sacrifice)​. And with the case being made against us we discover with real clarity that there is no means by which we can make payment of our own. God Himself must pay the price for our rebellion against Him. 

We discover, also, that we DID NOT love God first--but that He loved us first. He is the one who sought us and sent His Son. It is God who has been offended by man. We became His enemy and He had every right to justly condemn us as a rebellious and wicked people. But consider this statement from Romans 5:10, "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." Imagine... the sinner becomes a saint, and the enemy of God becomes a beloved son or daughter of the Most High! 

God cannot merely overlook our sins, lest He be unjust. Nor does God desire that any should perish--though all deserve to do so. How does God's justice and mercy find the means of being expressed? Both are found in the death and resurrection of Christ. In the sacrifice of Christ, the justice of God is satisfied and the mercy of God is offered to sinners.

So, my friends, on this day when love is celebrated, will you look to the love of God in Christ and receive His mercy and forgiveness of your sins? If you've done so already, then use this day to celebrate the real love that was given to you--and share that love with anyone you can.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

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