An Astonishing Act of Love
John Flavel (1627–1691) was an English Puritan pastor, theologian, and author who faithfully preached and lived out the gospel. He was a vigorous and voluminous writer. Flavel wrote, “Either Christ will be to us all in all, or nothing at all.” Christ was truly ‘all’ to Flavel.
In a sermon entitled CHRIST IN HIS ESSENTIAL GLORY, Flavel writes:
It was an astonishing act of love for the Father to give the delight of His soul (out of His very bosom) for poor sinners. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16). Who among us would deliver the child of our delight to death for the greatest inheritance in the world? What a hole does the death of a child make in the hearts of parents! It will never be closed in this world. No child ever lay so close to a parent’s heart as Christ did to His Father’s. And yet, He willingly parts with Him—His only one, the Son of His delight—and that to a cursed death for the worst of sinners. O, the admirable love of God! Let all people, therefore, in the business of their redemption, give equal glory to the Father with the Son (John 5:23). If the Father had not loved us, He would never have parted with such a Son for us.
The love of Christ for poor sinners is astonishing. That He should consent to leave such a bosom, and the ineffable delights that were there, for such poor worms as us! O, the height, depth, length, and breadth of unmeasurable love! How the love of Christ is commended in ravishing circumstances to poor sinners (Rom. 5:6–8)! Christ, who was embraced in the Father’s bosom in a manner unknown to us, freely left it and laid down its glory and riches for our sakes. As the Father loved Him, even so He has loved us (John 17:22). What manner of love is this! Who has ever loved as Christ loves? Who has ever denied himself for Christ as Christ has denied Himself for us?
Interest Christ is the true way to all spiritual preferment in heaven. Do you desire to be in the favor and delight of God? Get an interest in Christ, and you will be there! All things in the world are carried by interest; persons rise in this world as they are befriended. It is the same in heaven; persons are preferred according to their interest in the Beloved (Eph. 1:9). Christ is the great favorite in heaven. His image upon our souls, and His name in our prayers, makes both accepted with God.
Christ is worthy of all our love and delight. You see how infinitely the Father delights in Him, how He ravishes the heart of God, and will He not ravish our hearts? Surely, He is a drawing Savior (John 12:32). Nothing but Christ is worthy of your precious affections. May the Lord direct our hearts into the love of Christ! O, that our hearts, love, and delight did meet with the heart of God in this most blessed object! O, let Him who left God’s bosom for us, be embraced by us!
If Christ is the beloved darling of the Father’s soul, think what a grievous and insufferable thing it is to the heart of God to see His dear Son despised, slighted, and rejected by sinners. There is no such cut to the heart of God in the whole world. Unbelievers trample upon God’s darling, tread underfoot the One who lay eternally in His bosom (Heb. 10:29). They smite the apple of His eye. How will God respond to this? Surely, He will destroy such wretched sinners (Matt. 21:37–40). O, sinners, you will one day know the price of this sin. You will feel what it is to despise Jesus, who is able to compel love from the hardest heart. O, that you would slight Him no more! O, that this day your hearts might fall in love with Him!
Exhortation 1. Christ lay eternally in this bosom of love, and yet was content to forsake and leave it for our sakes. Therefore, (1) be ready to forsake and leave all the comforts you have on earth for Christ (Luke 18:28); (2) be confident in prayer that you are accepted through the Beloved (Eph. 1:6) and that the Father hears His intercession on your behalf (Jn. 11:42; Heb. 7:25); and (3) be patient in death for you are going to that bosom of love from which Christ came (John 17:5, 24). Let every believer encourage his soul. Comfort one another with these words: “I am leaving the bosom of a creature, and I am going to the bosom of God.”
Exhortation 2. Whatever you are or have been, whatever guilt or discouragement you lie under, embrace Christ who is freely offered to you, and you will be as dear to God as the most eminent believer in the world. But if you still continue to neglect such a Savior, wrath is treasured up for you (Heb. 10:28).