The Greatest Love Story
“There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.” —Corrie Ten Boom
Adam seemed to have blown it for all of us, for it was by his direct disobedience to God that sin entered into the world. But Romans 5 explains that Jesus, the second Adam, recovered all and then some, with His absolute obedience and death for us on the cross. While we were still wallowing in sin, Jesus sacrificed His life so we could have one. Through faith in Him and His sacrifice, we are justified, can stand blameless before Him, and are given entry into His abounding grace. Life may still continue to deal hard blows our way, but Paul encourages us that in Christ, tribulations develop us and lead to a greater hope in God’s love. It’s a love that will never disappoint and is a hope obtained through Christ alone.
The greatest love story ever told was not written by man, but it was lived out in the life of Jesus. As the song states…Jesus paid it all. There was no way we could ever hope to have eternal life or a relationship with the Almighty God of the universe. So He took it upon Himself to become a man and die for our sins as the perfect sacrifice on Calvary. He did this for us, because we could not do it for ourselves. He didn’t have to do it - but in doing this - He demonstrates His incredible, amazing love.
Let’s Read It Together:
Romans 5 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.
16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.
17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,
21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Memorize
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The GREATEST Love Story
The
Life truly begins when we get beyond the story – and realize that the Bible is more than a book, it is a
The
• If we share it or keep it to ourselves
• If we live it out, or just keep it as words in a book
It matters what we do with it.
OUR GOAL in realizing the Greatest Love Story should be to
Not only does it mean that we are extremely blessed and highly favored of God, but it also means that we need to
Take the time to pray for those who God is trying to reach through us:
How to Pray For the Lost
We can win anyone for whom God gives us a burden. If God burdens our heart for a soul it is evident that He intends to save that soul. It is also evident that He desires to work through us as the human vessel since He gave us the burden. Many times the soul is actually won in prayer. It is one thing to pray, it is another thing to “pray right”. Here are seven pointers for praying for the lost to be saved:
Pray Believing
Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
Prayer is the key, but faith unlocks the door. We must pray believing that God is working in the sinner’s heart and preparing them for our visit.
Pray Realizing That With God All Things Are Possible
Mark 10:27 “And Jesus looking upon them saith, with men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
Recognize God in the picture, for nothing is too hard for God. In our praying most of us never get beyond human limitations and boundaries. We whittle God down to our own size and power. We are like the woman who said, “It’s no use to talk to my husband. He won’t listen to me.”
Pray Asking the Soul to Be Saved For God’s Glory
John 14:13 “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
We should not pray for a soul to be saved that they may be a better husband or wife. This is selfish praying. We should pray for souls to be saved so they will no longer dishonor God in their sins. Our great concern should be that they will stop trampling over the precious blood of Christ and stop spurning God’s love. This should be the real motive in soul-winning rather than to put another “notch” on our belt or add a few more figures to our report.
Pray Beseeching God to Awaken Them
Matthew 13:13, 15 “because they seeing, see not, and hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand. For this people’s heart is become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed … “
Every sinner needs the Holy Spirit to reveal his sinful condition. Then Christ will be revealed to the heart. We should pray that the Holy Spirit will “quicken” their conscience, plow up their heart, and ring conviction in their soul. We should pray that God will give them “hearing ears” and “believing hearts.” Pray that God shall open their understanding.
Pray Claiming That Soul Which the Blood of Christ Has Purchased
II Timothy 2:26 “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
In our sense, every soul is God’s purchased possession, though still held by Satan through unbelief. We must through prayer claim and take for God that which is rightfully His. This is praying on the ground of redemption.
Pray Claiming the Tearing Down Of Satan’s Strongholds in That Soul
II Corinthians 10:4 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”
The Devil has built up lies, false doctrine, stumbling blocks, and many other strongholds in the minds of the unsaved to keep them from receiving Christ. He has them blinded lest the light of the glorious gospel should shine unto them. We must through prayer rebuke the Devil and claim the tearing down of his lies and warped ideas that are keeping the sinner from trusting Christ as Savior. We must exercise our authority in Christ.
Pray Perseveringly
Luke 18:7 “shall not God avenge his own elect, who cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”
Perseverance is “not giving up.” We persevere not to persuade God, but because of the enemy. In persistent intercession, we are pushing back the forces of evil. We are getting the Devil off of God’s territory. Daniel prayed for three weeks before he received his answer from God, though the Scripture says that God answered his prayer on the first day. Daniel spent three weeks wrestling with the forces of evil and hanging on to God in order that he might receive his “package.”
WHO IS GOD LEADING YOU TO REACH FOR?
Now let’s pray for that lost soul that God has laid on our heart, claiming these truths.