It was not human misery--but divine love!
(James Smith)
"You are to name Him JESUS--because He will save His people from their sins!" Matthew 1:21
This verse teaches that Jesus came into the world having . . .
a definite people in His mind,
a definite work in His hand, and
a definite principle in His heart.
He had a definite PEOPLE in His mind!
They are simply called "His people." He had . . .
a special interest in them,
a special right to them, and
a special concern for them.
They were given to Him as a pledge of His Father's love--to be His associates, joy and delight--His crown and glory. They were . . .
sunk in sin and wretchedness,
under the condemnation of the law,
the captives of the prince of darkness!
They were His sheep--but lost sheep!
They were His jewels--but jewels in a heap of rubbish!
They were His bride--but in a state of adultery!
He had . . .
the eye of His omniscience watching them,
the love of His heart pursuing them, and
the arm of His omnipotence protecting them!
His eye was upon them . . .
when in Heaven in His Father's bosom,
and when enclosed in Mary's womb!
His eye ever was--and ever will be on them--from the beginning to the end of time--to save and to bring them safely to glory!
He had a definite WORK in His hand!
It was a work for His Father--and a work His people.
He had . . .
the law to fulfill,
justice to satisfy,
sin to remove,
Heaven to open,
Satan to conquer,
death to destroy!
This work He proceeded to perform--until in triumph He exclaimed, "It is finished!"
He had a definite PRINCIPLE in His heart.
And what was that powerful principle, which brought Him . . .
from Heaven--to earth,
from glory--into contempt,
from unutterable bliss--into inconceivable sorrow?
It was LOVE! Love,
the ruling attribute of His nature,
the prominent feature of His character,
the rule of His conduct towards His people!
It was love which . . .
eternally existed in His bosom,
fanned His heart, and
directed His ways!
It was . . .
eternal love,
immutable love,
omnipotent love,
unconquerable love,
unfathomable love!
It was this sacred principle which led Jesus into our world--and conducted Him through all the stages of His redemptive work!
His name then, is 'Jesus'--because He loves and saves all of His people!
Never think that it was merely human misery, or the doleful cries of suffering mortals--which brought Jesus to our world; for if these would move Him--then He would assuredly empty Hell itself!
It was not human misery--but divine love!
It was not man's cries--but His own glory, which brought Jehovah Jesus into suffering circumstances and a miserable condition!
O the love! O the depth of the love of Jesus!
"You are to name Him JESUS--because He will save His people from their sins!" Matthew 1:21
This verse teaches that Jesus came into the world having . . .
a definite people in His mind,
a definite work in His hand, and
a definite principle in His heart.
He had a definite PEOPLE in His mind!
They are simply called "His people." He had . . .
a special interest in them,
a special right to them, and
a special concern for them.
They were given to Him as a pledge of His Father's love--to be His associates, joy and delight--His crown and glory. They were . . .
sunk in sin and wretchedness,
under the condemnation of the law,
the captives of the prince of darkness!
They were His sheep--but lost sheep!
They were His jewels--but jewels in a heap of rubbish!
They were His bride--but in a state of adultery!
He had . . .
the eye of His omniscience watching them,
the love of His heart pursuing them, and
the arm of His omnipotence protecting them!
His eye was upon them . . .
when in Heaven in His Father's bosom,
and when enclosed in Mary's womb!
His eye ever was--and ever will be on them--from the beginning to the end of time--to save and to bring them safely to glory!
He had a definite WORK in His hand!
It was a work for His Father--and a work His people.
He had . . .
the law to fulfill,
justice to satisfy,
sin to remove,
Heaven to open,
Satan to conquer,
death to destroy!
This work He proceeded to perform--until in triumph He exclaimed, "It is finished!"
He had a definite PRINCIPLE in His heart.
And what was that powerful principle, which brought Him . . .
from Heaven--to earth,
from glory--into contempt,
from unutterable bliss--into inconceivable sorrow?
It was LOVE! Love,
the ruling attribute of His nature,
the prominent feature of His character,
the rule of His conduct towards His people!
It was love which . . .
eternally existed in His bosom,
fanned His heart, and
directed His ways!
It was . . .
eternal love,
immutable love,
omnipotent love,
unconquerable love,
unfathomable love!
It was this sacred principle which led Jesus into our world--and conducted Him through all the stages of His redemptive work!
His name then, is 'Jesus'--because He loves and saves all of His people!
Never think that it was merely human misery, or the doleful cries of suffering mortals--which brought Jesus to our world; for if these would move Him--then He would assuredly empty Hell itself!
It was not human misery--but divine love!
It was not man's cries--but His own glory, which brought Jehovah Jesus into suffering circumstances and a miserable condition!
O the love! O the depth of the love of Jesus!
_______________________________
This, and nothing but this, is true Christianity!
