“I CAME NOT OF MY OWN ACCORD, BUT HE SENT ME”

Sometimes brethren think that God permitted His Son to come to earth to be the Savior of the world of His own desire and so God allowed Him to do so. However, scripture does not support that concept. The apostle John wrote concerning the controversy Jesus had with the Jews who did not accept the sonship of Jesus. And, they exclaimed that God was their father but the Lord declared they were the children of their father, the devil. “Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me,for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me” (ESV, John 8:42;7:28). It is the last sentence of Jesus’ statement that I want to consider in this article. It was in eternity that God predetermined that His Son would be sent to be the savior of fallen mankind. The decision to send His Son was a mutual agreement with the Father and the Son because they are one. The apostle Peter wrote that the elect of God were not “redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold” “but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world…” (1 Peter 1:18-20). In Revelation 13:8, “All who dwell on the earth will worship him,(the dragon,and beast) whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” We begin to understand as much as the human mind will allow, the eternal purpose and plan for the redemption of mankind; and, beginning with Genesis 3:15 and Genesis 22:16-18, the seed of woman and the seed of Abraham was to be Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who would take “away the sin of the world (Galatians 3:16; John 1:29). Throughout the Old Testament the theme was ‘Someone is coming’! And, “when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4,5). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved”(NKJV, John 3:16,17). “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering death crowned with glory and honor, that He by the grace of God, might taste death for every one (Hebrews 2:9). How great and marvelous is the love of God our Heavenly Father! Jesus knew why He came to this world. “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but raise it up at the day. “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:38-40). Jesus also said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent me.” “He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” “When you lift up the Son man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.” “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him” (John 7:16). 8:26,28,29). When His time had come to die on Calvary, He said to his disciples, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 38,39). Jesus Christ was always in complete submission to His Father’s will, even when He was facing death on the cross for our sins. He always gave glory and honor to His Father, even as we, His children should do. The following song is very beautiful, meaningful and moving. The Love of God: “The love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell; it goes beyond the highest star, And reaches to the lowest hell. The guilty pair bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win, His erring child He reconciled and pardoned from his sin. Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made, Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade, To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry/ O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure- The saints and angels song.” - Frederick Martin Lehman