Love of God Manifested

This is the most controversial subject to many Christians. It is poorly comprehended or not understood, yet it is the very foundation of every living church of God. Christ prayed before he died. “Jesus answered them saying, The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified.” John 12:23. Again He spoke “Father glorify thy name”. Then came a voice from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again”. John 12:28.

“Now is the son of Man glorified and God is glorified in Him. These words spake Jesus and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come, glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify Thee: And now O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.” John 17:1,5. It is a great request that Christ is asking His Father to glorify “Him. What is this glory? Because He said “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word.” In His walk of life whether He was in heaven or on this earth, Christ’s only concern was to manifest His Father’s name. He never requested that His name should be glorified, but at this moment He requested that His name should also be glorified. Let us pause and think why His name should also be glorified. In John 16:12-15 we read, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now”. It is surprising to hear these words. Why can’t they understand now? His disciples could not understand the very manifestation of Christ because of their spiritual condition. He states further, “howbeit when He the Spirit of truth, is come, and He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak, and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify me; for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you”.

Christ was visible in human form but because of their spiritual condition the disciples could not understand this beautiful message. But when their spiritual condition is fortified, the invisible Spirit of God will do His marvelous work of glorifying Him. in Early Writings, p. 145, “There was contention among the angels. Satan and his sympathizers were striving to reform the government of God. They wished to look into His unsearchable wisdom, and ascertain His purpose in exalting Jesus and endowing Him such unlimited power and command.” Satan didn’t understand why Christ was given so many privileges in heaven, even though He never claimed to be equal with His Father.

Philippians 2:5-8, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Christ is equal with God, yet He is also humble. Because of His excellent character Satan became jealous of Christ, and started to question the wisdom of God. He began to penetrate into the unsearchable wisdom of God and to see things which are not revealed. For this reason this message was brought. The gospel of Christ is called the Mystery of His will. In Greek “mystery” means “held secret for ages.” “Having made know unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself.” Eph. 5:9. In heaven Satan did not need to fight against God’s kingdom, neither did he need to fight against Christ. But he went against Christ and started to rebel against His Father because of His goodness and the benevolence of His nature. Satan understood and started to war against the throne of the Almighty.

GC, pg. 492 “Nothing is more plainly thought in scripture than that God was in no wise responsible for the entrance of sin. That there was no arbitrary withdrawal of divine grace, no deficiency in the divine government, that gave occasion for the uprising of rebellion. Sin is an intruder, for whose presence no reason can be given. It is mysterious, unaccountable; to excuse it is to defend it”. With these verses we understand that Satan did not need to create a rebellion in the kingdom of God. He originated and is the author of evil.

I will tell a story about the Father and the Son. Although we can not describe Him with our human imagination, yet we as humans try to explain in human form the divine government. Christ, in His earthly mission tried to explain the truths about the kingdom of God in a very simple manner. By parables and simple daily tasks He portrayed Flis Father’s kingdom. He used these concepts to teach us the great truths about his Kingdom. Because of our human nature He made divine things in human format for us to understand easily. We try to portray the Father and the Son in a similar format for people to understand this reality. It is hard to express the perfection of the Father and the Son, but still He made it simple with our earthly tools to comprehend His nature. “There were two twin brothers, each a replica of the same person as they had the same genetic code. If you look at identical twins they are a perfect clone—matching each other perfectly. They are the same age, have the same height, the same face—in every way appearing the same; there is no difference.

In England there were two brothers who were children of the king. Their names were George and Jack. When they grew up, their father died. George became the king of England and his brother Jack became his assistant. The king made his brother his representative wherever he went. If people wanted to honour him they should honour Jack.

Jack thought in his heart to please his brother so he became a servant ot him. But one day the Prime-Minister became jealous of Jack because George gave so much power to him. So tbe Prime Minister rebelled against George and started a new kingdom for himself. He killed George’s brother Jack and many Englishmen followed the congress of the Prime Minister. But George was very wise. He fought with his Prime Minister and overthrew his kingdom.

