THE LOVE OF CHRIST A PATTERiV FOR US, TO EACH OTHER.
1 John iii. 16. Hereby peiceive we the love of God, because he laid doun his life for us : and ue ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
IN contemplating Christianity as a system, we scarcely know whether to admire more, the depth of its mysteries, or the height of its requirements. Of all mysteries, that specified in our text, the death of our incarnate God for the sins of men, is, beyond all comparison, the greatest : and, of all requirements, there is not one so arduous as tliat, which also is here inculcated, of laying down our lives for the bre- thren. The two taken together present Christianity in a most endearing view; and exhibit it as alike conducive to the perfection of ou^ nature and the completion of our bliss. Let us notice,
I. The extent in which God has manifested his love to us —
If we survey the works of Creation, we shall see love inscribed upon them all. There was not one which the Creator himself did not pronounce to be ** very good :" and, if there be any thing within the whole compass of it that is noxious to man, it was not so according to its original constitution, but has been rendered so by sin. If we mark also the dis- pensations of Providence, we shall find in all of them* too the same blessed character of love : for the very anger of God is only an exercise of paternal love ; and his judgments, an eftbrt to bring his ofiending creatures into a state of reconciliation and accept- ance with him. But it is in Redemption that his love
is
1186.] Christ's love a pattern for us. 255
is chiefly displayed : for, in order to effect it, Jesus Christ assumed our nature, and actually ** laid down his life for us."
In order that we may behold somewhat of the love displayed in this stupendous act, let us consider,
1 . What our situation was that rendered such an effort necessary —
[We were fallen, after the example of " the angels that kept not their first estate;" and with them we must have taken our portion to all eternity. To deliver ourselves was ab- solutely imi)ossible : nor could the whole creation afford us any effectual aid. The judgments denounced against sin must be executed, either on the sinner himself, or on one capable of standing in his place, and of satisfying all the de- mands of law and justice. But where could such an one be found ? The first archangel was unequal to the task. None but God himself could interpose with effect, even that God, whose law we had violated and whose Majesty we had of- fended. Such was our helpless and hopeless state, when Al- mighty God determined to rescue us from our misery, by sending his only dear Son into the world to offer up himself a sacrifice for sin, and, by dying in our stead, to redeem us from all the penal consequences of our transgression.]
2. What by that effort is accomplished for us — [Our guilt is expiated And God is reconciled
unto his offending creatures We may now go to him
in the name of his dear Son. We may plead the merit of his obedience unto death. The vilest sinner in the universe has no occasion to despair. All that is necessary for his accept- ance with God has been done ; and he needs only to " lay hold on the hope set before him," and to embrace the sal- vation that is freely offered him. If only v/e believe in Jesus, justice itself is become our friend and our advocate: because its utmost demands having been satisfied in Christ's obedience unto death, it claims, on behalf of all who believe in Jesus, the transfer of those rights to which, through the intervention of our Surety, we are entitled ]