Sovereign Love — The Cause of Redemption

John 3:16

 

Writing to the saints at Corinth on the subject of redemption and salvation by Christ, the Apostle Paul says, Òall things are of God.Ó As in all other aspects of salvation, our redemption by Christ is attributed to the Lord God alone. As we read the Scriptures, we cannot avoid being confronted with the fact that in this matter of salvation, nothing is ever ascribed to us, caused by us, or dependent upon us. But Òall things are of God.Ó That is the language of the Bible (Deuteronomy 7:6-9; Psalms 106:8; 115:1).

 

The cause of our redemption by Christ is to be found in the Lord God Himself and in Him alone. This fact is as plainly revealed in the Word of God as the noonday sun. Yet, it is a fact that is as precious as rubies, as sparkling as diamonds, as deep as the mines from which they come, and as profound as God Himself to those who are enabled by grace to behold it. The cause of our redemption by Christ is and must be found in the love, grace, mercy, and purpose of the triune God.

 

The redemption of our souls by the precious blood of Christ originates in, rises, and flows to us from the everlasting love of God for us (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8; 1 John 3:16; 4:9-10, 19). The cause of our redemption, the original source from whence it springs and flows is the everlasting love of God for His elect. Indeed, this is the source and spring of every blessing of grace: election and adoption, the new birth and effectual calling, and redemption, justification, sanctification, preservation, and glorification (Ephesians 1:3-6).

 

The gift of Christ to be the Redeemer of His people flows from GodÕs everlasting love. Christ was given to be a Redeemer before He was sent into the world to redeem us. When He was given for a covenant to the people, He was given in the covenant to be our Redeemer. This gift of Christ by the Father was the effect of His love. To this Christ Himself ascribes it, saying, ÒGod so loved the world (the world of his elect), that he gave his only begotten Son.Ó

 

God gave His Son to be our Redeemer long before He actually came to redeem us. In those earliest days of time, Job knew the Son of God as his living Redeemer (Job 19:25-27). All the Old Testament saints waited for Christ to come as the Lamb of God to redeem His people from their sins (Genesis 22:8). The mission of Christ in the fulness of time to be the propitiation for our sins and to redeem us from all iniquity was given as a manifest, clear, and undoubted instance of His everlasting, free love for us. — ÒIn this was manifested the love of God.ÓÒHerein is love.Ó In the words of John Gill, ÒGodÕs not sparing His Son, but delivering Him into the hands of justice and death, to die in the room and stead of sinners, while they were such, is a full demonstration and high commendation of His great love unto them.Ó

 

ÒTwas not to make JehovahÕs love toward His people flame,

That Jesus from the throne above, a suffering man became.

 

ÒTwas not the death which He endured, nor all the pangs He bore,

That GodÕs eternal love procured, for God was love before.

 

He loved the world of His elect, with love surpassing thought;

Nor will His mercy eÕer neglect the souls so dearly bought!Ó

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com