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Jesus did not suppress one word of truth； but He uttered it always in love。 He exercised the greatest tact and thoughtful； kind attention in His intercourse with the people。 He was never rude； never needlessly spoke a severe word； never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul。 He did not censure human weakness。 He spoke the truth； but always in love。 He denounced hypocrisy； unbelief； and iniquity； but tears were in His voice as He uttered His scathing rebukes。 He wept over Jerusalem； the city He loved； which refused to receive Him； the way； the truth； and the life。 They had rejected Him； the Saviour； but He regarded them with pitying tenderness。 His life was one of self…denial and thoughtful care for others。 Every soul was precious in His eyes。 While He ever bore Himself with divine dignity； He bowed with the tenderest regard to every member of the family of God。 In all men He saw fallen souls whom it was His mission to save。
Such is the character of Christ as revealed in His life。 This is the character of God。 It is from the Father's heart that the streams of divine compassion； manifest in Christ； flow out to the children of men。 Jesus； the tender； pitying Saviour； was God 〃manifest in the flesh。〃 1 Timothy 3：16。
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It was to redeem us that Jesus lived and suffered and died。 He became 〃a Man of Sorrows；〃 that we might be made partakers of everlasting joy。 God permitted His beloved Son； full of grace and truth； to come from a world of indescribable glory； to a world marred and blighted with sin； darkened with the shadow of death and the curse。 He permitted Him to leave the bosom of His love； the adoration of the angels； to suffer shame； insult； humiliation； hatred； and death。 〃The chastisement of our peace was upon Him； and with His stripes we are healed。〃 Isaiah 53：5。 Behold Him in the wilderness； in Gethsemane； upon the cross！ The spotless Son of God took upon Himself the burden of sin。 He who had been one with God； felt in His soul the awful separation that sin makes between God and man。 This wrung from His lips the anguished cry； 〃My God； My God； why hast Thou forsaken Me？〃 Matthew 27：46。 It was the burden of sin； the sense of its terrible enormity； of its separation of the soul from Godit was this that broke the heart of the Son of God。
But this great sacrifice was not made in order to create in the Father's heart a love for man； not to make Him willing to save。 No； no！ 〃God so loved the world； that He gave His only…begotten Son。〃 John 3：16。 The Father loves us； not because of the great propitiation； but He provided the propitiation because He loves us。 Christ was the medium through which He could pour out His infinite love upon a fallen world。 〃God was in Christ； reconciling the world unto Himself。〃 2 Corinthians 5：19。 God suffered with His Son。 In the agony of Gethsemane； the death of
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Calvary； the heart of Infinite Love paid the price of our redemption。
Jesus said； 〃Therefore doth My Father love Me； because I lay down My life； that I might take it again。〃 John 10：17。 That is； 〃My Father has so loved you that He even loves Me more for giving My life to redeem you。 In becoming your Substitute and Surety； by surrendering My life； by taking your liabilities； your transgressions； I am endeared to My Father； for by My sacrifice； God can be just； and yet the Justifier of him who believeth in Jesus。〃
None but the Son of God could accomplish our redemption； for only He who was in the bosom of the Father could declare Him。 Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it manifest。 Nothing less than the infinite sacrifice made by Christ in behalf of fallen man could express the Father's love to lost humanity。
〃God so loved the world； that He gave His only…begotten Son。〃 He gave Him not only to live among men； to bear their sins； and die their sacrifice。 He gave Him to the fallen race。 Christ was to identify Himself with the interests and needs of humanity。 He who was one with God has linked Himself with the children of men by ties that are never to be broken。 Jesus is 〃not ashamed to call them brethren〃 （Hebrews 2：11）； He is our Sacrifice； our Advocate； our Brother； bearing our human form before the Father's throne； and through eternal ages one with the race He has redeemedthe Son of man。 And all this that man might be uplifted from the ruin and degradation of sin that he might reflect the love of God and share the joy of holiness。
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The price paid for our redemption； the infinite sacrifice of our heavenly Father in giving His Son to die for us； should give us exalted conceptions of what we may become through Christ。 As the inspired apostle John beheld the height； the depth； the breadth of the Father's love toward the perishing race； he was filled with adoration and reverence； and； failing to find suitable language in which to express the greatness and tenderness of this love； he called upon the world to behold it。 〃Behold； what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us； that we should be called the sons of God。〃 1 John 3：1。 What a value this places upon man！ Through transgression the sons of man become subjects of Satan。 Through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ the sons of Adam may become the sons of God。 By assuming human nature； Christ elevates humanity。 Fallen men are placed where； through connection with Christ； they may indeed become worthy of the name 〃sons of God。〃
Such love is without a parallel。 Children of the heavenly King！ Precious promise！ Theme for the most profound meditation！ The matchless love of God for a world that did not love Him！ The thought has a subduing power upon the soul and brings the mind into captivity to the will of God。 The more we study the divine character in the light of the cross； the more we see mercy； tenderness； and forgiveness blended with equity and justice； and the more clearly we discern innumerable evidences of a love that is infinite and a tender pity surpassing a mother's yearning sympathy for her wayward child。
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The Sinner's Need of Christ
Man was originally endowed with noble powers and a well…balanced mind。 He was perfect in his being； and in harmony with God。 His thoughts were pure； his aims holy。 But through disobedience； his powers were perverted； and selfishness took the place of love。 His nature became so weakened through transgression that it was impossible for him； in his own strength； to resist the power of evil。 He was made captive by Satan； and would have remained so forever had not God specially interposed。 It was the tempter's purpose to thwart the divine plan in man's creation； and fill the earth with woe and desolation。 And he would point to all this evil as the result of God's work in creating man。
In his sinless state； man held joyful communion with Him 〃in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge。〃 Colossians 2：3。 But after his sin； he could no longer find joy in holiness； and he sought to hide from the presence of God。 Such is still the condition of the unrenewed heart。 It is not in harmony with God； and finds no joy in communion with Him。 The sinner could not be happy in God's presence； he would shrink from the companionship of holy beings。 Could he be permitted to enter heaven； it would have no joy for him。 The spirit of unselfish love that reigns there every heart responding to the heart of Infinite Love would touch no answering chord in his soul。 His thoughts； his interests； his motives； would be alien to
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those that actuate the sinless dwellers there。 He would be a discordant note in the melody of heaven。 Heaven would be to him a place of torture； he would long to be hidden from Him who is its light； and the center of its joy。 It is no arbitrary decree on the part of God that excludes the wicked from heaven； they are shut out by their own unfitness for its companionship。 The glory of God would be to them a consuming fire。 They would welcome destruction； that they might be hidden from the face of Him who died to redeem them。
It is impossible for us； of ourselves； to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken。 Our hearts are evil； and we cannot change them。 〃Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean？ not one。〃 〃The carnal mind is enmity against God： for it is not subject to the law of God； neither indeed can be。〃 Job 14：4； Romans 8：7。 Education； culture； the exercise of the will； human effort； all have their proper sphere； but here they are powerless。 They may produce an outward correctness of behavior； but they cannot change the heart； they cannot purify the springs of life。 There must be a power working from within； a new life from above； before men can be changed from sin to holiness。 That power is Christ。 His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul； and attract it to God； to holiness。
The Saviour said； 〃Except a man be born from above；〃 unless he shall receive a new heart； new desires； purposes； and motives； leading to a new life； 〃he cannot see the kingdom of God。〃 John 3：