This sentence is a body of divinity in miniature. He
who understands its meaning is a theologian, and he
who can dive into its fulness is a true master in Israel.
It is a condensation of the glorious message of
salvation which was delivered to us in Christ Jesus
our Redeemer. The sense hinges upon the word
freely. This is the glorious, the suitable, the divine
way by which love streams from heaven to earth, a
spontaneous love flowing forth to those who neither
deserved it, purchased it, nor sought after it. It is,
indeed, the only way in which God can love such as
we are. The text is a death-blow to all sorts of fitness:
I will love them freely. Now, if there were any fitness
necessary in us, then He would not love us freely, at
least, this would be a mitigation and a drawback to the
freeness of it. But it stands, I will love you freely. We
complain, Lord, my heart so hard. I will love you
freely. But I do not feel my need of Christ as I could
wish. I will not love you because you feel your need;
I will love you freely. But I do not feel that softening
of spirit which I could desire. Remember, the
softening of spirit is not a condition, for there are no
conditions; the covenant of grace has no
conditionality whatever; so that we without any fitness
may venture upon the promise of God which was
made to us in Christ Jesus, when He said, He that
believeth on Him is not condemned. It is blessed to
know that the grace of God is free to us at all times,
without preparation, without fitness, without money,
and without price! I will love them freely. These
words invite backsliders to return: indeed, the text
was specially written for such I will heal their
backsliding; I will love them freely. Backslider! surely
the generosity of the promise will at once break your
heart, and you will return, and seek your injured
Father.
Comments