305. ROM 5:8, ROM 5:9. THE LOVE OF GOD TO MAN

Rom_5:8, Rom_5:9. The Love of God to Man

"But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more, then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."’97Rom_5:8, Rom_5:9.

Our text is essentially connected with the verse preceding. And the whole paragraph is designed to exhibit to us the marvellous love of God to man, as displayed in our redemption by the gift of Jesus Christ. There have been striking instances of love triumphing over every other feeling. But in all these exhibitions of wonderful affection, it has usually been affection for friends.

Damon became security for Pythias, who was condemned to die, and would cheerfully have died in his stead. A number of citizens of Calais offered to redeem the city, by being put to death, to appease the wrath of the monarch who had besieged it. There is an account of the remains of a shipwrecked crew, who found it necessary that some of them should be thrown into the sea, that the rest might not perish through want of provisions; and when a younger brother offered to die instead of an elder one, who had a family depending upon him. Now, the apostle observes, "For a righteous man scarcely will one die." No such case is recorded. For a good man, a benevolent man’97some, from love to such, would die. This has been the case. But never was it recorded that any ever died for a profligate, a criminal, a worthless character. Here, then the love of God transcends all human conception, "In that while," &c. Mark,

I. The Objects of the Divine Love’97

"Towards us."

We do not wonder that God should love the angels’97wise, holy, benevolent, &c.; or, that he should love our first parents’97the creatures of his power and goodness, and bearing his image. But he loved sinners.

1. Sinners who had apostatized.

Abandoned his service; violated his law; united with the rebel angels, &c.

2. Sinners in actual hostility to him.

Not reconsidering’97not repenting sinners; anxious to return to him; but persisting in sin; in open arms against him; all the heart and life opposed to him.

3. Sinners who had greatly incurred his wrath.

Guilty, self-condemned delinquents; beneath the curse. In whose destruction, justice, truth, and holiness would have been magnified.

4. Sinners without plea, and without any thing to entitle them to mercy.

Sinners who had sinned knowingly, freely, when there was every motive, and full power, to have remained obedient, bate, and happy. Yet, these were the objects of God’s mercy and compassion. Notice,

II. The Manifestation of this Love.

"God commendeth his love," &c. Now, here notice,

1. The person through whom he displayed this love.

Christ the anointed; his own and only-begotten son; the object of his transcendent delight; his holy fellow; his divine equal. But Christ in our nature; God in the tabernacle of our flesh. It behooved him to be our kinsman, that he might consistently be our surety and redeemer.

2. The act in which this love was especially exhibited.

"Died for us." Every thing Christ did and suffered was for us. He was born for us. "Unto you is born," &c. He was poor us. "Ye know," &c. He lived for us, and "left us an example," &c.; but above all he died, and died for us. Prophets had lived and died to glorify God, and promote the good of mankind;’97Moses, John the Baptist. But it is never said of any other that he died for us. Jesus did not die as a martyr, or example’97he died instead of us. We were condemned to die, and should have died, had not Christ died. "He suffered the just," &c. "He loved us, and gave," &c. "He died for our sins," &c. "He was wounded," &c. "He bore our sins," &c. Now, more than the act of dying is included. The agony of soul in the garden. His horror; his bloody sweat; his desertion by his Father on the cross. He bore the curse, and "became a curse for us."

3. The benefits arising to us from this act.

Now, these may be said to be all included in the word salvation. Especially we may notice,

1. Pardon. "In whose blood," &c.

2. Sanctification. "Unto him that loved," &c.

3. Eternal life. "By his own blood he entered into the holy," &c.

III. The happy and conclusive Consequence the Believer may deduce from this Love.

"Much more, then," &c.

1. Believers are now justified. See ver. 1.

2. They shall be saved from eternal death through Christ.

No condemnation now. Have now eternal life in promise, and in earnest.

3. Their expectation of this rests on a sure and immoveable basis.

They often fear and doubt. But the text is sufficient to remove every fear, &c.

(1) God loved them while unregenerate sinners’97how much more now they art humble believing children.

(2) God loved them before Christ died for them. Hence, Christ was given. He gave Christ, not that he might, but because he did love them. "But God," &c. How much more then now, when their sin has been atoned for, and they appear as the purchase of Christ’s blood.

(3) He loved us when there were formidable difficulties in the way; how much more then, when all have been honorably removed.

(4) He loved so as to give Christ to die when we were enemies; how much more now we are friends, will he give us heaven and eternal life.

Application

1. What a foundation of hope for sinners 2. What a ground of joy for believers.

3. What a theme for present exultation and eternal triumph.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS