It’s astonishing news. In reality, it’s the gospel.
Why would Jesus love me?
Isn’t there someone better for Him to love? Isn’t there someone more suitable for His love? Isn’t there someone who will better love Him in response to His love?
The answer to all three questions is a resounding, “No!” The third question might need more of an explanation, but when it comes to discussing someone better or more suitable, the fact of the matter is no one is good. We all spurn God. We all have treated Him like garbage. He loved us when we were dead in our sins, flailing around in our blood, and breathing hatred toward His name.
This is enough good news to power someone for a lifetime of good works, but God didn’t love me so i would love Him back perfectly in response. This doesn’t negate the fact that i should desire to love Him better than i typically do, but God’s love to me doesn’t stop when i fail to love Him rightly. If He could love me when i was dead, flailing in unrighteousness, and cursing Him at the top of my lungs, then my failure to love Him rightly is not a barrier to His love.
I love because, and only because, God loved me first. If God hadn’t loved me, i wouldn’t have a loving bone in my body. If God ever stops loving me, then i am damned. And if it weren’t for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, God would be fully and completely just and good to cease loving me.
Let me define love before i continue. It is not a good feeling. It is not what Hollywood tries to tell you it is. If Hollywood’s idea of love is what i mean when i say, “Jesus loves you,” then you have every right to fear that statement. In Hollywood love disappears faster than snow hitting the ground in Southern California. If that was the love Jesus has for you, then “Jesus loves you” is not the gospel. But, Jesus loves you. He really does.
I can prove it to you. The apostle John wrote the following:
1 John 3:16 (HCSB)
This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers.
Jesus’ love for you was shown when He laid down His life for you. His love for me was shown when He laid down His life for me. He laid down His life for us. Love is not what makes me feel good. It is me doing what is in your best interests. It’s why i don’t write posts about how great my life is. It’s why i don’t annoy you with requests to follow me and support me. It’s why the gospel of Jesus Christ is in every single post i write. It’s why i plead for you to believe every time i publish a post.
Belief in Christ is in your best interests. If you want to know for sure that Jesus loves you, place your faith in Him today. He was a historical person. But more than that, He was God in the flesh. The crucifixion of Jesus is a historical fact. The burial of Jesus is a historical fact. It is also a historical fact that no one has ever found His body. As God, death couldn’t hold Him down.
But why did He have to die in the first place?
I have sinned against God. You have sinned against God. I don’t know your story, but i do know mine. The god i worshipped for the first eighteen years of my life was myself. This is idolatry. I cursed God’s name. This is blasphemy. I hated my parents. This is dishonoring my parents and committing murder in my heart. I watched porn regularly. This is mental adultery. I stole music off the internet. Theft. I lied regularly. I wanted the relationships my friends had. Coveting. In essence, i was a lawbreaker. And if it weren’t for the love of God, i still would be.
But Jesus died. Hallelujah, praise Jesus! Jesus died for me! When He died, He hadn’t done a single wrong thing (sin) deserving of death. He had kept the law perfectly. But then He was crucified. And on the cross, He bore my sins on His back. He also bore the sins of every single person who has ever placed their faith in Him. When He died, God counted Him as sinful who had never sinned, so that sinful us would be found in Him as sinless. God declares those who place their faith in Christ JUSTIFIED.
This is why i said God can’t stop loving me. Jesus paid my penalty. If He hadn’t paid my penalty, it would be just of God to damn me, and He–the sinless one–would be good to cast me and my sin away from His presence for eternity. But Jesus paid it all! Jesus loves me! I am loved by God, and nothing can separate me from His love.
Have you believed? Does Jesus love you?
I pray He does.
Place your faith in Him today.
If you’ve already believed, look to Him anew today, and praise Him for His amazing love!
In this with you.
Soli Deo Gloria
Solus Christus
Sola Gratia
Thanks for reading.
I would highly recommend checking out the following video link. The trailer below is linked to the video on Vimeo.com. If you prefer Amazon, that link is underneath the video player. At least check out the trailer:
live in Love; find your true reward 