The Prime Minister did not understand why so much power was bestowed upon Jack. In reality Jack never claimed anything although he had possessions of his own. The same is written concerning Christ. Heb 3:5,6 “And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after. But Christ as a Son over his own house, whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” This statement describes Christ’s position. Why is it hard for people to understand this beautiful message? “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”! Cor 2:14

Why did Christ choose to be a servant of God and take a lower position than His Father? Because He knew that two could not be king. If there were two kings, one would say to build, the other would say to stop. The smooth operation of things could never be accomplished. For this reason He chose a lesser position, and it is He who ordained that it should not be taken away for eternity. The eternal Father and the Son decided this from the foundation of the kingdom. That is how the kingdom existed. That is how Christ portrayed His divinity. He says in John, ch. 14, “If ye had known me ye should have known my FATHER also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen Him. Philip sayeth unto Him LORD show us the FATHER and it sufficeth us. JESUS saith unto Him, Have I been so long time with you and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the FATHER.” How can he say such a statement? Because with the FATHER and the SON—there is no difference, same age, same purpose, same character, same knowledge, same power, same wisdom, etc., everything is the same. So why did CHRIST state in another verse in John 14:28? “If ye loved Me ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the FATHER: for my FATHER is greater than I.”

Why would CHRIST say that if you see me you have seen the FATHER? Then He says My FATHER is greater. It is contradictory. CHRIST never contradicts. It is true that His FATHER is greater than Him. In the throne before anything was created or called forth, CHRIST and the FATHER were equal. Philippians ch. 2 clarifies this. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in CHRIST who being in the form of GOD, thought it not robbery to be equal with GOD.” He took a lower position. He made His FATHER the sole decision-maker. Thus in the garden of Gethsemane, He prayed saying not my will but thine be done. The FATHER did not create Christ and like a boss make Christ die for us. This matter is clarified in Isa43:10. “Ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me and understand that I am He: before Me there was no GOD formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside Me there is no SAVIOUR.” CHRIST is saying these words, because everybody, even a child knows tbat the SAVIOUR is JESUS CHRIST. So CHRIST is saying that there was no GOD existing before Him nor after Him.

Because he and His FATHER exist as twins, forever they exist as one. He stated that His FATHER was greater and He took a lesser name to Himself, the SON; that is how He portrayed Himself. Because it originated in the throne it can never change. It is destined to be forever, for eternity. No being has the power to change it; it is ordained forever. Isa 45:11,12. “Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask Me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye Me. I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even My hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.”

Who is this Holy One? Isa 47:4 “As for our Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts is his name, the holy One of Israel.” Who is the Redeemer of the World? Jesus. And not only this, but He is also called Lord of Hosts and the Creator of

heaven and Earth. Not only was the Father involved in creation, but Christ had equal power in creating this world. What did the devils call him? Luke 4:33-34. “And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.” Even the devil acknowledges Him to be the Holy One. Acts 3:14 “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you.” And now Peter, after receiving the Holy Spirit explained the Scriptures and called Christ the Holy One. Nearly 100 times, the Bible talks about the Holy One, a special name Christ uses for himself. This statement clearly indicates that CHRIST was never created by His FATHER.

A great privilege was given to humankind when CHRIST was born a man and then died on the cross, crucified by His nation. He redeemed man so that He could grant all the privileges to man even though man was lost. A second chance was given to Adam. If they accepted the cross of Calvary, Adam and his children could live forever. Now here is a question? Why did GOD not grant this privilege to Satan or his angels? Why were they cast away? Why didn’t He die for them? Why was salvation not granted to them? It is true that they knew the depth of GOD’S love when they were in paradise with GOD. In heaven Satan knew what GOD was like. He knew perfectly His character and the nature of His government. The love of GOD was always manifested to them. But humans didn’t know the depth of GOD’S love. That is why CHRIST came to manifest the love of GOD to mankind.

When you read the Testimonies you will understand the message called, “the loud cry of the 3rd angel”. It is written, “The message has already began, in the revelation of CHRIST the sin pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth.” It is because of spiritual darkness that we can’t see GOD. Is GOD different yesterday, or in times past, or today, or in the future? He is the same forever. In times past he was gracious, today the same, and will be the same forever. His nature has not changed. It is only because our hearts are blinded that we cannot see this marvelous light. It is written in 2 Cor. 4:3,4. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that arc lost. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of CHRIST who is the image of GOD should shine unto them.” CHRIST speaks about this people in the Laodicean message, the Faithful and the True Witness who calls our attention to change. He warns the last generation of Christians who will be living prior to His coming: “Knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” This is one of the great rebukes that is given to the last generation. But none is heeding; everybody is lukewarm.

“One day four blind men approached an elephant. One touched the leg of the elephant and said the elephant was like a log. The other touched the trunk and said that it was like a lamppost. The other touched its trunk and said it was like a ceramic pole. The last touched the tail and said it was like a broomstick. All of them had a different view of the elephant, but which one was correct? Because all of them were blind, they could not see the real elephant. One man who was passing heard these men and was laughing and said, “what a shame to be blind.” The same is for all of us. We are blinded by Satan, therefore we cannot see the glory of GOD and his throne. But, the one who can change this is JESUS. And JESUS said, “for a judgment I come unto this world, that they which see not might see and that they which see might be made blind” John 9:39. Whosoever yields to His love will see GOD spiritually.

