As Christians we believe and understand the fact that Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, rose on the third day, appeared to many, then ascended into heaven and is sitting at the right hand of God. When someone asks us what the gospel is we spit it out like second nature. We say something like, “it is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ,'' and that is true, but you can say it in a different way, too. The gospel is God’s love letter to us! He showed us he loves us and wants us to be saved.
We put a lot of emphasis on the cross, as we should. The magnitude of Jesus dying on the cross cannot be put into words. The Lamb of God who once and for all tore down the wall of separation (Ephesians 2:14). The Messiah who is pleading on our behalf to his Father (Hebrews 8). The King of kings who lived a perfect life and still took on the burden of our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). But Jesus could never have done that for us if God did not first send him. He was sent for this purpose, but the sending shows just as much love as the sacrifice (John 3:16).
Before he sent Jesus, God knew every sinful thought we would ever think; he knew every sinful thing we would ever do. God knew all the hate that would exist in the world. He knew his people would question his existence. He knew that we would turn our backs on him as a society (Isaiah 46:8-10). He knew it all, but he never gave up on us. He knew it all, but he still gave it all. He knew it all, but He gave his very best. He gave us his one and only Son (John 3:16). He gave us Jesus who was there in the beginning (John 1:1). He gave us a Messiah who could bring us back to him (Mark 10:45). Let’s take a moment to put this into different terms: many of us have cars; we may not idolize it, but we use it and need it to get around. If someone asked you to borrow your car and you knew with certainty that they would wreck it, would you hand over the key? Let’s take it a step further, would any parent knowingly drop their child off at daycare if they knew that their child would be mistreated? Absolutely not! God knew everything, but his love for us is so great that he still gave his only Son.
Another factor to consider is the fact that Jesus IS God (Phil 2:5-10). Jesus, being God himself, took on a worldly body and all that comes with it to be our example. Jesus humbled himself; because of that, he knows what we are going through. What a powerful statement of love: to be fully known and fully loved.
So, as we move through this life, let us never forget the love that God has for us (Romans 5:8). God knows you. God loves you. Now it is your turn to know and love God. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” 1 Samuel 15:22 along with Matthew 7:21 shows us how important it is to be obedient to God. We show our faith to God by our works (James 2:14-26).
We could NEVER repay God for what he has done for us, but what we can do is live a sacrificial life with thanksgiving in our hearts to him (Philipians 1:21).
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