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than all creation and higher than the heavens;
'bare 1 our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto
sins, might live unto righteousness.' 'He 2 was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace
was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.' The heinous nature of our
sins was then clearly revealed when they caused the crucifixion of the Lord
Jesus Christ. At the same time God's infinite love and mercy were manifested in
the incarnation, life and death of the Lord Jesus, as it is written: 'Herein
3 was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath 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.' So, too, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself said in the Gospel: 'God
4 so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.' Since no
human being had power to save himself from sin and hell, and since it was
contrary to justice that sin should be forgiven except through an atonement and
propitiation, therefore the eternal Word of God, who is one with His Father,
became man, and in our nature bore the suffering caused by our sins, in order
that we might be pardoned and purified, set free from the slavery of
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DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY TRINITY
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sin, and delivered from its awful consequences. Is it not true that in this
matter God's love and mercy, as well as His holiness and His hatred of sin,
become so clearly evident that it is impossible even to conceive of any better
manner of manifesting them to men? Assuredly every one who has once realized in
any measure the love and mercy of God, revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and
has in humble faith and sincerity of heart accepted God's grace and favour in
Christ—such a man will know with perfect certainty that, in spite of all his own
past sins, he has obtained from the holy, righteous and merciful God forgiveness
and acceptance in the Lord Jesus Christ and for His sake. Such a man will know
well that God, of His love and, mercy, will do for him whatever is necessary for
his attainment of eternal salvation, and for the enjoyment of everlasting
holiness and felicity. Knowing that his loving heavenly Father will never forget
him, the true Christian's heart is at rest, and his hope and trust in God are
perfect and complete. Hence the true disciples of Christ can say, 'If 1
God is for us, who is against us? He that spared 2 not his own Son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us
all things?'
Those who have truly realized God's love in the Lord Jesus Christ and
accepted it into their own hearts will assuredly love God with all
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