H.J. Vine
Henry James Vine (1857 - 1930). English Bible teacher, author, and Plymouth Brethren leader born in London. Converted in his youth, he joined the Brethren assembly at Fore Street, Exeter, and was mentored by figures like George Müller. A self-educated scholar of Greek and Hebrew, he began preaching in the 1870s, traveling across England, Scotland, and Ireland to teach at conferences and assemblies. Vine authored numerous articles and books, including The Work of Christ and contributions to The Witness magazine, emphasizing dispensationalism and Christ’s preeminence. Known for his gentle demeanor and expository clarity, he influenced thousands within the Brethren movement. Married with children, he lived modestly, often supporting missions. In later years, he focused on writing from Bournemouth, where his home became a hub for Bible study. His teachings, preserved in Brethren archives, remain influential among conservative evangelicals. Vine’s emphasis on scriptural precision and humility shaped a generation of Bible students.
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H.J. Vine preaches on the eternal and unending love of God, emphasizing that its beginning cannot be fixed as it existed before time began and its ending will never come. The perfect expression of God's infinite love was revealed when Jesus died on the cross for our sins, showcasing the greatness of God's love and His ultimate sacrifice for us.
The Eternal Love of God
“Can you fix the time when God began to love you?” “No. I do not see how anyone could do that, for His love is eternal.” “Can you fix the time when the love wherewith God loves you will end?” “No. It will never cease. It cannot have an ending.” “If you cannot fix a time for its beginning or its ending, can you tell when it expressed itself towards you in all its infinite perfection.” “Yes. When my precious Saviour and Lord hung on Calvary’s cross for me. There the love of God fully told out its perfectness in Christ Jesus: ‘God commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us’ (Rom. 5:8).” “That is right; and we are also told, ‘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 4:10). It is as we take these great facts into our hearts in faith, and in the power of the Spirit, that our appreciation of them is deepened, and our joy in them increased.” The eternal God knew us and loved us before time began, “before the foundation of the world,” therefore no time for its beginning can be fixed. His love, like Himself, is eternal, therefore there is no ending. The cross, however, appears in between and tells out, at a fixed time, the great love of God. “In the due time Christ died for us” (N.Tr.). He died for our sins. Blessed be God. What a sight! The love of God telling out its greatness to me in Christ putting away my sins and bearing my judgment at Calvary! How eloquent is such a scene! How perfect and divine is its “commendation” of itself! “Love that on death’s dark vale Its sweetest odours spread.” Let its holy blessedness fill thee, O my soul, and cause thee to overflow in praise and worship before Him who loves thee; before Him who from eternity to eternity is God.
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Henry James Vine (1857 - 1930). English Bible teacher, author, and Plymouth Brethren leader born in London. Converted in his youth, he joined the Brethren assembly at Fore Street, Exeter, and was mentored by figures like George Müller. A self-educated scholar of Greek and Hebrew, he began preaching in the 1870s, traveling across England, Scotland, and Ireland to teach at conferences and assemblies. Vine authored numerous articles and books, including The Work of Christ and contributions to The Witness magazine, emphasizing dispensationalism and Christ’s preeminence. Known for his gentle demeanor and expository clarity, he influenced thousands within the Brethren movement. Married with children, he lived modestly, often supporting missions. In later years, he focused on writing from Bournemouth, where his home became a hub for Bible study. His teachings, preserved in Brethren archives, remain influential among conservative evangelicals. Vine’s emphasis on scriptural precision and humility shaped a generation of Bible students.