The Eternal Love of God
The eternal love of God is a love that has no beginning or ending, and is perfectly expressed in Christ's death on the cross.
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.
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"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.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Eternal Nature of God's Love
- A. God's love has no beginning
- B. God's love has no ending
- C. God's love is expressed in Christ
- II. The Cross as a Display of God's Love
- A. The cross is a fixed time in history
- B. The cross demonstrates God's love for us
- C. The cross is a propitiation for our sins
- III. Our Response to God's Love
- A. We take God's love into our hearts in faith
- B. We deepen our appreciation of God's love in the power of the Spirit
- C. We overflow in praise and worship to God
Key Quotes
“God commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8)” — H.J. Vine
“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)” — H.J. Vine
“Love that on death's dark vale Its sweetest odours spread.” — H.J. Vine
Application Points
- Take God's love into your heart in faith and in the power of the Spirit.
- Deepen your appreciation of God's love by reflecting on the cross and Christ's sacrifice.
- Overflow in praise and worship to God, expressing your gratitude for His love.