"The Love of God" - Too

"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 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. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:9-10 KJV)

  In the case of those who honor their father's today, remember your Heavenly Father as well! This might be a day to celebrate our earthly father, if you know your who your earthly father is; but our Heavenly Father has given us the greatest life of all; something that no human father could ever do! Share what He has done for you, some way, today! 

  In this verse we have another little issue that set some of the Jewish Leaders off, that God so loved the world! It might not seem so much of a big deal to some, but to those that considered themselves to be God's special and anointed people, it was not what they had in mind, or could even conceive in their hearts. Matthew Henry says, "The Jews vainly conceited that the Messiah should be sent only in love to their nation, and to advance them upon the ruins of their neighbours; but Christ tells them that he came in love to the whole world, Gentiles as well as Jews, (1 John 2:2). 

  Having been raised to not really understand or know what this verse really meant, I had some real issues with knowing how much God really loved me. I was taught that God's love had to be earned, based upon our service and our performance to those of the upper class, so called Elders. If we were lacking in the way of righteousness, then we needed to perform more service, as a way to remove sins. If we were to receive any sort of persecution in our service, a whole multitude of sins were covered. 

  Basically, the whole point of the cross was made out to be ransom paid to allow us a way to earn eternal life; not exactly the same way it was intended by our Heavenly Father! This offer of eternal life is totally and completely based upon us believing upon His Son and the price that He paid for our sins, all of our sins! He did not die upon that cross to provide a way, He is the Way! We cannot have our sins forgiven any other way, but though Him! 

  Now, depending upon your point of view, you can probably understand my confusion when it came to making my choice to accept Jesus into my heart; but, in all honesty, there really was nothing to think about, it was just apparent to me that it has to be done. There was no second thinking on what I had just realized, the Word had been spoken into my heart, and the veil had been lifted! 

  I know you might be skeptical about what I am about to say, but I saw Jesus as clear as day in my mind and in my heart; and He was hanging on the cross! The message was given that Jesus Christ was the Creator of heaven and earth; I received that message loud and clear, for the very first time, that that Jesus who created everything there is, is the same Jesus that died for my sins! 

  You can take that for what you want; but in my opinion, there was no greater sacrifice that our Heavenly Father could have ever given, but His only begotten Son! He loves us so very much... 

"Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, "The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone." And, "He is a stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they do not obey God's word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he has called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. "Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy."" (1 Peter 2:7-10 NLT)