“Children of God Behold the Kind of Love”
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1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
What kind of love is it that we are called the children of God? Consider the manner of love that God bestowed up on us; a love so great it makes sinners separate from their sin and righteously can be called the children of God. What kind of power of transformation that makes the unholy holy?
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
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The greatest demonstration of love is that Jesus died for the sins of the world; however we are speaking of the love of God toward the children of God. I love Romans 5, it is the much more chapter in scriptures. If the demonstration of love is Christ dying for us while we are sinners is great, the Word declares there is a much more to this demonstration. Behold the much more love of God! The wrath of God is for the unbeliever the children of God are saved from the wrath based upon the great sacrifice of Jesus. God has no intention of pouring out His wrath on His children. It is the manner of love the Father bestowed on the children! If the Father’s love is demonstrated to the sinners by the sacrifice of Jesus there is a much more to that truth of love. If reconciled by the blood of Jesus we shall be saved much more by Jesus life! Behold the manner of love.
The children of God have the power of the endless life ministering to and for them! Let me say it again the death of Jesus was for the transformation from sinner to children. The life of Jesus is for the children to live in fullness and abundant life!
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Hebrews 7:16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.
Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Remember we are considering the love of the Father toward the children! The demonstration of the love of the Father is much more for the children.
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Romans 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
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The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
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The Father’s love is so great the word asks “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?” It is based on the love that the Father has for His children. We are made more than conquerors “through Him who loved us”.
Jesus death paid the sin penalty; His resurrection brings us abundant life. Behold the love of the Father. It is His desire to freely give us all things!
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Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross,thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
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Through Jesus Christ we have had the enmity between the Father and us put to death. There is no wrath to face because the wrath of God was poured out upon Jesus at the cross. He who knew no sin became sin that we might become the righteousness of God. Those who have come into the covenant have no need of fear. Perfect love cast out all fear. Not your perfect love toward God but the revelation of the great love of God toward those who believe. If while you were a sinner how much the more…
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
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While the wrath of God remains for those who will not believe, the correction of God is for all legitimate sons. One of the greatest signs of the love of God is He corrects His children. His love brings words of life to set you free.
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Hebrews 12:6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
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Human fathers may correct their children out of wrath; however our heavenly Father corrects us out of His love. God deals with you as with sons! What a promise for those who belong to God. Let me say this strong uncommon word to you. If you are living in a life style of sin and can go on sinning without correction it is because you are not a child of God and you do not abide in His love. It is the children of God whom God corrects. The Lord chastens and scourges every son whom He receives. If you have not had the experience of God correcting you, examine yourself and see if you are in the faith. The much more love of God brings correction to every son whom He receives. If you are without correction then you are illegitimate and not sons. In fact the KJV says you are bastards. Bastards would be those without a legitimate father.
Some may say this is too strong of a word to bring! However they are far too many false conversion into the kingdom of God . All who say Lord, Lord are not necessarily children of the Father. One strong sign is, true children face the correction of a loving Father who calls them and draws them away from ungodly living.
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Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
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The grace (divine influence upon our heart) of God that brings salvation has appeared! Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust. Grace also teaches us what to pursue; our pursuit should be soberly and righteously ever be looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Yes the strong love of God we need to consider is not a love that leaves us to our own ways and devises; the strong love of God leaves us in pursuit of Him. What are you chasing? Wherever your treasure is there will your heart be also. Submission to the correction of the Father will yield a wonderful harvest of abundant life.
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2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
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Those who have truly been touched by the Love of God are compelled and constrained by it. Consider the love of God is so great the it compels me in the right direction. The importance of the constraining factor, is not so much it is keeping us from doing evil, but instead it is compressing us to live for Christ! Consider like a tube of toothpaste if you will. When you apply pressure to the tube the paste comes out at the end. The paste is being compressed into coming out. The love of God is much like that. Once one has truly experience that love they no longer desire to live for themselves but are compelled to live for the one who died and rose again for them. The love of God is so great it brings transformation! Child of God consider the great love of God!
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