Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 24

January 24;      I John 4:9;       232/260(III);        ‘God’s Love Manifested’

1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

I Corinthians 13 is called the love (of God) chapter.  I John 4 is not far behind, explaining the love of God.  God’s love had to express itself toward us.  Because of the sin of Adam, the earth was cursed and mankind, now with a sin nature, was eternally separated from God.  God’s love for us would not allow us to be forever separated from Him, so He rescued us by sending the Lord Jesus Christ.  ‘Manifested’ means to make known what had been hidden.  Adam sinned by disobeying the Lord.  The devil, satan instigated the deception of Eve and the sin of Adam.  The devil had no idea that the Lord Jesus was manifested to redeem us from our sins and sicknesses and make a way for mankind to once again have a relationship with God the Father.  Only the Lord is omniscient, knowing everything.  The devil is not omniscient.  When the Lord Jesus was about two years old, King Herod, inspired by jealousy and the devil, fearing another King, had all of the baby boys in Bethlehem, around the age of two killed.  Why because the devil did not know who the Son of God was.  When Jesus was crucified, satan thought he had won.  I Corinthians tells us that if the devil had known the cross was the foundation for our redemption, he never would have instigated the religious leaders to crucify Jesus.  The love of God overcame our impossible circumstances and set in motion the ultimate demise of satan.  Love beyond comprehension is forever ours.