Jesus Laid Down His Life For Us
--Part 2 of the God's Love Series
It is very unlikely that anyone reading this has not heard that Jesus died for our sins. But
hearing that hundreds of times over the years could take away the impact of this truth. The act of
dying in our stead is the greatest example of how much God loves us.
1 John 3:16 is not the same as John 3:16, but both verses mention the love that was involved at
Calvary. One speaks of the sacrifice that the Father made, and the other reminds us of the love
that Jesus must have had for us:
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."1 John 3:16
"We know love by this, that He laid down his life for us . . ."I have run into and heard from many Christians over the years who have really lost sight of how much God loves them. In fact, the times when I have felt the worst about life’s circumstances almost always resulted from my inability to remember God’s love for me.
1 John 3:16 says that the very definition of love is contained within the act of Jesus' death on the Cross. Every drop of blood was for you. Every drop. It was shed so that you could have a friendship with God which will never end.
Please don’t let the brevity of this study, as compared to others, take you away from the impact of the truth contained here. Read these verses over and over, several times a day if necessary, meditating on them like a cow chews its cud, until you really have an idea of the depth of God’s love for you.
John 13:1
"Jesus . . . loved them to the end"John 15:13
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."John 10:11 [Jesus speaking]
"I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."Romans 5:8
"but God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"NEXT: Part 3 -- He Loved Us While We Were Yet Sinners
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