He Did it First
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8
As a believer, you should be slow to anger and quick to forgive – slow to judge and quick to love. Why? Because Jesus did it first! Jesus came here to earth and gave us the ultimate example of what our life as a Christ-follower should look like.
Yesterday, we talked about how love and forgiveness are the keys to perfect unity. It can be easy to make excuses for why we haven’t forgiven someone, or why we can’t demonstrate love toward them, but the truth is, there really is no good excuse.
Before God commanded you to forgive and love, He knew everything every person would ever do. That means He knew everything that everyone would do TO YOU. And yet, He still commands you to forgive and love.
But He doesn’t just say it; He demonstrated it. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus knew that people on earth would not only sin before He died for them but AFTER. This means that Jesus gave His life knowing people would betray Him time and time and time again in the future.
YOU have betrayed God time and time again. Yet He still died for you. He still forgave you and continues to forgive you. He loves you and He showed you that by dying for you.
If Jesus who was perfect and never sinned would take the blame and die for you, knowing you wouldn’t do right by Him, then how can you hold on to what someone else has done to you?
Do you know why you can forgive? Because Jesus did it first. Do you know why you can choose to love? Because Jesus did it first. Choose Jesus' way. It’s always the best way!
As a believer, you should be slow to anger and quick to forgive – slow to judge and quick to love. Why? Because Jesus did it first! Jesus came here to earth and gave us the ultimate example of what our life as a Christ-follower should look like.
Yesterday, we talked about how love and forgiveness are the keys to perfect unity. It can be easy to make excuses for why we haven’t forgiven someone, or why we can’t demonstrate love toward them, but the truth is, there really is no good excuse.
Before God commanded you to forgive and love, He knew everything every person would ever do. That means He knew everything that everyone would do TO YOU. And yet, He still commands you to forgive and love.
But He doesn’t just say it; He demonstrated it. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus knew that people on earth would not only sin before He died for them but AFTER. This means that Jesus gave His life knowing people would betray Him time and time and time again in the future.
YOU have betrayed God time and time again. Yet He still died for you. He still forgave you and continues to forgive you. He loves you and He showed you that by dying for you.
If Jesus who was perfect and never sinned would take the blame and die for you, knowing you wouldn’t do right by Him, then how can you hold on to what someone else has done to you?
Do you know why you can forgive? Because Jesus did it first. Do you know why you can choose to love? Because Jesus did it first. Choose Jesus' way. It’s always the best way!
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