God is Love (Part 2)

By Clifton Angel
  “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). Continuing with the word “love” as an acronym, let us note the second of four characteristics of this great love. God, Who is Love, is vicarious.   To be vicarious is to take the place of another—to be a substitute. A similar term found in the New Testament is “propitiation.” The Apostle John wrote, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Jesus being our propitiation indicates that He took our place with a perfect sacrifice that could atone for our sins. “He 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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5-6).   Truly, the crucifixion of Christ was the penultimate propitiatory moment when He “his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). However, the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus was purposed in the mind of God before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20a), and began to be borne out at His conception and birth into this world (1 Peter 1:20b). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only be-gotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5–7). “Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17, ASV).   To contemplate the sacrificial life of Christ which led to the sacrificial death of Christ is to recognize our responsibility as sacrificial followers of Christ. Paul wrote, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20). Jesus commanded, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Do you know God? Do you love like God?

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com