Free Love

“I will love them freely.”

Hosea 14:4

This sentence is a body of divinity in miniature. He who understands its meaning is a theologian, and he who can dive into its fulness is a true master in Israel. It is a condensation of the glorious message of salvation which was delivered to us in Christ Jesus our Redeemer. The sense hinges upon the word “freely.” This is the glorious, the suitable, the divine way by which love streams from heaven to earth, a spontaneous love flowing forth to those who neither deserved it, purchased it, nor sought after it. It is, indeed, the only way in which God can love such as we are. The text is a death-blow to all sorts of fitness: “I will love them freely.” Now, if there were any fitness necessary in us, then he would not love us freely; at least, this would be a mitigation and a drawback to the freeness of it. But it stands, “I will love you freely.” We complain, “Lord, my heart is so hard.” “I will love you freely.” “But I do not feel my need of Christ as I could wish.” “I will not love you because you feel your need; I will love you freely.” “But I do not feel that softening of spirit which I could desire.” Remember, the softening of spirit is not a condition, for there are no conditions; the covenant of grace has no conditionality whatever; so that we without any fitness may venture upon the promise of God which was made to us in Christ Jesus, when he said, “He that believeth on him is not condemned.” It is blessed to know that the grace of God is free to us at all times, without preparation, without fitness, without money, and without price! “I will love them freely.” These words invite backsliders to return: indeed, the text was specially written for such—“I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely.” Backslider! surely the generosity of the promise will at once break your heart, and you will return, and seek your injured Father’s face.

a grace reminder

i had a phone call with two of my best friends tonight ... and if not for all of us, I know for me ... I was reminded of several things:

1) life sucks. Jesus promised it would - consider James 1 and all the suffering Christ endured, Paul endured, and hard lives so many other great saints endured along the years ... the life for a Christian, straight up sucks ... that does NOT mean it is not worth every moment ... the hope of eternity far out weighs it all

2) life is not about me. It is all about God. His word tells us that, and our own self pity tells us that. I would like to meet the person who enjoys always feeling sorry for himself, and always being down b/c things are going his way. That person is not happy ... he is miserable, by choice - not b/c things are actually SO BAD!

3) if our affections are not totally wrapped up in Jesus, in pursuing Him with every last ounce of energy and every last breath we take ... then we will never be satisfied with any part of this life. if I seek to satisfy my longing and affections with hopes of this or that - and the this or that is not Christ - I am done for!!!

Delight yourself in Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart! (Ps 37:4).

Freely given, unmerited favor and love of God (Part 1)

I have been learning a lot about GRACE in recent weeks.

Previously, I falsely believed I knew and understood grace pretty well. Then the shroud of ego collapsed, revealing the truth of the matter at hand ... namely that I will not in this age, & maybe ever understand the infinitely massive mountain that is God's grace toward sinners, like me.

The new insight into the greatness of God in his grace toward me has been ignited by a sermon series from my pastor, Brother Al. The series is called, "Rediscovering Grace," and yesterday was the 3rd sermon and amazing! I don't know if it was the culmination of the series, but I could have sat there listening forever! Furthermore, I am also in the beginning of a study about repentance, which is matched amazingly well to the teachings of grace I have been under recently, so paired that there is day-to-day overlap between the two.

It began with seeing who I really am. Who am I? I am just as my title says, a bastard child of God, having turned away, guilty of being a lying, thieving, idolatrous & lustful adulterer in God's sight (1 Cor 6:9-11). And those as such, will not inherit God's kingdom! That means they (I) will inherit eternal damnation! YET, "such were some of you" ... do you see the 'WERE' ... I was that!!!

This means that something must have happen ... because I was that, but apparently am no longer that dirty and defiled lying, thieving, idolatrous & lustful adulterer!!! Yes, I am no longer that in Christ ...

I am washed, sanctified and justified!!! I am washed in the blood of Christ! I am justified, declared innocent by the Father! And in the power of the Holy Spirit I am being sanctified!!!

Could this mean I was freely given the absolute unmerited favor & love of God??? I think so ... that's GRACE! It is only by God's great, amazing, and unfaltering grace that I am washed in Jesus' blood, and thus justified and sanctified!!! Grace is the only means to salvation in the Name, & the only Name - JESUS CHRIST, and salvation is being washed in Christ, and the subsequent justification at the moment of first believing and the on going sanctification that follows!!!

Oh praise to the Lord, in the radiance & image of Jesus Christ!!!

I would like to have several more post on this topic ... so check back.