The GREATEST LOVE STORY EVER TOLD.

Way back in eternity, God the Father, and His Son, made a
decision to create man. Someone who would choose to serve
Them because they loved God. Giving man freedom of
choice could result in his choosing to go the wrong way, so
a plan was devised that if man did sin, Jesus, God's only
Son would become His substitute for sin. The sacrificial
Lamb for sin. This was a voluntary sacrifice.

The following is a quote from one of my favorite writers.

"Sorrow filled all heaven, as it was realized that man was

lost........I saw the lovely Jesus, and beheld an expression
of sympathy and sorrow upon His countenance. Soon I saw
Him approach the exceeding bright light which enshrouded
the Father........Three times he was shut in by the glorious
light about the Father, and the third time He came from the
Father His person could be seen. His countenance was
calm, free from all perplexity and trouble, and shone with
benevolence and loveliness, such as words cannot express.
........ He had been pleading with His Father, and had offered
to give His life a ransom, and take the sentence of death
upon Himself, that through Him man might find pardon; that
through the merits of His blood, and obedience to the law
of God, they could have the favor of God." (1.S.P. p.45).

Stop and think about this for a minute! Can you see the
great desire Jesus had for man 'made in the image of God',
(see Genesis 1:26) to love and serve Him by choice? Jesus
was one with His Father, and this oneness He desires
between God and man. In the marriage relation, two become
one.

Jesus created us with His very own hand. He loves you and
me and desires to be one with us. Listen to His sweet musical
voice saying to you, ‘I love you my child’. A full and total sur-
render of our lives, in love, to Him is what He desires.
Obedience works by love. He lived and died as a man for you
and me because of His mighty love for us. ‘Love is stronger than
death’. Desire of Ages p.9.

He left all the glory of heaven to come to earth to show man how
to live. He is our perfect example of how to live a holy life.
Then became our perfect sacrifice, without ‘spot or blemish’ of
sin.

THE CRUCIFIXION.
A quote from one of my favorite writers.
“The preparations were made, and they lay Jesus upon the
cross. The hammer and the nails were brought. The heart of his
disciples fainted within them. The mother of Jesus was
agonized, almost beyond endurance.” His hands were fastened
with the cruel nails to the cross. Can you not hear the sound of
the hammer as the nails “were driven through the bone and
muscle of his tender hands and feet. Jesus murmured not; but
groaned in agony. His face was pale, and large drops of sweat
stood upon his brow……..

They raised the cross after they nailed Jesus to it, and with great
force thrust it in the ground, tearing the flesh, and causing the
most intense suffering. They made his death as shameful as
possible.” (1.S.G. p.58,59.)

“Not merely agony of body would he suffer; but mental agony,

that with which bodily suffering could in no wise be compared.
The weight of the sins of the whole world would be upon him.”
(1.S.P. p.46.)

WHAT A MIGHTY LOVE!

He presented Himself for us a perfect sacrifice. He is our
sacrificial Lamb without spot. Is any thing too much for Him to
ask of us? We are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, upon
the altar of love for Him. (see Rom.12:1.)

Jesus love for us can never be fully expressed in words.

Jesus Christ is our personal Savior. Our lives must be fully

yielded to Him. We must have daily, a close, personal
relationship with our God. Jesus is longing for us to come to
Him, that He may re-create us back to the perfect image of God
in man.

The following is taken from a Cassette by Robert Colman and

the Blackburn Baptist Church.
“Just close your eyes and picture Jesus standing before you.
Reaching out His nail pierced hands. Simply place your hands
in His, and experience the warmth and the live that flows into
you. Now see Him just taking your heart and making it pliable
in His hands. Taking away everything that stops His love
flowing in.”

Jesus take me as I am,

I can come no other way,
Take me deeper into you,
Make my flesh life melt away.
Make me like a precious stone,
Crystal clear and finely honed,
Life of Jesus shining through,
Giving glory back to you.
Robert Colman.

The only souls who will enter heaven are those who have
yielded their lives completely to the control of Jesus Christ their
Lord and Mater. We are to present our bodies a living sacrifice
to Him, because we love Him. Rom.12:1. ‘A sacrifice acceptable
well pleasing to God.’ Phil.4:18; Eph.5:10; 1Tim.2:3;
1Pet.2:5,20,21.

How does God change lives?

Jesus our Lord is our creator, and like the potter over the clay
He has the power to change our lives as He wills us to be.
Isa. 64:8; Jer.18:6; Rom.9:21. This is God’s part.

What is our part?

Purify ‘your souls in obeying the truth’. Our love for Jesus and
what He has done for us, will draw us to Him. Jesus said, ‘If a
man love me he will keep my words’. 1Pet.1:22; John 14:23.
Obedience is the test of love.
The Holy Spirit is our teacher, who ‘abideth in you, and ye need
not that any man should teach you’. By the Holy Spirit the law of
God is written in our hearts. John 16:13; 1 John 2:27; Jer.31:33.

“For if you live according to your human nature, you are going
to die; but if by the Spirit, you kill your sinful actions (put them
far from you) you will live.” Rom.8:13. TEV.

“If a man therefore purge (cleanses) himself from these, he shall

be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet (useful) for the
Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.’ 2Tim.2:21;
See Gal.5:24; Eph.4:23; Rom.12:2; Phil.2:5.

A Bible Commentary on 1 Cor.9:24-27 says:

“All who seek for the prize are to place themselves under strict
discipline. (v25). Those who enter into a contest of physical
strength --- realize the necessity of rigid abstinence from every
indulgence that would weaken the physical powers. They eat
simple food at regular hours. How much more should those
who enter for the gospel race.” (EGW.BC7a.)

“What kind of vessels are meet for the Mater’s use? – Empty
vessels. When we empty our soul of every defilement, we are
ready for use.

“By searching the scriptures with much prayer, he will find a

path to follow; not the path of man, but a path that leads to
heaven.

“The work of purification is an individual work. No one can do

this for another.” (EGW.BC7a, p.918)

“The blood of the spotless Lamb if God the believers apply to

their own hearts.” (Test. To Min. p.55.) see – 1 John 1:7;
Gen.9:4; John 6:54,55.

“He who through faith is righteous shall live.” Rom.1:17 – RSV.

“Not having a righteousness of my own ---- but that which is

through faith in Christ.” Phil.3:9. – NASV

We are saved by a living active faith. “Faith without works is

dead.” James 2:26.

“The pure religion of Jesus is the fountain from which flow

streams of charity, love, self-sacrifice.” James 1:27;
(EGW.BC7a.

Christians are like Christ, their Master. They are separate and
distinct from the world. There is not a taint of worldliness in
them, as neither there was in Christ. John 17:14-16.

THIS IS RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH.