The Love Of God

Adapted From A Sermon By

George Burder

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Co 13:14)

Our subject this morning, adapted from a sermon by George Burder, is the Love of God.

These words are a part of a benediction often pronounced at the close of public worship in Christian congregations. They are the words of the apostle Paul, in the conclusion of his second epistle to the church at Corinth, by which he expresses his best wishes on their behalf; as if he had said, “May the perpetual favor of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the constant and peculiar love of God the Father, and the most abundant communication of the Holy Spirit, in his gifts and graces, be with you, and remain with you, even with all the members of the church of Corinth!”

That this excellent and desirable privilege, which the apostle Paul so fervently wished might be enjoyed by the Corinthian Christians, may be ours also, let us make it the subject of our meditations this morning; and “may the love of God be poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit!” (Romans 5:5) But, how difficult it is to conceive aright of the love of God! When we contemplate the firmament, and survey the starry sky, we are constrained, from a sense of our own insignificance, to exclaim, Lord! "what is man that you are mindful of him!" (Psalm 8:4) The condescension of God's Providence are also truly wonderful; but the special love of God to sinful men, as displayed in their everlasting salvation, is beyond all description;—it “surpasses knowledge!” (Ephesians 3:19)

Love, among mortals, is that affection of the human heart which inclines us to take delight in a chosen object, and to seek the good and happiness of that object. The love of God is that holy affection by which he condescends to take a pleasure in his chosen people, to confer special favors upon them, to graciously accept their persons and services, and to make them eternally happy. That such is the love of God to his church, is abundantly evident from the testimonies of his word, and from innumerable facts. Take a few of his own declarations.

He was pleased to select the posterity of Abraham from among all other nations, and to treat them with distinguished attention; concerning which he says, “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers;” (Deuteronomy 7:6-8) and “the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples.” (Deuteronomy 10:15) It is also said, “He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves.” (Psalms 78:68) It is written in another place, “The Lord loves the righteous.”(Psalms 146:8) Particular persons are also described as the objects of divine love—"Jacob have I loved;” (Romans 9:13) and our Savior said to his disciples, “The Father himself loves you.” (John 16:27)

But it is not merely by words that God has manifested his love (though there is no difference between his professions and practices, as there too often is among men) he has demonstrated his love by the most valuable gifts, by the most generous and benevolent actions.

1. God, in his infinite love, has given us his Son, his own, his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God in a peculiar sense, in a much higher sense than any other being. Angels are called sons of God—Adam was the son of God—believers are also the sons of God; but Christ, in an infinitely higher sense, is the Son of God. He is called his only or only-begotten Son, which surely implies that he shares the same divine nature with his Father. Jesus Christ had a being before he made his appearance in this world. God is therefore said to send his Son into the world. And the acknowledgment of this was considered by the apostle John an important branch of the true Christian faith, for, he says “every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,—(that is, against Christ) which you heard was coming and now is in the world already." (1 John 4:3-4). If we compare this expression, Christ’s coming in the flesh, with the first chapter of the apostle John’s Gospel, we will find that it is a proof of the divinity of our Savior; for the apostle there says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;” (John 1:1) he also says “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) Christ, then, the Son of God, who came in the flesh, and was made flesh, or became man, is a divine person, “the Word, who was with God (the Father,) and was God; and being now man also, is God the Son.” “Immanuel—God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

Here, then, is the most astonishing display of divine love!—"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) Well might the apostle Paul exclaim, “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

The degraded state of man, on whom this gift was bestowed, wonderfully enhances the love which bestowed it; for "while we were still sinners, Christ” was born, lived, and “died for us.” (Romans 5:8) How awfully has man fallen! what baseness and eagerness to do evil is demonstrated in many of the children of Adam! Look at the frightful, but faithful picture, drawn by the apostle Paul in the first chapter of his epistles to the Romans—a picture which too closely resembles thousands still. Behold a rebel universe—our species up in arms against their God! See how men are “haters of God” (Romans 1:30)—their carnal minds full of hostility against him; they reject his authority; they trample on his laws; they devote themselves to brutal lusts, depraved appetites, drunkenness, lewdness, unnatural vices, cruelty, oppression, murder,—and yet, wonder of wonders, it is for such vile and sinful rebels, God gave his only-begotten Son!

The Love of God, in this gift, appears to be still more wonderful, when we consider the deep humiliation to which he was subjected. To have united the divine nature with humanity in any form, in the highest form, or under any circumstances, even the most glorious, would have displayed a condescension which can have no name, no parallel; but for the Son of God to submit to abject poverty; to live a life of constant self-denial; to endure the contradiction of sinners against himself; to bear with the vilest indignities and insults, and those in return for innumerable acts of kindness, and, to complete the scene, to be tried as a wrongdoer, to be unjustly condemned, to be barbarously mangled by cruel flogging, to be nailed like a criminal slave to the cross, there to agonize and to die,—and all this for guilty rebels!—It truly is astonishing! no words can describe, no one can duly conceive of that divine love which is the source of all this.

