1 John 4:9-10 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world… 1. The love of God as a principle is, of course, eternal. Like His own nature, it is uncreated, self-existent, and independent. 2. But, while the love of God as a principle is from everlasting, the manifestations of this love are related to events, and to circumstances, and to time. Now the manifestation of God's love not only makes us acquainted with it, but renders that love available to us. Now, in the text, a gift is introduced as manifesting God's love. I. THE NATURE OF THIS GIFT. Now here, you observe, a being is given to us, and a being closely related to God Himself; so closely related to the Father that we must look upon Him as the Son of the Highest. This Being is sent into our world — sent to live in close connection with it; for He is born of a woman, and sent into our world to become thoroughly indentified with it. He is indentified with it as a newborn babe; He is indentified with it as an infant; He is indentified with it as a child; He is indentified with it as a youth; He is indentified with it as a man; He is indentified with it as pursuing the ordinary occupations of His country and age. II. THE INTENT OF THIS GIFT. To give "life." Originally, life was staked upon a covenant. God said to our first father, "Do this, and you shall live." That was a covenant of works, and the continuance of life to Adam under that arrangement was his due. The covenant is broken, and it is utterly impossible for God to place us now under a covenant of similar character. If we are to have life now, it must be by a dispensation of mercy. And while He personally imparts to us that life which consists in freedom from condemnation, He gives us life in soul and spirit by "the Spirit of God." (S. Martin.) Parallel Verses KJV: In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. |
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