Theme: LOVE, FORGIVENESS, MERCY
Love, forgiveness and mercy are godly qualities that go hand-in-hand. The love of God was clearly expressed when He showed His mercy on sinful mankind by sending His Only begotten Son Jesus Christ into this evil world for man’s redemption and forgiveness. In a nutshell, with love comes mercy and forgiveness.
Text: ” Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” – 1 John 4:7, 8.
Comment: God Almighty is the very embodiment of love. In fact, love is one of the infinite attributes of the Almighty God. His love for the human race was fully expressed when He sent His Only begotten Son Jesus Christ into this evil world to ransom us from sin and death. Christ himself said: “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28. See also Matthew 26:28; 1 John 4:9-11.
Jesus Christ who is the expression of God’s love for mankind said: “For God so love the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Going further, he continued: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16, 17) In Romans 5:8, St Paul spoke of God’s love for the entire human race when he said “But God commended His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Truly, the coming of Jesus Christ into the world for the remission of sins is an expression of God’s mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation of sinful mankind back to Himself. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:20.