2. Another method by which the love of God is manifested, is in the gift of his Word, his Gospel, by which we come to know his love; for without this, even the gift of his Son would have been of no use.

He was pleased to pour into the minds of his prophets and apostles a ray of supernatural light. At many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets; (Hebrews 1:1) and to Jesus Christ they all bear witness; they testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow; and, when all that they predicted had been accomplished, he inspired holy men to write the history of his birth, teaching, miracles, death, and resurrection, in what we call the Gospels. Others were equally inspired to write letters to the first Christians, explaining the nature of that salvation which he had purchased; the faith by which it becomes ours; the hope that we are warranted to hold, and the holy character and conduct which all believers must strive for. “To us has been sent the message of this salvation!” (Acts 13:26) Let us prize it, according to its inestimable value; let us bind it to our hearts; let it be our meditation day and night; let it be sweeter to our taste than honey and the honeycomb, and more valuable than all the gold in the world. It is the gift of divine love!

3. Nor is the gift of the Holy Spirit less necessary than the gift of the Savior himself, for without his enlightening and renewing influences, we cannot know or receive him in a saving way. His role is “to glorify Jesus;”(John 16:14) for which purpose “he takes the things of Christ and declares them to us;” (John 16:14) and God is said to give us his spirit, “that we might understand the things freely given us.” (1 Corinthians 2:12) So necessary are his influences, that without them no man can say in faith and in sincerity, “Jesus is the Lord.”(1 Corinthians 12:3) So necessary was it for the Spirit to descend on the church, that Christ said, “it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you;" (John 16:7) and when he is come, "he will guide you into all the truth.”(John 16:7, 13) Indeed, so necessary is this gift, and the reception of it, that “anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” (Romans 8:9)

4. The love of God is further displayed in the forgiveness of sins.

Among men, an enemy usually resents a great offense, amplifies its evils, and meditates revenge; but love is rather grieved, than angry, when a wrong is done; is disposed to pardon, and, perhaps, seeks an occasion to be reconciled to the offender. Such, and infinitely more, is the condescending love of our offended God. He who could, at any time, and by any means; take the deserved vengeance, stoops to send his messengers to assure us of his friendly disposition towards us; warn us of the danger of persisting in our rebellion; and “implores us on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20) This readiness to forgive, he has been pleased to movingly display in the touching parable of the Prodigal Son. There, the father of the once profligate youth is represented as beholding with compassion his miserable, his penitent, and returning son, while yet a great way off, and running, with eager haste, to receive and embrace him! It is a moving picture of divine love! Such is the readiness with which the Father of mercies will still receive all who forsake their sins, and return to him by Jesus Christ. Truly, there is joy in heaven over every sinner that repents, (Luke 15:7) over every sinner that is pardoned; and in every such instance the love of God is glorified.

5. God demonstrates his love to us still more, in making the most abundant provision for our comfort and happiness in the present world.

As parents are strongly attached to their children, and with pleasure provide them with food, and clothing, and education, and gifts, so our heavenly Father kindly receives pardoned sinners into his family, and puts them amongst his children. “See!” says the apostle John (observe it with the highest admiration, “what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1) Behold what provision he has made for our souls! He gives us his blessed bible, his faithful ministers, his sacred ordinances, his precious promises. He welcomes our spirits, admits us to communion with himself, allows us to tell him all our fears and all our desires, and assures us that he will withhold from us no good thing. He tells us to put away all anxious concern, because he himself “cares for us;” (1 Peter 5:7) he will be our guide; he will be our shield, he will make all things work together for our good, and will never, never leave us nor forsake us! Consider what kind of love this is!

And “if he does so much for us in the prison, what will he do for us in the palace!” We are yet minors. But “if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:17) Even now, believers are immensely rich. Read the unparalleled inventory of their wealth, “All things are yours” (Romans 8:17)—the world is the first article—as much of the world as their Father sees good to bestow, and, indeed, all the world in a sense, for all things lead their minds to God; “they are steps by which they ascend to their Creator, for in them all, they view, as in a bright mirror, his wonderful perfections, and rejoice in that meditation. Above all, they perceive in them the love of God towards them. When they view the sun, moon, and stars, they rejoice that their heavenly Father has given them so many sources of light: nor do they less admire these, than if every one of them had his own sun, or his own moon, shining upon him. Indeed, all things are for the elect’s sake—life and death; things present and things to come,—all are theirs, for they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

6. But all this is merely a guarantee of the intended inheritance;—“the firstfruits of the Spirit;” (Romans 8:23) for who can tell what God has laid up and prepared for them in Heaven? Who can tell what vast powers they may possess, as superior perhaps to what they now enjoy, as the talents of angels are now superior to those of men? Who can tell what a glorious place they will dwell in?—their “Father’s mansions” (John 14:2 NKJV) will be worthy of himself, and Jesus Christ, who is gone to prepare them, will come again and receive his people to himself, that where he is, they may be also. Who can tell what pleasant employments will engage their improved and delighted spirits? Who can tell what blessed and glorious company they will have? saints and angels will certainly be their associates, and “God himself will be with them;” (Revelation 21:3) and they “will always be with the Lord!” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

Such are some of the effects of the love of God to men! But who can possibly describe it properly? A consideration, however, of some of its properties may at least help us in our conceptions.

