The greatest love story ever written was the rescue of a lost and stolen bride.
The Bridegroom so desperately loved and longed for His bride that He went to the very depths of hell to win her back.
She was held captive by sin and cursed to die. She was in shackles of divine judgment, and in a bondage of debt so great she could never free herself.
The Prince gave up everything to pay the ransom for the one he desired.
It was a steep payment, but His great love drove him to pay out of the abundance of His riches.
He was rich, but for the sake of the bride He became poor. He came to make the magnificent rescue in the likeness of sinful flesh and humbled himself and became a curse.
The Rescuer gave up divine privileges that were rightly His and became a humble slave in order to deliver His bride from her bondage and captivity and shackles so strong that only the keys of love, mercy and grace could bring about her release.
That is how the best seller story goes. It is the kind of story that seems too good to be true and too many people scoff at it and toss it aside, but they are sadly deceived and say it is a hoax.
For to believe that any man would endure such a gruesome death for a bride does seem to be extraordinary.
Where it says, 'It is written' is where we see the climax.
The cross is the climax to this story.
It is central to Christianity.
You can't be in Christ without coming to the cross of Christ.
The Bridegroom so desperately loved and longed for His bride that He went to the very depths of hell to win her back.
She was held captive by sin and cursed to die. She was in shackles of divine judgment, and in a bondage of debt so great she could never free herself.
The Prince gave up everything to pay the ransom for the one he desired.
It was a steep payment, but His great love drove him to pay out of the abundance of His riches.
He was rich, but for the sake of the bride He became poor. He came to make the magnificent rescue in the likeness of sinful flesh and humbled himself and became a curse.
The Rescuer gave up divine privileges that were rightly His and became a humble slave in order to deliver His bride from her bondage and captivity and shackles so strong that only the keys of love, mercy and grace could bring about her release.
That is how the best seller story goes. It is the kind of story that seems too good to be true and too many people scoff at it and toss it aside, but they are sadly deceived and say it is a hoax.
For to believe that any man would endure such a gruesome death for a bride does seem to be extraordinary.
Where it says, 'It is written' is where we see the climax.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law
by becoming a curse for us—for it is written,
“Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
The cross is the climax to this story.
It is central to Christianity.
You can't be in Christ without coming to the cross of Christ.
The tree was stained by the blood that paid the penalty for sin. But it was the blood of Jesus that bought us back.
We are redeemed in Christ.
In him we have redemption through his blood,
We we're guilty in our bondage and didn't deserve to be rescued by a holy God. It could only be love that would leave the heights of heaven to descend the pit of hell to rescue sinners by paying the penalty with the price of His very own blood. To purchase us to become His Beloved and to be seated with Him.
We are redeemed in Christ.
In him we have redemption through his blood,
We we're guilty in our bondage and didn't deserve to be rescued by a holy God. It could only be love that would leave the heights of heaven to descend the pit of hell to rescue sinners by paying the penalty with the price of His very own blood. To purchase us to become His Beloved and to be seated with Him.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and are justified by his grace as a gift,
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Romans 3:23,24
Romans 3:23,24
His precious blood bought us to become His Beloved.
"Whether others have it or not, we have 'redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.' We do not hope for it, but we have it. We do not merely think so, but we know that we have it. We are redeemed; we are free from bondage; we are forgiven, and are no longer under condemnation." (Spurgeon) |
What makes this love story so great it the essential act of redemption.
What makes this redemption so remarkable is the precious price that was demanded.
What makes this price so costly is the unfathomable agony a righteous Son endured.
What makes this agony so insufferable is He paid the outrageous price for me.
A wretched sinner once forsaken now forgiven, redeemed, set free, resting in His peace and He calls His Delight
"It is in Jesus that the peace is made—effectually made, made for me, made for you, made for all believers. In Jesus is perfect redemption. In Jesus pardon is provided, proclaimed, presented, and sealed upon the conscience. Go and live on Jesus; live with Jesus; live in Jesus; never go away from Jesus; and may he be dearer to you every day of your lives! Blessed be his adorable name!" (Spurgeon) |
The greatest love story with an eternal happily ever after.
A story you never could write any better yourself.
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Also linking with Five Minute Friday at Lisa-Jo's place. This week the prompt is: Write
Officially, the rules are:
1. Write for 5 minutes {Full disclosure: I spent more time on this post}
2. Link up at Lisa-Jo's and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community...
A beautiful retelling of the greatest Story of all - and a glorious reminder that who I have become is because of what He has done! (visiting from Five Minute Friday)
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