 
Illustration. The Burial Of Christ. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son." John 3:16. 1. What is God declared to be? “God is love.” 1 John 4:16. 2. How great is God's love for the world? “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. 3. In what act especially has God's love been manifested? “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.” 1 John 4:9. 4. In what does God delight? “Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy.” Micah 7:18. 5. How are His mercies continually manifested? “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” Lam. 3:22, 23. 6. Upon how many does God bestow His blessings? “He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and [pg 064] 7. What did Jesus say of the one who loves Him? “He that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself unto him.” John 14:21. 8. Into what relationship to God does His love bring us? “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” 1 John 3:1. 9. How may we know that we are the sons of God? “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.... The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Rom. 8:14-16. 10. How is the love of God supplied to the believer? “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Rom. 5:5. 11. In view of God's great love to us, what ought we to do? “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” 1 John 4:11. 12. With what measure of love should we serve others? “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16. 13. What exhortation is based upon Christ's love for us? “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.” Eph. 5:2. 14. Upon what ground does God's work for sinners rest? “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:4-6. See Titus 3:5, 6. 15. In what other way is God's love sometimes shown? “For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” Heb. 12:6. 16. In view of God's great love, what may we confidently expect? “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Rom. 8:32 [pg 065]
Illustration. [pg 066]Bearing The Cross. "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love." Jer. 31:3. 17. What is God's love able to do for His children? “Nevertheless the Lord thy God would not harken unto Balaam; but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee.” Deut. 23:5. 18. When men appreciate God's love, what will they do? “How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.” Ps. 36:7. 19. How enduring is God's love for us? “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” Jer. 31:3. 20. Can anything separate the true child of God from the love of God? “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:38, 39. 21. Unto whom will the saints forever ascribe praise? “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, ... to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.” Rev. 1:5, 6. There's a wideness in God's mercy, Like the wideness of the sea; There's a kindness in His justice, Which is more than liberty. There is welcome for the sinner, And more graces for the good; There is mercy with the Saviour; There is healing in His blood. For the love of God is broader Than the measure of man's mind, And the heart of the Eternal Is most wonderfully kind. If our love were but more simple, We should take Him at His word; And our lives would be all sunshine In the sweetness of our Lord. Frederick W. Faber. |
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