No Greater Love :: By Dennis Huebshman
Romans 5:6-11; “For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person–though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die–but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received reconciliation.” (ESV – all emphasis is mine.)
For about one-half of my lifetime, I believed that eternity was no big deal, as I was more concerned with the here and now. After all, I believed Jesus was real, and that alone saved me. At the time, the thought of a personal relationship with the Savior wasn’t part of my thinking.
Then, at about the age of 40, a thought came to me that I couldn’t just pass over. What would happen if I took my last breath on earth without being certain of my forever? For the first time in my life, I read the Bible from cover to cover. Before even coming close to Revelation 22:21, I had called out to my Jesus to forgive me and to be my Savior forever. One more positive point is that I have a wife who is a believer, and we encourage each other.
My life verse became John 14:6; “Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” This eliminates all the “fiction” that there are many ways to Heaven, and also the false prophets’ message that Jesus was just a human and not necessary to be in our lives.
In James 2:19, he states, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder!” In James 4:8, he tells us; “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
Our Savior knew exactly why He came to this earth as a human and what He was going to provide for all humanity. Mathew 20:28; “even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.”
In 1 Peter 2:24, we read, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on that tree, that we might die to sin, and live to righteousness. Buy His wounds you have been healed.”
Our Heavenly Father allowed sacrifices up to the time of Calvary as a temporary measure of forgiveness. This was as long as those sacrifices were done according to the law. However, as Hebrews 10:3-4 clarifies, “But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 2:5-6, “For there is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”
It takes a special kind of love for the Creator of the heavens and the earth to allow a part of Himself to provide the only sacrifice He could accept for all of our sins. False prophets and antichrists will try to say that Jesus sinned at least once, but their continued blasphemy will end up at the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15.
Stuart Townsend from West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, wrote a song in 1995 that is a wonderful tribute to our Heavenly Father. It’s called “How Deep The Father’s Love.” He has written numerous other praise songs and has teamed on occasion with Keith and Kristi Getty.
1.) How deep the Father’s love for us; how vast beyond all measure. That He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure. How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turns His face away, as wounds which mar the Chosen One bring many sons to glory.
2.) Behold the Man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders. Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers. It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished. His dying breath has brought me life; I know that “It is finished.”
3.) I will not boast in anything; no gifts, no power, no wisdom. But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection. Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom.
Please note that with all that is going on in this world today, the end of this age is obviously very near. Songs such as this are a comfort for believers. God has promised that His Son’s flock will not go through the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; and Revelation 3:10).
There is persecution of believers in this world, but nowhere to the degree that will take place during the 7-year reign of the ultimate antichrist. Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Our Savior knew there would be more souls that would accept the ways of this world than those who would receive and accept Him. Matthew 7:13-14 tells of the only two roads that exist: one leading to destruction and the other to eternal life.
Romans 10:9-13 gives the path to Salvation, and it’s not complicated. In fact, that’s why it’s hard to accept this for some, as they would believe it has to be more involved than that. Ephesians 2:8-9 verifies that we’re saved with the free gift through grace by having faith in our Savior.
One more point of clarification that I’ve made in the past about Romans 10:9-13. Paul says to confess with your mouth. This does not eliminate people who are unable to speak, as God “hears” our thoughts as well as our spoken words.
Psalm 139:2, 4, 23; “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar…. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, Oh Lord, you know it altogether…. Search me, Oh God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts.”
Jesus told us very plainly that we don’t know the day or hour of the coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:36). He gave signs of what would be happening, and so did John, Peter, Paul, and many others in the Bible. The only major sign that hasn’t been fulfilled that will bring forth the antichrist is the rising up of all believers to meet Jesus in the air to keep us from the coming wrath/tribulation.
Today would not be too early to call on the Lord to forgive you and to be your Savior. For those who believe they have no sin in their lives, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, and Romans 6:23 say all have sinned. The only “human” that never sinned even once was our Lord and Savior, Jesus The Christ. Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, and Romans 10:13 all say that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. When the Father mentions something more than once, it’s definitely worth noting, especially when it refers to His Son.
We hope to see you at the feet of Jesus when He takes us away from this sin-filled world.
Shalom! Peace Be With You!
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