Article December 13, 1969 Issue

God's Love and Man's Response

MAX DUNAWAY

One might sum up the underlying message of Christ Jesus ministry in these words: God's love and man's response to that love. What underlay Jesus' coming and his wonderful demonstration of the Christ, Truth? It was God's love for man. The Bible states it in these words: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."^{ John 3:16, 17;}

It is not God's purpose to condemn anyone. We are not here to be subjected to trials and torments and then finally to be condemned for our failure to surmount them. We are here to be loved, to be blessed by the love of infinite Love itself. Man is not a problem child to his Father-Mother. He is God's dearest possession, the object of His constant care.

This was demonstrated in the ministry of Christ Jesus. He went about manifesting the love of God and showing mankind how to respond to it—through love for their fellowmen. "'If thou bring thy gift to the altar," he said, "and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."^{ Matt. 5:23, 24;}

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