1jo 04v19 We Love Him Because He First Loved Us

"WE LOVE HIM, BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US". I John 4:19

We may differ on many points. But in this one thing every true child of God is like every other child of God-"We love him”. We do not love him as we desire. We do not love him as we know we should. We do not love him as we soon shall. But we do really love him. It is not possible for a man to experience the grace of God in salvation and not love the God of all grace. It is not possible for a man to know the efficacy of Christ's blood in his own soul and not love his gracious Redeemer. It is not possible for a man to have his heart renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit and not love the Spirit of life. In spite of our many weaknesses, sins, and failures, we do honestly and sincerely confess, "Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee.”

We know also that we would never have loved him if he had not loved us first. The love of God for us precedes our love for him. "He first loved us." He loved us before we had any desire to be loved by him. He loved us before we sought his grace. He loved us before we had any repentance or faith. He loved us before we had any being. He loved us eternally. Does he not say, I have loved the with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I called thee"? He chose us, redeemed us, and called us because he loved us.

Not only does God's love for us precede our love for God, but God's love for us is the cause of our love for him. "We love him, because he first loved us." This heart of mine was so hard, this will was so stubborn, that I would never have loved the Lord, if he had not intervened to conquer me with his love. In the midst of my sin and corruption, he passed by, and behold it was "the time of love". He revealed his great love for me in Christ. Beholding the crucified Christ, dying in the place of sinners, the love of God conquered this rebel's heart. Trusting Christ as my only Savior, I am compelled to love him, because he first loved me. And now I know that whatever I am, by the grace of God, I am because he loved me. Tell me, my brother, Is it not so with you?