Meditate on Jehovah's Enduring Love

SHOW GRATITUDE FOR THE RANSOM

The undeserved gift of Jesus' ransom sacrifice was given so that "we might gain life." (1 John 4:9) Referring to this superlative expression of God's  love, the apostle Paul wrote:  "Christ died for ungodly men at the appointed time.   For hardly would anyone die for a good man someone may dare to die.  But God recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8) This greatest expression of God's love opened to mankind the prospect of having a favored standing with Jehovah. 

A few feel Jehovah's enduring love in a very special way.  (John 1:12, 13; 3:5-7)  Having been appointed by holy spirit, they have become "God's children." (Romans 8:15, 16) Paul described anointed Christians as having 'been raised up and seated together in the heavenly places in union with Christ Jesus.' (Ephesians 2:6) They occupy this spiritual position because they have been 'sealed with the promised holy spirit, which is a token in advance of their inheritance,' that is, 'the hope of reserved for them in the heavens.' -Ephesians 1:13, 14; Colossians 1:5.

For the vast majority of mankind who exercise faith in the ransom, the way is open to be Jehovah's friends with the prospect of being adopted as children of God and living forever in the promised earthly Paradise.  Thus, by means of the ransom, Jehovah shows his love for the world of mankind.  (John 3:16) If we hope to live forever on earth and we continue to serve Jehovah faithfully, we can be assured that he will make life pleasant for us in the new world.  How fitting it is that we view the ransom as the greatest evidence of God's enduring love for us! 

Next time: Meditate on Jehovah's Enduring Love - RESPOND TO JEHOVAH'S LOVE

From the Watchtower magazine