Bible Repentance: Path to Love - Robert J. Wieland
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like un<strong>to</strong> His brethren.”<br />
We freely recognize our desperate need of this<br />
genuine, deep, unfailing Christ-like love for<br />
sinners. We can preach about it for a thousand<br />
years, but we will never get it except through faith<br />
in the Lord Jesus Christ. And such faith is a<br />
heartfelt appreciation of His character. A union<br />
with Christ that goes beyond mere theory is our<br />
desperate need.<br />
But trying <strong>to</strong> come close <strong>to</strong> Christ without<br />
coming close <strong>to</strong> sinners is impossible, for through<br />
union with Christ by faith we become part of the<br />
corporate body of humanity in Him. “As in Adam<br />
all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1<br />
Corinthians 15:22). Although He did not personally<br />
participate in our sin, He became a part of us,<br />
bearing the guilt of the human race. It is the purest<br />
selfishness <strong>to</strong> want <strong>to</strong> appropriate Christ, yet refuse<br />
<strong>to</strong> receive His love for sinners!<br />
In fact, we have infinitely more reason <strong>to</strong> feel a<br />
kinship with sinners than did our sinless Lord, for<br />
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