For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3-16-17 NRSV Bible)
If you want a picture of what the heart of God looks like, then you look no further than the Cross. Do you realize that God loves you and me so much that even if you and I were the only people on the face of the earth he still would have sent Jesus to die for our sins that we might have life in all its fullness?

One of the early church fathers, Iranaeus, said it was by a tree that Adam sinned, and it was also by a tree that Jesus died on to save us from the penalty of sin and grant us the forgiveness of our sins. One tree represents our rebellion and sin. One tree represents our forgiveness from God. Somebody died that you and I might have the forgiveness of sins. On one tree we see the gravity of our sin; on the other tree we see the majesty of God.

In Stroudsburg, Pa., there is a tomb to an unknown Union soldier who died fighting in the Civil War. When President Abraham Lincoln heard of it, he had the tomb inscribed "Abraham Lincoln's Substitute. He died that I might live."

The cross of Jesus Christ today represents our substitute. Jesus died in our place. It is that simple. Christ died for us because God loved us!

Lord Jesus, thank you for being my substitute! Amen.

Ron Newhouse

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