"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
1 John 4:10
“Herein is love,”
As John writes this passage, admittedly, he doesn’t want believers to be confused about the source of love (agape). This highest form of sacrificial love did not begin with people. It was not man’s idea to reach out to God in love. Man is not the fount of love.
“Not that we loved God,”
Although He is entirely deserving of our love, without God, man is not capable of loving. At least not His kind of love, the love that gives itself away for the sake of the object that is loved. Without God, a man knows nothing about this kind of love. In fact, man was loved by God even while he was the enemy of God.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” (Romans 5:8).
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life,” (Romans 5:10).
God certainly loved first. Long before we loved Him, He loved us.
“But that he loved us,”
We who are altogether undeserving of His love, He chose to love. Our Creator affixed His love on us, His creatures who sinned so seriously against Him. Because He loved us, it does not mean that He approved of our sin or of our sinful character. He did not! Neither did He overlook our sin. He said, “…the soul that sinneth, it shall die,” (Ezekiel 18:4b).
“And sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Because of the Father’s love for sinful man, He provided a way for sin to be forgiven. God’s Word says,
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission [forgiveness for sin],” (Hebrews 9:22).
Blood must be shed for our sin to be forgiven, but whose blood? Animal sacrifice cannot pay for man’s sin (Hebrews 10:4). We cannot pay for our own sin, that would take an eternity in Hell. God’s answer for our cleansing from sin is Jesus, His perfect Son’s sacrifice, in our place for our sin.
Jesus is the “propitiation for our sins.” His sacrifice on the cross is the only sacrifice that could satisfy God’s divine justice. Jesus died, was buried, and rose again that we might have forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Salvation is all about God and His sacrifice for us. Surely, He loved us first, and He loved us best!
Hallelujah, What a Savior!1
By Philip Bliss
“Man of Sorrows!” what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
1. “Hallelujah, What a Savior!” by Philip P. Bliss, published 1875. Copyright status, Public Domain.