MAY 11, 2024
Topic: DIVINE UNBOUNDED LOVE
Text: Romans 5:6-21; John 15:9-13
Memory Verse: “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners…for since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son” – (Rom. 5:8 & 10 – NLT)
The pure love of God stretches beyond the boundaries of human knowledge, creed, race, language and weight of sin! God brought a second Adam when the first Adam fell, to strive against sin and death on the cross: suffering by dying and prevailing!
The first Adam, by the original sin, brought a gulf; a separation (Gen. 3:23-24; Isa. 59:2) between God, and us, spread sin, lawlessness and death. However, God in His Divine power, deep wisdom and knowledge (Rom. 11:33), brought the second Adam to redeem us by His blood (Rev. 5:5-6 & 9): we that were once vile, guilty of damnation and condemnation and enemies. He not only made us friends with God (Rom. 5:11), he also made us kings and priests (a very rare privilege) of our God (Rev. 5:10; 1 Pet. 2:9-10)
God’s great love is also demonstrated by the gift of grace. Paul noted that the gift of grace through justification (imputation of righteousness) is not like the offence (Rom. 5:15-17). Consider these friends: the verdict of guilt in the human court, leads to condemnation and sentencing. However, if the judge in his prerogative of mercy declares you not guilty, that is the gift of grace and justification, which was also brought by your Redeemer – The second Adam.
You also, like gentiles were once rebels (Rom. 11:30-31); were “grafted in” (Rom. 11:16-17), to the covenant of redemption and forgiveness. This shows the universality of the Good News of Jesus Christ and Salvation to all humans. Remember, Christ died while we were yet sinners, taking our place and upon condemnation, paying our ransom with His blood which we never could have paid. Our friendship with God resulted in our peace since He is our Peace (Rom. 5:1-2; Eph. 2:14-18). Oh, that higher gift of grace; that generous, pure, unbounded, divine love for me, requires that I also love others, seeking the lost just as He sought me out whilst being an enemy.
PRAYER: Lord, in the garden, You secretly prayed for me as on the cross too. May your suffering and agonizing death for me not be in vain.