Out of the Fulness of God’s Love and Grace – by Bilyana De Soto

• Bible
• Bilyana de Soto
• Christian Evidences
• Christian Living
• Eternal Life
• Faith
• Forgiveness
• Gospel
• Grace
• Jesus
• Love
• New Testament
• Salvation

Apr 22, 2016 2043

Are there people in your life who respond with love and kindness even when at the receiving end of abusive and less than gracious behaviour directed their way?  You are indeed blessed if you are surrounded by such people in your family, or have friends who likewise spread that sort of love. There simply aren’t too many people who respond lovingly when confronted by anger, meanness, spitefulness and ugliness.  Far too often we all function out of deficit, but not God. The Bible says:   “From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.” (John 1:16)                                     

“…God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.“  Yes, while we were enemies, Jesus stepped on hostile territory to befriend us. 

This verse tells us that God placed no conditions placed on His love for us. And it’s what God doesn’t say that is truly amazing.  He doesn’t say “as soon as you clean up your act, I’ll love you.” Nor does He say, “I will only give Jesus as your ransom if you measure up to my standards and promise to love me.” Rather this is what we learn: “This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

God loves because it is His nature to love; love is who God is and He wants us to know that we cannot earn it, we cannot outlive it, or change it on account of our actions. God is in no way subject to us. His love is unconditional, so He sent his son, Jesus Christ to die for us while we were still unlovable – mean, spiteful, unthankful and … and… We didn’t have to go buy respectable robes, get a decent haircut and polish our boots, before we could experience his love.

His love for us has always existed, and because of that, He did all the giving and sacrificing long before we were even aware that we needed his love.

Come as you are, is Christ’s invitation to you and me. Though love will take you under its wings just as you are, it will never leave you the same.

– Bilyana De Soto