1 John 4:9-10 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world… I. THE AMAZING. MANIFESTATION OF DIVINE LOVE, WHICH IS HERE DESCRIBED. As when some eminently beautiful object rivets the attention of a traveller, so that he scarcely gives even a passing glance to other objects; so the believer's thoughts are so fixed upon one manifestation of God's love. "In THIS was manifested the love of God," etc. II. FOR WHOM THIS WONDROUS LOVE HAS BEEN MANIFESTED. "God sent His only-begotten Son into the world." It might have happened that, for some reason known to the Creator, such a sacrifice should have been necessary for the world in its first state of innocence; and even in such a case the love of God in sending His Son would have been inconceivably great; but what was really the state of the world, when this love was manifested in its behalf? We shall learn what the state of the world is, by considering what we ourselves are. Some are sincerely desirous of living to the glory of God, while others are seeking to please themselves. But what are the best feelings of the best of us towards God? What is the best conduct of the best of us in comparison with the will of God? Alas! how cold are our affections! How inconsistent is our habitual deportment! The devices of Satan, how often we allow ourselves to be deceived by them! And, if the best are so bad, what must the worst be? And yet God sent His Son into such a world! Oh, what wondrous love! III. THE OBJECT WHICH GOD'S LOVE HAD IN VIEW WHEN HE SENT HIS SON. "That we might live through Him." (A. Stackhouse, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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