There is no greater love than this. Romans 5:10

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For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
God bless my pastor, Joe Meyer, for going somewhere on Sunday few would be brave enough to do. Today is Memorial Day. Yesterday, all across the United States, churches no doubt took pause, like mine, to remember those who laid done their lives in defense of our great nation. I am sure most, like mine, sang patriotic hymns, and said prayers for the families of the men and women who made the "ultimate sacrifice" for our nation.

Being Memorial Day, I suppose it's common for pastors to preach, too, on one of the great passages of Scripture, John 15:13, reminding us of the incomparable Gospel. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

Those sermons undoubtedly went something like this: Those of us who believe are Jesus' friends. And Jesus died for us. He allowed God to nail our sins to his cross. He allowed man to beat him, to scorn him, to insult him, to spit on him, to nail him to a tree, to die for you and me, so that we won't have to pay the penalty for our sin. What greater love can there possibly be? Jesus died for you and me, raised himself from the dead, and is preparing a place for us in heaven. Thanks be to God!

So where did Pastor Joe go that few would be brave enough to do? Try this out: There is a greater love than someone who lays down his life for his friends. ... Can you imagine if one of our Marines, soldiers, sailors or airmen laid down their life for the enemy? Can you imagine a Marine jumping on a grenade to protect a Chinese soldier in the Chosin Reservoir? How about an American soldier taking a bullet for a VietCong fighter? What about a sailor whose ship had been sunk giving his spot in a life boat floating in shark-infested waters to a Japanese pilot?

I know, you can't imagine it. Nor can I. But that is the point.

Jesus did that for you and me, as Paul dutifully reminds us in Romans 5. That is the amazing love of God! Sin is an enemy of God. There is no place in heaven for sin (Rev. 21:27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10). God will separate the wicked from the blessed (Matt. 25:31-46).

Nonetheless, God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Eze. 33:11). And that's good news for all of us who fail in some way. God loves us so much that he gave up his only son for us (John 3:16). He loves us so much that he offers us a way not to receive condemnation (John 3:17). The Christ defeated sin for you, like me: a sinner, an enemy of God. With his blood, Jesus covered the sin of all who will believe. And now there is no condemnation for those who believe (Rom. 8:1).

It was indeed a bold statement to make, on the Sunday before Memorial Day. But my pastor was right. There is no greater love than the love of God.

Just believe.

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