The MESSAGE for October 29, 2023

The Amazing Act of Love

Romans 5:1-11

Live Broadcast

Greater Concord Missionary Baptist Church

 

The cross was the plan of the ages! God’s plan for the ages was ready. The Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world. The cross was conceived in the mind of God in love. The just for the unjust that Jesus might bring us to God (I Peter 3:18). Without Calvary there would be no salvation, no gospel, no justification, for sinful man. The time of the crucifixion was important. “When we were yet without strength” the powerlessness of the sinner (Romans 5:6).

 

Salvation came when man was a wretch sinner. Because of sin man did not have the strength to stand morally upright. But the plan of God was ready. “In due time Christ died for the ungodly, Christ died in time, on time, and the right time. God’s time schedule was fulfilled right to the very second of time.” When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman” (Galatians 4:4). “Fullness of time “says God was right on time. God had great love for the sinner, “He commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) God’s love for mankind was one of the significant causes for the salvation of sinners. Without this compassion, no one would be saved, for His compassion was the great motivating factor in Calvary. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16).

 

Mankind is forever challenging God’s love and asking for proof of it. This text gives a silencing answer to all those who would challenge God’s love for mankind. “Commendeth” in our text means to demonstrate, to display, to give evidence, to prove something.

 

Our text shows the proof of God’s love is for man. The death of Christ demonstrated, displayed, gave evidence of and proved that the love of God for sinful man was extremely great. Christ’s death on the cross shows much about the great love of God for sinners. The death of Christ on the Cross of Calvary proves without a shadow of doubt, the great love of God for mankind.

 

Love is measured by its sacrifice. Small love will not sacrifice much. Great love will sacrifice much. The death of Christ was a tremendous sacrifice. God gave His Only Son to die for our sins. There is no greater sacrifice. Much goes under the heading of love that is sinful and defiling. Immorality is often spoken of by the guilty as an act of love when it is nothing but plain old, wicked lust. True love is not defiling in conduct (I Corinthians 13:5-6). The word “died” shows that God’s love was pure. God’s love is holy, pure, sanctified, and righteous. True love is not lenient with evil. If love is real, it will benefit the object of loved. If God truly loves us, we can ask what will that love do for us? Calvary says it will save us! But I want us to know that this great love for us, “mankind” is no good whatsoever, if we refuse to accept Jesus as your savior.

 

Many are saying today I thought Jesus was crucified because of the betrayal of Judas, the envy of the high priests, and the weakness of Pilate. There is some truth in this analysis but it’s not the whole truth. As we have noted before, the shedding of Christ’s blood was required for salvation. “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold…but with the precious blood of Christ” (I Peter 1:18-19). He “washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5). Thou…hast redeemed us to God by thy blood (Revelation 5:9). This cleansing by the blood of Christ is most valuable to the soul for it saved from Divine wrath (Roman 5:9). This fact is typified in Exodus 12:13, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. “When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God (Romans 5:10). Reconciliation is able to occur because of Calvary. “Reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Roman 5:10).

 

Salvation is never apart from Jesus Christ and His Substitutionary death at Calvary. The resurrection enables Him to be engaged in an intercessory ministry in saving sinners. Wherefore, He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Praise His Holy Name!

 

Pastor, Rev. Dr. Cullian W. Hill