(Edward Griffin)
"You do not belong to yourself--for God bought you with a high price!" 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
All that you are and have--are His. You owe Him your whole selves!
The Lord Jesus Christ, who created you and redeemed you from eternal damnation--is your Proprietor, Master, and King.
Whom else then should you serve?
To whom else should you devote your lives?
Whose interest should you rather seek?
"For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself. For if we live--we live for the Lord; or if we die--we die for the Lord. Therefore whether we live or die--we are the Lord's." Romans 14:7-8
Our religion is exactly in proportion as we cease to live for ourselves--and live for God alone. We have just as much religion--as we have of self-denial. The only evidence of attachment to Him on which we can rely--is that we make it our design and care to promote His glory and the accomplishment of His benevolent purposes, not now and then, but in the general tenor of our lives.
To live for God, is to regard His will as the rule and ground of our conduct, and His glory as our supreme object. Not merely one day in a week--but in our general course to act from a reference to His authority.
To live for God, is to choose our calling, to pursue our business, to frame our habits, to regulate our actions from hour to hour--from a regard to His will and honor.
To live for God, is to feel and act as those who are not at liberty to live to themselves, but have their work daily assigned them by a heavenly Master.
To live for God, is to live under a sense that we are not our own--not our own masters, not our own proprietors, not at our own disposal.
To live for God, is to live as though our time, talents, influence, property, and all that we are and have--are God's.
To live for God, is to hold everything in readiness to use for Him, or resign all things to Him as He shall direct.
To live for God, is to to be submissive under afflictions, and willing to be at His disposal in all our trials.
To live for God, is to to be ready to deny ourselves for Him in every way which His Word or Providence may point out.
To live for God, is to desire life chiefly that we may serve Him.
To live for God, is to make Him the center in which all the lines of our life shall meet.
To live for God, is to make it the business of our lives to please Him and not ourselves.
The very core of all true religion, is not to live for ourselves--but for God; not to consider ourselves our own--but the property and the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ; not to feel as though we are set up in the world to work for ourselves, to spend the most of our time in pursuing what is termed our innocent gratifications--but to hold our time, powers, influence, and property as talents entrusted to us to be used for Christ--keeping our eye on His Word to learn His will, and aiming habitually to please and honor Him.
This, and nothing but this, is true Christianity! Whatever our creed is--if this is not our character--then all our religion is vain!
"So we make it our goal to please Him--whether we are at home in the body or away from it!" 2 Corinthians 5:9
(Edward Griffin)
"You do not belong to yourself--for God bought you with a high price!" 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
All that you are and have--are His. You owe Him your whole selves!
The Lord Jesus Christ, who created you and redeemed you from eternal damnation--is your Proprietor, Master, and King.
Whom else then should you serve?
To whom else should you devote your lives?
Whose interest should you rather seek?
"For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself. For if we live--we live for the Lord; or if we die--we die for the Lord. Therefore whether we live or die--we are the Lord's." Romans 14:7-8
Our religion is exactly in proportion as we cease to live for ourselves--and live for God alone. We have just as much religion--as we have of self-denial. The only evidence of attachment to Him on which we can rely--is that we make it our design and care to promote His glory and the accomplishment of His benevolent purposes, not now and then, but in the general tenor of our lives.
To live for God, is to regard His will as the rule and ground of our conduct, and His glory as our supreme object. Not merely one day in a week--but in our general course to act from a reference to His authority.
To live for God, is to choose our calling, to pursue our business, to frame our habits, to regulate our actions from hour to hour--from a regard to His will and honor.
To live for God, is to feel and act as those who are not at liberty to live to themselves, but have their work daily assigned them by a heavenly Master.
To live for God, is to live under a sense that we are not our own--not our own masters, not our own proprietors, not at our own disposal.
To live for God, is to live as though our time, talents, influence, property, and all that we are and have--are God's.
To live for God, is to hold everything in readiness to use for Him, or resign all things to Him as He shall direct.
To live for God, is to to be submissive under afflictions, and willing to be at His disposal in all our trials.
To live for God, is to to be ready to deny ourselves for Him in every way which His Word or Providence may point out.
To live for God, is to desire life chiefly that we may serve Him.
To live for God, is to make Him the center in which all the lines of our life shall meet.
To live for God, is to make it the business of our lives to please Him and not ourselves.
The very core of all true religion, is not to live for ourselves--but for God; not to consider ourselves our own--but the property and the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ; not to feel as though we are set up in the world to work for ourselves, to spend the most of our time in pursuing what is termed our innocent gratifications--but to hold our time, powers, influence, and property as talents entrusted to us to be used for Christ--keeping our eye on His Word to learn His will, and aiming habitually to please and honor Him.
This, and nothing but this, is true Christianity! Whatever our creed is--if this is not our character--then all our religion is vain!
"So we make it our goal to please Him--whether we are at home in the body or away from it!" 2 Corinthians 5:9
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