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. It is a great evidence of the love of God to mankind, that HE WAS PLEASED TO TAKE OUR CASE INTO CONSIDERATION, AND TO CONCERN HIMSELF FOR OUR HAPPINESS. Now that He, who is far above us, and after that we by wilful transgression had lost ourselves, had no obligation to take care of us, but what His own goodness laid upon Him; that He should be so solicitous for our recovery, is a great evidence of His goodwill to us, and cannot be imagined to proceed from any other cause. II. Another evidence of God's great love to us is, that HE WAS PLEASED TO DESIGN SO GREAT A BENEFIT FOR US. This the Scripture expresseth to us by life; because, as it is one of the greatest blessings, so it is the foundation of all other enjoyments. 1. We were spiritually dead, dead in trespasses and sins, as the apostle speaks (Ephesians 2:1, 2). 2. We were likewise judicially dead in law, being condemned by the just sentence of it. What a surprise of kindness is here! that, instead of "sending His Son to condemn us," He should "send Him into the world to save us." But His love stopped not here; it was not contented to spare us and free us from misery, but was restless till it had found out a way to bring us to happiness. III. The last evidence of God's great love to us was this, that God WAS PLEASED TO USE SUCH A MEANS FOR THE OBTAINING AND PROCURING OF THIS GREAT BLESSING. "He sent His only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." 1. The person whom He was pleased to employ upon this design: "He sent His only-begotten Son." 2. How much He abased Him, in order to the accomplishing of this design, implied in these words, "He sent Him into the world." 3. To whom He was sent, to the world. 4. That He did all this voluntarily and freely, out of His mere pity and goodness; not constrained hereto by any necessity.What remains but to apply this to ourselves? 1. Let us propound to ourselves the love of God for our pattern and example. 2. Let us readily comply with the great design of this great love of God to mankind. 3. With what joy and thankfulness should we commemorate this great love of God to mankind. (Abp. Tillotson.) 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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