God's love is revealed and made
known by these six deeds of indescribable love by Don Fortner. Behold what
manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should
be called the sons of God. 1 John 3 verse 1 We rejoice to know that God is
love. Love is an attribute of His holy
being, without which He would not be God. We know that God
is love, because His love is revealed and made known by His
deeds. Love is active. It is never dormant. Like fire, it must break out. It cannot be contained. It is
known only when it is experienced, not by words, but by deeds. We know the love of God is that
love that surpasses knowledge. Yet, God's love is revealed and
made known by these six deeds of indescribable love. The first
act of God's love was our election in Christ. Deuteronomy 7, verses
7 and 8. Election is not a hard doctrine. It is a delightful doctrine.
Were it not for God's electing love toward sinners, there would
be no salvation. Ephesians 1, verse 4, and 2 Thessalonians
2, verse 13. We would never have come to know
and love Christ had He not first loved us. John 15, verse 16,
and 1 John 4, verse 19. The second act of God's love
was our redemption by Christ. Romans 5, verse 8, 1 John 3,
verse 16, and 1 John 4, verses 9 and 10. Because He loved us, The Son of God assumed our nature,
assumed our sin, assumed our guilt, and died under the wrath
of God as our substitute to put away our sins. The Son of God
loved me and gave Himself for me. The third act by which God
reveals His love to sinners is His effectual saving grace. Those whom the Triune God loved,
the Father chose to save. Those whom the Father chose to
save, the Son redeemed. And those whom the Son redeemed,
the Holy Spirit will effectually call, by His irresistible grace,
to life and faith in Christ. The love of God is revealed fourthly
in the absolute preservation of his elect in a state of grace. —John 10, verse 28. —Romans 8,
verse 39. Can you imagine one who is loved
of God falling from a state of grace, perishing and suffering
the wrath of God forever in hell? Such a notion is worse than nonsense. It is utter blasphemy. The love
of God is, without cause, without beginning, without condition,
without change, and without end. It is free. It is sovereign. It is indestructible. It is everlasting. Fifthly, God's love for His elect
is seen in our Savior's tender, providential care for us. John
11, verses 35 and 36. Our Savior really is touched
with the feeling of our infirmities. We really are the apple of His
eye. But there is one act of love
that goes beyond election. redemption, effectual calling,
preservation, and providential care. As great and marvelous
as those things are, there is one act of God that goes beyond
them all. If the climax of God's love is
our redemption by Christ, then the apex of God's love is our
adoption into the family of God. 1 John 3, verses 1-3. By birth, we are all fallen,
depraved, and spiritually dead. Romans 5, verse 12. By our deeds,
we show ourselves to be children of the devil, sinful, deceitful,
and wicked. John 8, verse 44. By nature,
we are all children of wrath. Ephesians 1, verse 3. A people
deserving the wrath of God. But by grace we who believe are
the sons of God. Election is the great fountain
of grace. Redemption is the greatest mystery
of grace. And adoption is the greatest
privilege of grace. Behold what manner of love the
Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons
of God.