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A Love Born of Mercy, January 6
I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their
iniquities will I remember no more.
Hebrews 8:12
.
God’s love for the fallen race is a peculiar manifestation of love—a
love born of mercy; for human beings are all undeserving. Mercy implies
the imperfection of the object toward which it is shown. It was because of
sin that mercy was brought into active exercise.
Sin is not the object of God’s love, but of His hatred. But He loves and
pities the sinner. The erring sons and daughters of Adam are the children
of His redemption. Through the gift of His Son He has revealed toward
them His infinite love and mercy.
God proposes cooperation with His frail, erring creatures, whom
He has placed on vantage ground. On the one side there are infinite
wisdom, goodness, compassion, power; on the other, weakness, sinfulness,
absolute helplessness, poverty, dependence.... Man is given the privilege
of working with God in the saving of his own soul. He is to receive Christ
as his personal Saviour and believe in Him. Receiving and believing is
his part of the contract....
The plan of redemption was arranged in the counsels between the
Father and the Son. Then Christ pledged Himself to render an account
for man if he proved disloyal. He pledged Himself to make an atonement
which would unite every believing soul to God. He who lays his sins upon
the substitute and surety ... can unite with the apostle in saying: “Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with
all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.” “That in the ages to come he
might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us
through Christ Jesus” (
Ephesians 1:3
;
Ephesians 2:7
).
In His infinite love Christ devised the plan of salvation. This plan He
stands ready to fulfill in behalf of all who will cooperate with Him. In
their behalf He says to the Father, Do not impute their sins to them, but
lay them on Me. Be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and
their iniquities remember no more. They have accepted My merits and
made peace with Me.... My righteousness is theirs, and for My sake bless
them with all spiritual blessings.
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