1. It is everlasting—“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3) From before the foundation of the world, God foresaw the apostasy and misery of man, and determined to show his love to the human race. The effects of this love were determined upon, and the peculiar objects of it were selected. They were “chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world,” that “they should be holy and blameless before him in love;” “they were predestined for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace,”(Ephesians 1:4, 5, 6) so the apostle Paul expresses it in his letter to the Ephesians. How greatly does this enhance the value of the love of God, and fill with sacred admiration and astonishment the hearts of those in whom this love is poured out through the Holy Spirit! (Romans 5:5) they are amazed to think that the great and glorious God should condescend to think of them; of them, insignificant and rebellious creatures, and inscribe their unworthy names in the book of life!!!

2. It is free and sovereign. It is not fixed on any particular person on account of any foreseen excellency and superiority. Whatever is excellent in any person, is the effect of this love, and not its cause. All men are depraved, polluted and undone. God was not bound to show kindness to any one of Adam’s fallen race; but, he says, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion;” (Romans 9:15) and in another place, he says, “I will love them freely.”(Hosea 14:4) If one man differs from another, it is grace that causes him to differ; and, therefore, to free grace is all the glory to be ascribed, as our Lord himself does: “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” (Luke 10:21)

3. The love of God is unchangeable. The love of mortals is liable to much change; not so the love of God; “he will quiet you by his love:” (Zephaniah 3:17)—“having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (John 13:1) Their sense of it may vary, and God may hide his face; and he will do so “if his children forsake his law and do not keep his commandments;” in love to their souls, he “will punish their transgression with the rod;” to bring them back again; “but he will not remove from them his steadfast love or be false to his faithfulness.”(Psalm 89:30-33) No,—“the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10)

Conclusion

As we come to a close let us consider four words of advice with respect to this matter:—

1. Believe the love of God, according to what the apostle John says, “We have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love.” (1 John 4:16) To know and to believe this, is to know and believe the whole Gospel; for this is indeed the substance of it. The love of God is so exceedingly great, that it is said to “surpass knowledge;” (Ephesians 3:19) but it does not surpass belief. We cannot fully understand it, for it is infinite; but we may believe it on the testimony of God himself; without which, such is its astonishing greatness, that it might have seemed incredible, but resting on the divine testimony concerning it, we may survey it with delight and pleasure; “its breadth and length, and depth and height,” (Ephesians 3:18) that “we may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19)

2. Receive the love of God. It is proposed to us in the Gospel as the grand attraction—that which is calculated to draw us away from the world and sin and folly, and to raise our affections towards superior objects.“God shows his love for us”—he sets it before us, and recommends it to our notice, to raise our faith, our hope, our admiration, our love, and our joy, by this peculiar excellency of it—that “while we were still sinners,” (Romans 5:8) he sent his dear Son into the world; who “gave himself a ransom” (1 Timothy 2:6) for our souls. Surely, this should draw our souls to God, and cause us instantly, and most thankfully, to receive the gifts of his love. Let us be encouraged to come to God, for God is love.

3. Return the love of God—make a suitable return for love so vast and so free. This was the first and great command, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength;” (Mark 12:30) and what can be so powerful an inducement to this as the astonishing love of God to us? Let us say with the apostle John, “We love him, because he first loved us;” (1 John 4:19 NKJV)—that is, in consequence of his having first loved us, without which we never would have loved him; and also, from a view and sense of his having first loved us. He is altogether lovely in himself, and we are under inexpressible obligations to his love; let us love him, therefore, supremely, and prove our love to him by keeping his commandments. “If you love me” said Christ, “you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) We cannot love him as we ought, nor as he deserves to be loved; but let us love him as we can, and daily lament that we love him no better. Let us prefer his glory above all that is dear to us, and be ready to part with all things for his sake. Our Lord asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?’ and three times the zealous apostle declare his attachment. Our Savior then directed him how to demonstrate his affection—“Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17) In like manner, let us show the sincerity of our regard to God, by a ready compliance with his whole will.

4. Imitate the love of God. Nothing can make man so truly amiable, as to resemble, in his humble measure, the God of love; and nothing can be a better proof of our being the objects of his love; for, by this, said Christ, “all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) This is Christ’s own commandment,—his new commandment; old indeed in substance, but new in form, and enforced by a new obligation. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34) He has left among us suitable objects of Christian love—all his members, and especially those who need our care. “You always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them.” (Mark 14:7) “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7) O let the love of God constrain us to cultivate every kind disposition, and to be quick in every act of kindness to the bodies and souls of men, and especially to all who suffer affliction; for in this way we resemble our heavenly Father, and our adorable Savior, who, when he will appear in his glory, at his second coming, will graciously accept and reward every ‘labor of love,”(1 Thessalonians 1:3) saying, “as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40) “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34)