Every false religion is represented in this elephant. Like the blind men, everybody is seeing GOD from a different angle. But are they true? Are all these religions true? The greatest sorrow is that even GOD’S own church is in this state. For this reason CHRIST warned the Laodiceans regarding blindness. The blind is leading the blind because the churches have alienated themselves from CHRIST; they cannot see the grace of GOD. Every leader and minister is preaching a gospel of CHRIST. They themselves are blind. They cannot see the work they are doing; they are making even those who could see a little, more blind. And with the blind leading the blind, all will fall into a pit. Because the world is blinded they accept any falsehood, thinking that this is the message which will save us. What a falsehood, what a sorrowful existence for these Christians and the world. These Religious organizations praise their leaders to be holy and true; they worship them for their wisdom. And CHRIST as one who can see, looks at the people and says, “what blindness, what sorrow”. But when He touches your heart everything is changed. CHRIST said: “I am the way, the truth and the Life, no man cometh unto my FATHER but by Me.” Only by going to CHRIST can we see GOD in a real way. We are given our sight so that we may see clearly that everything is changed. This is different from what other religious people arc proclaiming. So let us go further. The righteousness of CHRIST is the greatest truth about GOD’S love manifested.

This is a true story, which took place in India. “A heavy splash, followed by many ripples and then, apart from a stream of little bubbles which rose to the surface the water was still. A missionary stood on the pier in the Indian Ocean, his eyes riveted on the water. Finally a black head appeared from the water and a pair of bright eyes looked up, climbing onto the pier. An old pearl diver shook the water from his still supple body. “As nice a dive as 1 have ever seen, Sami!” remarked Hudson Taylor, the missionary, who had come to India to tell the people the good news of salvation through JESUS CHRIST. “Look at this one sir”, said Sami, taking a big oyster from between his teeth. Taylor pried it open and sure enough it held a beautiful shining pearl. “What a treasure, yes”, shrugged the diver, “rather good hut some arc better, much better. Look at these little flaws here. You know, yesterday you talked with me about God. I admit I have many faults and sins, just like that pearl. But { am and always will be a Hindu. We Hindus believe that we have to do a lot of things to come to God. I have to correct my faults and do penance for them.” “‘However, Sami, my friend, God offers full forgiveness to every sinner who confesses his errors and sins to him. Everyone who comes to him in repentance and accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior will be adopted as the Son of God. Do you understand?” “No sir, I often told you that it is too simple for me. Perhaps I am too proud but I want to do something to get a place in Heaven. I intend to go on a pilgrimage to Delhi for my sins. Also, I hope to earn God’s mercy.”

“But Sami,” the minister replied, “you won’t even manage this long journey. Today is the time of grace. Tomorrow may very well be too late. Apart from that, we cannot earn God’s mercy for he wants to give it to us freely. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, has suffered on the cross and accomplished all that is necessary for our salvation. God only wants us to confess our sins to him and then believe that his son paid all the debt. For those sinners who come to him. He is the only Saviour. Without him, there is no salvation.” Sami shook his head and went home. No matter how often Hudson Taylor talked to him it was of no avail. The diver would not accept Christ. Yet, the missionary and the old pearl diver became friends.

One day, Sami came to see the evangelist. He carried a little box with him and said, “Sir Taylor, I have got something in here that I want to tell you about. I had a son who was also a diver. He was the best pearl diver along the Indian coast. He had the keenest eye, the longest breath and he could dive down to thirty meters. He was the delight of my heart. He always dreamt of finding a pearl better than any that had ever been found. Indeed, one day, he found it. However, the oyster was nearly inaccessible, so deep and so well attached in a rock crevice. He got it out, but he had stayed too long underwater. As a result, he strained his heart too much. Soon afterwards, he died.” The old man bowed his head and for a moment his whole body shook. He was completely silent. “I have kept that pearl for many years. Now that I am leaving for Delhi, perhaps never to return, I want to give it to you, my best friend. Here you are.” For awhile, the missionary gazed silently at one of the biggest pearls ever found in India. It glowed with a wondrous luster. “Sami, what a pearl.” “That pearl is perfect,” the Indian replied quietly. Suddenly, an idea flashed across the missionary’s mind. Looking up, he said “Sami, let me buy this wonderful pearl, I will give you 500,000 pounds for it.” “Sir”, replied Sami in a severe tone, “this pearl is invaluable, no one can pay what this pearl is worth to me. I can only give it to you as a gift.” “No Sami, as much as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it. Maybe I am too proud. To accept this pearl seems too easy for me. I want to pay or work for it.” “Don’t you understand, can’t you see Sir. My only son gave his life to get this pearl. It is worth the lifeblood of my son. I cannot sell it. I can only give it as a present. Just accept it as a proof of my love to you.” With tears, the missionary responded, “Sami, don’t you see, that is just what you have been saying to God.”

