As we have been blogging in Romans 8, we have seen that the foundation of our security is based on the love of God for us. I would like to conclude our little study by considering that we have the victory through God’s great love. Reading again from Paul’s writings we see, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Rom. 8:38-39 NKJV). What most people talk about as the love of God is nothing more than their own philosophical concepts of love. God’s love is a holy love, a righteous love, and a just love. There is a great move in our day that is teaching universalism, that all roads lead to eternal life. But if that were true then God certainly would’ve been very foolish to have sent His only begotten Son to die on a cruel cross, if there were other ways to heaven. God demonstrated His great love for us in that “while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Rom.5:8 NKJV). The Lord Jesus Christ is indeed our ladder that reaches from earth to heaven. In manifesting His love through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father is also revealing Himself, so when we look at Jesus, we really see what God is like. As we have learned God is for us and it is Jesus that comes to make God known to us. Paul reinforces this concept for us in Colossians when he writes, “For it pleased the Father that in Him (that is Jesus) all the fullness should dwell”, (Col.1:19 NASB).
We are also aware that the Lord Jesus Christ serves as our great mediator with our heavenly Father. Paul tells Timothy, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,” (1 Tim. 2:5,6 NKJV). A mediator is someone who intervenes between two parties to resolve a conflict or ratify a covenant. Jesus, by His sacrifice on the cross, is the only one who can restore peace between God and lost sinners. Only the perfect God-Man could bring God and man together and that’s what Jesus Christ has done. What a wonderful, amazing thing to know the One who intercedes for us and loves us so much that He gave Himself for us.
John also makes an amazing statement in his first epistle when he writes,” My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,” (1 John 2:1 NKJV). The Greek word “advocate” in various places in the New Testament is translated as helper or counselor, it’s really one called alongside to help. It is the idea of having an attorney representing us before the heavenly Father. Our attorney is the Judge’s Son, who has already paid the penalty for our sins. The high priestly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ guarantees not only our sympathy but also our acquittal (Heb.4:14-16). I hope and pray that you are standing and walking in the liberty and forgiveness that the Lord Jesus Christ has provided for you. What a wonderful thing it is to know that God is for us, and He is greater than all the forces that may be assembled against us. Rejoicing in the Savior because of His great grace to us.
All for God’s Glory,
Pastor Rich Sivo
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