God’s Infinite Love to Man

«Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

The love of the Father is an infinite love; and as John contemplates its fullness, he can find no language in which to express his wonder. He exclaims, «Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.» It is not possible for the human mind to fully comprehend the height, the depth, and the breadth of this love, which passeth knowledge.

Our first parents transgressed the law of God in the garden of Eden, and fell from their high estate, and death was pronounced upon Adam and his posterity; but the human race was not left to hopeless misery. The Son of God consented to become man’s substitute and surety; he consented to take the wrath of the Father upon himself. Through the infinite sacrifice of Christ in man’s behalf, the star of hope illuminated the dark future of Adam, and another probation was granted him in which to prepare for eternal life. Jesus came to our world to be a man of sorrows, to become acquainted with grief. He did not take his position with the lofty and rich of this world, although he owned the world. Had he done this, there might have been some excuse for the haughty bearing of the rich, as though they thought salvation was only for them. Jesus said that he came to preach the gospel to the poor. With his human arm he reached to the very depths of human woe, in order that he might lift up fallen man, and elevate and ennoble the race, and finally exalt the overcomers to his throne.

Jesus might have remained in heaven, to receive the adoration of the heavenly host, but he did not do this. For man’s sake he stepped down from the throne, laid aside his royal robe, clothed his divinity with humanity, and for our sake became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich. In assuming humanity, he exalted the fallen race before God, and made it possible for sinful man to become an heir of heaven. Can we wonder that John exclaimed, «Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God»? Men think that it is a great honor to be connected with an earthly king, but John tells us that by a life of obedience we may become the children of the heavenly King, and have connection with the Majesty on high. When Christ became man’s substitute and surety, it was that he might unite finite man with the infinite God, and connect earth with heaven. The Son of God took upon him the nature of man, bore insult, ignominy, shame, and death, in order to save a wicked world. He was tempted in all points like as we are, that he might become acquainted with our temptations; by this experience of suffering and trial, he opened the way that the sons and daughters of Adam may return to allegiance to God, and make their way back to the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. That Jesus has been tempted in all points like as we are, that he is able to succor those who are tempted, has given men confidence to come to him and pour out all their sorrows before him; for he has borne our griefs, and is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. After he has made an infinite sacrifice for us, will any of us be so ungrateful as to refuse to accept it? He was our example in all things, and we are to study the life and character of our Lord, and learn of him meekness and lowliness of heart.

He received baptism at the hands of John, and in coming up out of the water he bowed upon Jordan’s banks, and offered up a prayer to Heaven. Never before had angels listened to such a prayer as came from his lips. The Father heard the petition of his Son in man’s behalf, and the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit, like a dove of burnished gold, encircled him, while a voice from the highest glory was heard, saying, «This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.» How many have read over this relation, and have not had their hearts stirred by its significant truths! Many have thought that it did not concern mankind; but it is of the greatest importance to each one of them. Jesus was accepted of Heaven as a representative of the human race. With all our sin and weakness, we are not cast aside as worthless; we are accepted in the Beloved; for heaven has been opened to our petitions through the Son of God. The gates are ajar, and the light of heaven will shine upon all those whom Jesus came to save, if they will but come within the circle of the beams of the Sun of Righteousness; for ample provision has been made for the salvation of every soul.

Man did not, of himself, have moral power to enable him to gain the victory over Satan. From his baptism in Jordan, Jesus went into the wilderness of temptation, and fasted forty days and forty nights. He was assaulted by the fierce temptations of Satan, and, passing over the ground where Adam fell, he resisted every suggestion of the wily foe. He redeemed Adam’s disgraceful failure and fall. When he was faint and hungry from his long fast, Satan appeared to him as an angel of light, tempting him to employ his divine power in his own behalf. He urged him to command the stones to become bread; but Jesus met him with the word of God, the only weapon that could defeat him, the weapon that each one of his followers must use if they would obtain the victory. Jesus said to the evil one, «It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.»

The lesson here presented to us by our great Exemplar is that it is of far greater consequence to obey the word of God than to sustain our natural life. We are God’s property, and we are not to feel it our privilege to use even that which we claim as our own as we please, in eating and drinking and feasting. The favor of God is of far higher value to us than our temporal food. Jesus made it manifest, though assailed with the fiercest pangs of hunger, that he trusted in his heavenly Father with unshaken confidence. He knew that his Father was acquainted with his position of trial, and would strengthen him to endure it. In the unfaltering trust of Jesus there is a lesson for us; we are to have an eye single to the glory of God. ( Concluded next week .) —

When Satan saw that Jesus maintained faith in God in the first temptation, he changed the character of his temptation, and came to him in another guise. He took him to the pinnacle of the temple, and appealed to his unswerving faith. And he said unto him, «If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee; and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.» Jesus met him again with the word of God, saying, «It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.» Another precious lesson is presented to man in the attitude of our Saviour. We are not to presume that God will manifest miraculous power in our behalf to save us from the consequences of our own folly. It is proper for us to manifest perfect confidence in God when in the path of duty, but if we go aside from the way of his direction, we have no ground to presume that God will deliver us. Satan knew he could not hurl Christ from the lofty pinnacle, for his power was prescribed. Jesus overcame the artful foe in this temptation also.

«Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them.» Satan claimed to be the prince of the world, but he offered to release his claim upon the earth if Jesus would thus acknowledge his supremacy. And he said unto him, «All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.» When Jesus was invited to acknowledge allegiance to the prince of the powers of darkness, his indignation was stirred. Divinity flashed through humanity, and he said, «Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.» Satan then left Jesus. The Prince of Life was faint and dying on the field of battle; but angels came and ministered unto him. The lesson Jesus has given us in his dealing with these temptations is summed up in these words, «What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?»

Adam fell through yielding to appetite. Man never could have overcome the power of appetite unless Christ had overcome in his behalf; but now man may obtain the victory. Christ came to bring divine power to unite with human effort, so that although we have been debased by perverted appetite, we may take courage, for we are prisoners of hope. We are not required to overcome in our own strength; by living faith we can grasp the hand of Infinite Power, and when Satan comes with his temptations, we can point to the cross of Calvary, and say, «Christ died for me; in his name I can and will overcome. I want the Eden home that Adam lost. I must, I will, fight the battles of the Lord, and become a victor, and have a place in the kingdom of glory.»

Only in the light shining from the cross of Calvary can we estimate the value that God places upon man. He says, «I will make a man more precious than fine gold, even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.» Man can be thus elevated through the merits of Jesus. How few look at religion in its true light. Many have it confused with traditions and ceremonies. The religion of Christ will convert men, and separate them from the world; but it does not take them out of the world, for God has said, «Ye are the light of the world.» Our work is to reflect light in good works to those who know not God. God has given us a cross to bear, but under no circumstances does he want us to manufacture tests and crosses for ourselves. Jesus says: «Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.»

Why is it that so many wear a sad countenance, that so many complain of the cross and of the hardness of the way that leads to heaven? It is because they are yoked up with the world, and not with Christ. They do the very things that Christ has told them not to do. They place their affections upon the things of earth; but Christ says: «Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.»

We are to make God the supreme object of our affection. There are many who are seeking to serve God and mammon at the same time; but if they continue in this course, they will lose both worlds. Everyone that truly submits to the yoke of Christ will say that his yoke is easy; all who bear his burdens will say that they are light. The religion of Christ never degrades the receiver. When the truth of God takes possession of the mind and soul, it purifies, refines, and ennobles the character. Some have said that religion brings us all down upon a level; but there is no low level in the religion of Christ. The truth of God brings those who receive it, up to walk in a high and holy pathway cast up for the ransomed of the Lord. Those who are coarse, harsh, and uncourteous in manner, will, as they learn in the school of Christ, become meek and lowly in heart. Those who claim to be serving God, and yet are not daily refined, are in darkness; for everyone that is in harmony with Christ will bear the Christ-like mould. We are to be sanctified through the truth. Our conversation is to be on heaven and heavenly things. God would not have the mind dwell upon the trivial matters of earth, but upon the themes of eternal interest. There are some who seem to have the impression that in order to be humble you must be odd, impolite, uncourteous; but this is an evidence, not of true humility, but of selfishness. The religion of Christ will never make you uncourteous. We do not think it essential to imitate the politeness of the world, which is simply affectation and display; but everyone who is connected with Christ will be elevated in character, and be an example of piety to others.

The world is not in harmony with the religion of Christ. When the people of the world are hungering and thirsting for the treasures of earth, the people of God will be hungering and thirsting for righteousness. The true followers of Christ will not make a compromise with the world; but they will be as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Christ gives the test by which the world will judge of our relation to him. He says, «By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.» If Christ abides in my heart by faith, and abides in the hearts of my brethren, we shall love one another, and present an example of unity to the world.

We are sojourners here, pilgrims and strangers on the earth; but we are fitting up for a better country, even a heavenly. We must now learn the language of that country, and prepare for the life that runs parallel with the life of God. Our life in this world is but a vapor, that vanisheth away. Then shall we devote all our powers to securing the treasures of earth for this little, short life-time, or shall we apply all our abilities in such a way that we may gain the future, immortal life? Christ says, «Ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.»

Everyone that shall see the King in his beauty, must be without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. We now have an opportunity to form characters for the future life, and what a rich blessing we shall receive if we obtain the recompense of the reward! There is no comfort in sin. Men are made miserable because they refuse to obey the commandments of God. The whole world lieth in wickedness, but Christ came to remove the woe that comes as a consequence of sin. He came to our world to show us how to live a pure, holy life, and I have purposed in my heart that he shall not have lived and died in vain for me. I want to say with the apostle: «I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.» I want to leave a bright track heavenward for all that may be attracted in the way of life.

Who will be among the happy throng that will sing praise around the throne of God? Who will serve God, whatever may be the consequences? I see in Jesus matchless charms. Let us lift up the Man of Calvary. If those who are burdened with sin will come and give their hearts to Jesus, and then go forth to gather sheaves for him, what joy will be theirs by and by. Although glory will be given to Jesus for full redemption, there will be those in heaven who will say to the co-workers with God, «I never would have had the light if you had not opened the word of God to me. I never would have accepted the truth if you had not manifested Christ in your life.» God would have us co-laborers with himself, that, when the pearly gates of the city of God shall be swung back upon their glittering hinges, he may say to us, «Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.» «Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.» —