Sketches of Sermons 1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. I. THE STATE OF MAN REQUIRED A PROPITIATION. 1. The perfection and excellence of the law which he has broken. 2. The inability of man to expiate his offences. 3. The inflexible nature of Divine justice, which supports the honour of the law, and enforces its claims. II. JESUS CHRIST IS THE PROPITIATION REQUIRED. 1. No creature could or would become a propitiation for man. 2. Jesus Christ is every way adapted to become our propitiation. 3. The Scriptures everywhere testify that Jesus Christ is our propitiation(Isaiah 53:5, 6, 7, 10; Matthew 20:28; Romans 3:24, 25; Romans 4:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:20; 1 Timothy 1:15; Hebrews 9:22-26; 1 John 2:2). The Father gave the Son (John 3:16). The Son gave Himself (Galatians 1:4). He offered Himself through the Eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14). III. THIS PROPITIATION IS A GLORIOUS DISPLAY OF THE LOVE OF GOD. 1. Unparalleled in its nature. 2. Intense in its ardour. 3. Immense in its extent. 4. Glorious in its purpose and final issue.Inferences: 1. How pernicious is the doctrine of Socinianism, which completely destroys this only hope of a penitent — redemption by Christ! 2. How dangerous is the delusion of the self-righteous! 3. What abundant consolation does this subject afford penitent sinners! 4. In this love of God we are furnished with a rule and a motive for love to each other, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." (Sketches of Sermons.) Parallel Verses KJV: Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. |