1 John 3:1 KJV
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
As a child of God, we see God’s love expressed in many ways.
We see His watchful care over us in our daily lives. This doesn’t mean we will have no problems or trials, but God is with us, using these to help us grow.
And naturally we see God’s love for all humanity in the cross of calvary.
The cross is the epitome of God’s love for us. The cross is the greatest example of love that there is.
Even on the cross, Jesus would cry out “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Talk about love!
The love of God as expressed on the cross of Calvary, is there for the taking by anyone who will accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. John 3:16 says it best.
John 3:16 KJV
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Think a minute more about those words. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." Now that is love! Love for ALL humanity. But only those who accept Christ the Son, will enjoy the blessings of His love and life eternal.
When thinking about God’s love, we always think of His watchful care for us and the cross of Calvary, as ways that God shows His love for us.
But there is another example of God’s love that we rarely consider.
God's Love Manifested in the Garden of Eden
Let’s go further back in time to see the love of God. All the way back to the Garden of Eden.
Here we find that God’s creation had a perfect and wonderful existence. Adam and Eve had everything they needed in their perfect environment. The Garden of Eden could be called “Utopia.” Besides the perfect environment, they even communed with God on a daily basis.
But things would change, according to God’s master plan, and this was because of His love for us.
So, I’m sure this raises the question in your mind, which is “how can the fall of mankind be an example of God’s love for us?”
God our Father, who is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient, knew that mankind would sin and fall long before the garden of Eden. Again, that would be part of His master plan.
So now, you might be wondering “why would God want sin to enter the world?”
Because of the fall of Adam and Eve, and sin entering the world, mankind henceforth would have to personally choose good or evil, light or darkness and right or wrong. Mankind would now have to choose God or Satan. And again, this was all part of God’s master plan.
In many lessons we have said that God did not want humans as robots, who would be programmed to love and accept Him. Not at all! God wants us to love Him because we have the desire to. Because we want to and we make the choice to do so.
He didn’t want us to be like mechanical robots with no choice in the matter. That would be “forced and false love” toward God.
No, God wanted us to love him freely of our own choosing.
So, to reiterate, His allowing sin to enter the world and the gift of “free will” accompanying it, was in truth His second act of great love toward us.
After the fall in the Garden of Eden, we find the promise of Christ’s coming as our Redeemer. God says he will make enemies between the serpent (Satan) and the offspring of Eve, indicating our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a promise of our ultimate victory over Satan and sin, through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Genesis 3:14-15 KJV
14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
We see in the sin of Adam and Eve the second great act of God’s love, coming after the creation of mankind.
The fall of mankind, as defined in Genesis, introduced sin into the world which totally changed the human/God relationship. This in turn, as part of God’s master plan, began the process of providing redemption and reconciliation through the blood of Jesus, who would at the proper time, in the fullness of time, die on the cross ushering in the New Covenant between God and humankind.
But it all goes back to the actions of Adam and Eve resulting in what is called “original sin.”
God’s master plan was dependent on mankind having free will and sinning in the Garden of Eden.
This was truly the love of God in action.
It would set in motion God’s plan. It would set in motion God’s love, mercy, grace and full redemption for our sins through belief and faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.
So, when we ponder and praise God for His love for us, we should never forget His giving us free will, along with the original sin in the Garden, and then His promise in the Garden of our Savior to come.
First the creation.
Then, yes even the fall of Adam/Eve and sin entering the earthly world
And finally, the cross at Calvary.
All were a part of God’s plan, and all were acts of His love toward us.
Romans 5:17-19 KJV
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
RVH