Rescued by Love

Romans 5:8 (KJV)
   But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Teaching Aid – Begin by singing the first verse and chorus of ”Love Lifted Me.”

 

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore.
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more;
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Chorus Love lifted me!  (even me)
Love lifted me!  (even me)
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me![1]

 

Do you like to exercise?  I try to spend a few hours each weekday in the weight room.  What happens if you lift a weight over a period of time?  That’s right you get stronger and then increase the weight.

 

However the greatest increase of strength I ever had was because of a weight I did not lift.  It was when in an act of pure love lifted the burden of sin from my shoulders.

 

Think about the Bible verse.  God showed his love for us by Christ dieing for us while we were yet sinners.  It was not because we were good enough.  It was not because of obligations we met.  We did not earn our salvation.  Why did God give it to us?  Right because he loved us. 

 

We tend to love people more by the way they treat us.  The better they meet our expectations, the more we love them.  We have a hard time loving those who reject us or treat us badly.  “The love of people often increases with performance and decreases with mistakes.  Not so with God’s love”[2]  God loves us in spite of what we are.[3]  His love is perfect.  Our only obligation is to accept.

 

Father we are grateful for your perfect love that was expressed in Jesus’ death on the Cross.  He lifted the burden of sin from our shoulders. We accept the gift and acknowledge Jesus as Lord of our lives. Amen