"The Love of God Toward Us"

     "...He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love."  Ephesians 1:4.

     "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
     And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."  Ephesians 5:1, 2.

     "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
     Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
     Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
     But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,
     Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved). ..." Ephesians 21-5.

     "...God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8.

     Jesus says, "...The Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God."  John 16:27.

     "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.
     Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
     And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.
     Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him."  1 John 3:1-6.

     "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."  1 John 3:16.

     "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
     Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."  1 John 4:9, 10.

     "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments.
     For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.
     For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."  1 John 5:2-4.

     "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
     Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
     That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;
     That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
     May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
     And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."  Ephesians 3:14-19.

     Jesus says,  "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
     Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
     To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne."  Revelation 3:19-21.

     "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."  2 Corinthians 7:1.

Will You Listen to God's Loving Entreaties, and Turn Away From Your Sins?

The God whom we serve is long-suffering; “His compassions fail not.” Lamentations 3:22. Throughout the period of probationary time His Spirit is entreating men to accept the gift of life. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Ezekiel 33:11. It is Satan’s special device to lead man into sin and then leave him there, helpless and hopeless, fearing to seek for pardon. But God invites, “Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me.” Isaiah 27:5. In Christ every provision has been made, every encouragement offered. 

The sufferings of the Redeemer, in His life and in His death, make it possible for man to return to his loyalty, and become refined and elevated. As his substitute and surety, Christ elevates man, and brings his mind into sympathy with the divine mind. Through faith, (that faith that works by love and purifies the soul from all moral defilement), we may overcome every evil trait of character. By accepting the provision made for us, we may represent the character of Christ. Thus we are identified with the Son of God, being one with Him as He is one with His Father. So we may overcome the enemy who would lead us away from our loyalty. We may become more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

It is not necessary that anyone should yield to the temptations of Satan and thus violate his conscience and grieve the Holy Spirit. Every provision has been made in the word of God whereby all may have divine help in their endeavors to overcome. If they keep Jesus before them they will become changed into His image. All who by faith have Christ abiding in them carry a power into their labor which makes them successful. They will be constantly growing more and more efficient in their work, and the blessing of God, shown in the prosperity of the work, will testify that they are indeed laborers together with Christ. But however much one may advance in spiritual life, he will never come to a point where he will not need diligently to search the Scriptures; for therein are found the evidences of our faith. All points of doctrine, even though they have been accepted as truth, should be brought to the law and to the testimony; if they cannot stand this test, “there is no light in them.”

Traditions of Men, or the Word of God?

     "...He {Jesus} answered and said unto them {church leaders}, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
     Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
     This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.
     But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matthew 15:3, 7-9.  

The substitution of the precepts of men for the commandments of God has not ceased.

Even among Christians are found institutions and usages that have no better foundation than the traditions of the fathers.

Such institutions, resting upon mere human authority, have supplanted those of divine appointment.

Men cling to their traditions, and revere their customs, and cherish hatred against those who seek to show them their error.

In this day, when we are bidden to call attention to the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, we see the same enmity as was manifested in the days of Christ.

Of the remnant people that serve God it is written, “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17.

But “every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.”

In place of the authority of the so-called fathers of the church, God bids us accept the word of the eternal Father, the Lord of heaven and earth.

Here alone is truth unmixed with error.

David said, “I have more understanding than all my teachers: for Thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Thy precepts.” Psalm 119:99, 100.

Let all who accept human authority, the customs of the church, or the traditions of the fathers, take heed to the warning conveyed in the words of Christ, “In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”