Revelation 1:4-9 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be to you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come… I. With respect to THE MANIFESTATION OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST, we may remark, in general, that love was the spring of all His mediatory acts. No doubt, He chiefly sought the glory of His Father, and testified His love to Him by fulfilling His will. But in prosecuting these objects He was gratifying His own love. 1. It was love that induced the Son of God to undertake our cause in the counsels of eternity. 2. The love of Christ appears in the delight He took in the prospect of the work, arduous and grievous as it was, which He had engaged to perform. 3. His love appears in the assumption of our nature. Oh, what a stoop was there! 4. The love of the Redeemer appears in the whole of His obedience unto death. II. THE NATURE AND PROPERTIES OF CHRIST'S LOVE. 1. It is the love of a Divine Person. 2. It is the love of a Divine Person in human nature. 3. The love of Christ is transcendently great. It is incredible to all but those who have been taught from above. III. Let us attend to the PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENT of this subject. 1. We may see one proof of the deep depravity of mankind. 2. Here is food for faith. 3. The reasonableness and the duty of love to Christ. (T. McCrie, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; |
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