Lesson 4

This is one of my favorite Scriptures.  It is incredible that some don’t understand the depth of God’s Love.  This is the extent that God went to pursue us.  He sent Jesus.  “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.”  (John 3:17) We don’t deserve His Love. 

We can’t earn His Love in any way. It is too costly and can’t be bought. It is a free gift offered to us by God, His mercy and grace which is God’s undeserved favor.

 

“…While we were yet sinners…”  I add also, while we were His enemies and sided with His enemy, satan.  This may shock some of you.  But when we chose sin over God, we were His enemies. Paul wrote about this: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”  (Romans 5:10) God loved us when we were His enemies. He offers His enemies a do-over, a second chance for life, for peace, for joy and for love. If this is missing in your life, you need God’s do-over. That’s a do-over while we’re here on this earth. Once we enter eternity, it’s too late.

 

I can’t understand God’s love for us.  In earthly terms, I can’t love someone who hates me, who betrays me, who betrays my love and my goodness toward them.  But God loved us when we hated Him, when we hated His wisdom and goodness.  He initiated our relationship.  He sent Jesus to redeem us from the kingdom of darkness, controlled by satan, and literally “translated” us the Bible says, to the kingdom of His Dear Son, the kingdom of light, Truth, peace and joy when Jesus died for us and resurrected in power over death. 

 

Do not err though.  There are people in hell who the Lord loved.  But they refused to accept God’s amazing gift, salvation through Jesus.  There is only one way to be saved. “Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6) Jesus is the only One Who could take the punishment and death for us so that we could be blameless and have eternal life.  We can’t earn it.  Our sin in His holy presence would consume us. But Jesus lived in human flesh and never sinned. The Bible tells us He was tempted in every way a man is tempted. Think about all the gross and evil temptations that have come over us. But He sinned not. “For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) We could never do that.  When we are tempted after receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have the Holy Spirit indwelling in us to help us have victory over the flesh. And this will be further explained in following lessons.

 

The love of God was demonstrated first to us. When we understand the Gospel and surrender to Him, we are changed for eternity. But we must accept God’s magnanimous and undeserved gift.  He loved us first. “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1John 4:19)  We don’t deserve it.  That is His mercy.  And that is His Love.

 

Prayer

Father God, thank You for loving me. Thank You for sending Jesus. Help me to understand how much You love me. Help me to yield to Your love, Your mercy and Your goodness.  Help me to have victory over temptation so that I may not sin against You.  I renounce any connection to the enemy and every sin. I know I am helpless unless You are with me and in me. I receive Your gift of mercy and love. Forgive me of my sins and help me to live in victory by the power of the Holy Spirit Who dwells in me. In the Name of Jesus, amen.