The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 127

Indicates the disposition of the designer. The world abounds with contrivances; and all tho contrivances which we are acquainted with are directed to beneficial purpo.~es. , • , We never discover a tmin of contriv1rnce to bring about an evil purpose. No nnatomist ever discovered a system of organization calculated to produce pain and disease; or, in explaining the parts of the human body, ever said, 'This is to iITitate, this to inflame, this duct is to convey the gravel to the kidneys, this gland to secrete the humour which forms the gout.'" Viewed from this stanclpoint, the universe appears to be a grand outflow of the love of God, a convincing witness of his cleligb t in promoting the well-being and the gladness of his creatures. The seasons of the year supply evidence of this truth. Spring, with its gradual unfolcling of young life and verdant beauty, its quickening and joy-giving influence, is a revelation of God's tenderness and grace. Summer, with its rich light and heat, its abouncliog life and glory, is a revelation of the inexhaustible beanty and glory and rnuniticence of God. Autumn, with its maturity and mellowness an<l plenty, proclaims the fidelity and bountifulness of God. But what shall we say of winter, with its storms and tempests, its sombre clouds and stern colds? Even this-that it is not without its beauties, and in its bleak and trying months nature is silently and secretly preparing the beauties of the coming spring, the glories of summer, au<l the bounties of autumn. Ri~htly regarded, even winter testifies that "God is Love.'' But man, with guilty conscience, and a dread of God, and viewing him only through the distorted medium of his own sinful soul, fails to read the revelation of him in nature correctly. And even if he should do so, there arises the inquiry-ls God love in hi~ relation to the sinful? To this, nature has no satisfactory response. Creation may have been a sufficient revelation of God for unfallen men, but for sinful men it is very insufficient. 2. In the Bible. 'rho Bible is the revelation of God in his relation to man as a sinner. .And this revela- tion reaches its clearest, fullest, and most ir,.fluential development in Jesus Chrfat the Son of God. (1) In the Bible, God appears as the Giver of every good, the Fountain of all blessings. "He giveth us richly all things to enjoy." "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above," etc. Material, mental, and spiritual good we derive from him. Restoration to the lost, pardon to the guilty, sanctification to the sinful, glory to the degraded, he gives. Through Christ he bestows all good here, and eternal and glorious life hereafter to all who believe in him. (2) God confers these blessings upon those who are entirely undeserving of them. It is not to his loyal subjects alone that these gifts are bestowed, but also to rebels against his authority. "He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good," etc. Not only are we undeserving; we are ill deserving; we have merited his wrath; yet he imparts to us the gifts or his love. (3) In order to bestow these gifts upon us, he gave us a Gift of greater value than all the others. "He gave his only begotten Son." This Gift immeasurably transcends all the others. Without this they woul,l not have reached us. They flow to us through the mediation of Jesus, (4) .And Jesus was given, not to those who waited to receive and honour him, but to those who despised and rejected him. He was given to labour and suffer and die for men, in order that they might have life and joy (cf. vers. 9, 10; Rom. v. 8; John iii. 16). "God so lol'ed the world, that he gave," etc. Who can declare the sweep and intensity of that little adverb "so"? 1t indicates an infinity of love, a shoreless, bottomless ocean of love. "Lo Ye, Divine love, Divine love giving, Divine love giving its only begotten Son, that whoso- ever believeth-not 'payeth,' not 'worketh,' not 'putteth out some external strength,' but 'believeth '-should not perish, but have everlasting life~ (Dr. Joseph Parker). Great as was the love between the Father and the Son, the Father "spared uot hi, own Son, but delivered him up for us all." All the love of the Saviour's life was the love of God. "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself." In all the lil'e of our Lord I read our text, and in his death it is proclaimed with an almost irre:.istible fulness and force that "God is Love." II. THE VINDICATION OF THIS GLORIOUS TRUTH. 'l'he terrible presence of sin rui.a suffering in the world tends to make men doubt the love of God. If God is love, how is it that there is so much evil nmongst men? If he is omniscient, he must have foreseen it; and, foreseeing it, if he is omnipotent, he might have prevented it. Why did he not do so? Why does he allow it to remain? 1. In relation to the existence of sin, or moral evil, amongst us, observe this-the moral comciousness of men ever charges r24 1'HE l<'IRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN. (en. 1v. 1-21.