1John 1:1-3 NKJV – 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life– 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us– 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Our thoughts today come from John Owen. He says, “Unacquaintedness with our mercies, our privileges, is our sin as well as our trouble. We hearken not to the voice of the Spirit which is given unto us, “that we may know the things that are freely bestowed on us of God” (1 Cor. 2:12). This makes us go heavily, when we might rejoice; and to be weak, where we might be strong in the Lord. How few of the saints are experimentally acquainted with this privilege of holding immediate communion with the Father in love! With what anxious, doubtful thoughts do they look upon him! What fears, what questionings are there, of his goodwill and kindness! At the best, many think there is no sweetness at all in him towards us, but what is purchased at the high price of the blood of Jesus. It is true: that alone is the way of communication; but the free fountain and spring of all is in the bosom of the Father. “Eternal life was with the Father, and is manifested unto us” (1 John 1:2).” [1]

How do we remedy this problem? First, we must look on the Father as love by faith. God does not just choose to love; His essence is love 1 John 4:8 …God is love. We should cry out with the prophet Micah “Who is a God like you pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? You do not retain Your anger forever, because You delight in mercy! You will have compassion on us and subdue our iniquities. You will cast our sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18 This is our God full of love, mercy, and compassion for His people. One who tenderly draws us to Himself and gathers us in to pour out His love on us.

It is His love! It is a love that He is fully satisfied in within Himself. It is a shared love among the Trinity one that needs nothing outside of Himself to be satisfied. Yet He chose to share His love with His children, with us. It is a love that we can rest in and find full satisfaction in because it is a perfect love!

Let us examine carefully what kind of love it is. First it is ETERNAL. As Paul tells us it was a love set on us before the foundation of the world. Owen says it this way, “It was from eternity that he laid in his own bosom a design for our happiness.”[2] 2Timothy 1:9 KJV “He saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” Meditate on Solomon’s words in Proverbs 8:30-31 ESV – “Then I was beside Him, like a master workman, and I was daily His delight, rejoicing before Him always, 31 rejoicing in His inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.” The Father delighting in the Son as the Son delights in His children. All before the foundation of the world.

Second, it is a FREE love. Not only is it eternal it is free. Not of works lest we boast as Paul says in Ephesians. Not earned, not deserved! Are we thankful for what we earn? How very thankful we should be for what we do not deserve! This love is goes before us it is according to His mercy and by it, we are regenerated and made new by the Holy Spirit whom He has richly poured out on us through His Son Titus 3:5-6! Do you see the work of the Trinity for you? Does is cause you to cry out in song “Let us love and sing and wonder. Let us praise the Saviors name!”

Third, it is UNCHANGEABLE. Could our sin change His love it would have long ago ceased for His children. But it is not possible because it cannot, it will not change! 2Peter 3:9 ESV “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” He is longsuffering and patient with us!

Fourth, it is a DISTINGUISHING love. John Owen says it this way, “Why should He fix His love on us, and pass by millions from whom we differ not by nature (Eph. 2:3)—that He should make us sharers in that, and all the fruits of it, which most of the great and wise men of the world are excluded from? Matt. 11:25–26; 1 Cor. 1:20.” [3]

I want to remind you that we do not hold communion with God unless we hold it by faith! It must be received by faith, and we must make returns in faith.

Do you believe (faith) that this is the heart of the Father toward you? If yes, then act on it through faith as love toward you! Embrace His eternal, free, distinguishing love for you. It is not ours and we will not taste the sweetness of it until it is received by us. Listen to what John Owen says and believe! “When the Lord is, by his word, presented as such unto you, let your mind know it, and assent that it is so; and your will embrace it, in its being so; and all your affections be filled with it. Set your whole heart to it; let it be bound with the cords of this love.”[4]

I love you ladies!

Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder

John Newton

Let us love and sing and wonder

Let us praise the Saviours name

He has hushed the laws loud thunder

He has quenched Mount Sinais flame

He has washed us with His blood

He has washed us with His blood

He has washed us with His blood

He has brought us nigh to God

Let us love the Lord Who bought us

Pitied us when enemies

Called us by His grace and taught us

Gave us ears and gave us eyes

He has washed us with His blood

He has washed us with His blood

He has washed us with His blood

He presents our souls to God

Let us sing though fierce temptation

Threatens hard to bear us down

For the Lord, our strong salvation,

Holds in view the conquerors crown

He, Who washed us with His blood,

He, Who washed us with His blood,

He, Who washed us with His blood,

Soon will bring us home to God

Let us wonder grace and justice

Join and point to mercys store

When through grace in Christ our trust is

Justice smiles and asks no more

He Who washed us with His blood

He Who washed us with His blood

He Who washed us with His blood

Has secured our way to God

Let us praise and join the chorus

Of the saints enthroned on high

Here they trusted Him before us

Now their praises fill the sky

Thou hast washed us with Thy blood

Thou hast washed us with Thy blood

Thou hast washed us with Thy blood

Thou art worthy Lamb of God

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[1] John Owen, Communion with the Triune God, Edited by Kelly Kapic and Justin Taylor, (Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Publishers, 2007), Page 123.

[2] John Owen, Communion with the Triune God, Edited by Kelly Kapic and Justin Taylor, (Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Publishers, 2007), Page 125.

[3] John Owen, Communion with the Triune God, Edited by Kelly Kapic and Justin Taylor, (Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Publishers, 2007), Page 125 – 126.

[4] John Owen, Communion with the Triune God, Edited by Kelly Kapic and Justin Taylor, (Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Publishers, 2007), Page 126.