The diver gave the missionary a long searching look, as he slowly began to understand mat God is offering salvation as a free gift. At no cost. It is so great and costly that no man would be able to pay for it. It cost God the life of his only son in order to open the entrance to heaven. Even through pilgrimages of a thousand miles, you could never earn God’s grace. He deliberately gave up his beloved Son to the terrible death of the cross. God’s love and deliverance of sinners like you and me can only be accepted as a gift of love. In faith and thankfulness God’s light entered the old pearl diver’s heart. “Now, I understand,” exclaimed Sami. Then he turned and went deep into thought. A little later he came back and said, “I don’t want to wait any longer, I want to come to God right now. Just as I am. 1 cannot earn God’s mercy, the price is simply too high. As a lost person, I want to accept God’s love though it is beyond my understanding. I want to thank God and his son Jesus Christ for it.”

This story of the diver is a true story. It will always be true because man cannot atone for his sins. The only way to pay for our sins is to die a second death, completely eliminated from this universe. However, God did not do this. He wanted to save us. So, he died the second death, this terrible punishment that all mankind will go through in the second death. That is why it is called righteousness of Christ or justification by faith. “God is love. Righteousness is love. Love is the life and light of God. The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ. We receive righteousness by receiving him.” Like this pearl diver in the beginning, many are refusing this beautiful gift which Christ is offering to you and me if we freely come to him. “It is not God that binds the eyes of men or hardens their heart. He sends the light to correct their errors, and to lead them in safe paths; it is by the rejection of this light that the eyes are blinded and the heart hardened. Often the process is gradual, and almost imperceptible. Light comes to the soul through God’s word, through His servants, or by the direct agency of His Spirit; but when one ray of light is disregarded, there is partial benumbing of the spiritual perceptions, and the second revealing of light is less clearly discerned. So the darkness increases, until it is night in the soul.” DA 322.

“With amazement, the angels witnessed the Saviour’s despairing agony. The hosts of heaven veiled their faces from the fearful sight. Inanimate nature expressed sympathy with its insulted and dying Author. The sun refused to look upon the awful scene. Its full, bright rays were illuminating the earth at midday, when suddenly, it seemed to be bolted out. Complete darkness, like a funeral pall, enveloped the cross. There was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. There was no eclipse or other natural cause for this darkness, which was as deep as midnight without a moon or stars. It was a miraculous testimony given by God that the faith of after generations might be confirmed. In that thick darkness God’s presence was hidden. He makes darkness his pavilion, and conceals His glory from human eyes. God and his holy angels were beside the cross. The Father was with his Son. Yet his presence was not revealed. Had His glory flashed forth from the clouds, every human beholder would have been destroyed. And in that dreadful hour Christ was not to be comforted by the father’s presence. He trod the wine press alone and of the people there was none with him.” DA 754. He could not see that his Father was with him. All His divine power was taken away from him. He died as a human, like you and me, in order to purchase this great treasure without price.

This priceless treasure called salvation is offered as a free gift to us. Does the Father have the same compassion that Christ has? Let us see what the Scriptures say. “Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shall love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be children of your Father which is in heaven: For He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” The Father is perfect, like Christ. In his heart originates all the love and mercy and grace for our redemption. The Father’s heart feels so much toward the sinner. Is Christ different? He prayed for his murderers, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” The Father and the Son have the same spirit. That is why Christ’s righteousness is the precious pearl that is beyond value that Christians possess.

It is the love of God manifested in this message that makes everything different now. Like Paul, we are changed from being Pharisees to perfect Christians. Henceforth, for a Christian, love is the motivation. Let us check what is written in the heart. Now love springs forth and enable us to do the will of God. That is what this message does to the perishing soul and converts it through the power of love. It can transform a human, a murderer, a thief, a prostitute, the worst criminal and the outcasts of society. They all can be transformed into the perfection of heaven. The power of love can do this. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long. We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things, we are more then conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our lord.”
AMEN.