God Commendeth His Love

"God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

In this text the Holy Spirit shows us that the greatest possible display of the love of God toward us was the sacrifice of his Son in the place of sinners upon the cross. We see God's love in his providence. We read of God's love toward us in his Word. We hear of God's love toward us by the gospel. But God's own commendation of love is tis - "Christ died for us." There are three things that I see in this text.

First, God Has A People Whom He Loves. Here the Apostle is not talking about God's goodness and benevolence toward all his creatures, though that is a delightful truth of Scripture. Rather, he is talking about that peculiar, distinguishing love which God has for his own elect. God's love to his people is altogether free, sovereign and independent. This is "his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins." This is a love in which the world has no part. It is a family love. The love of God for his children, the love of Christ for his bride, is a special love to them alone. It is an eternal, perfect, and unchanging love. Brethren, we should never cease to be amazed that God should love any of Adam's race. And our hearts should be humbled in deep adoration, because he loved us!

Secondly, The Greatest Possible Display and Highest Commendation of God's Love is the Substitutionary Sacrifice of His Son. Here is love at his utmost height. Here is love out doing itself. Here is love in all its fulness- Christ died for us? Why did Jesus Christ die at Calvary? Because God loved us. And it was not possible for God to save his people without a suitable substitute to satisfy all the demands of holiness and justice in our place. Here is the length and breadth, the depth and height of God's love - "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Thirdly, God Accomplishes Salvation of Those He Love's By Christ's Shed Blood. Every soul for whom Jesus died shall be brought to him in a union of living faith.

Don Fortner