Depths of Love Divine Introduction and study 1

<p align="center"><strong><img src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/27045/Slide1.png" alt= "Depths of Love Divine 1" width="300" height="169" /></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong>Introduction</strong></p> <p>St Paul’s letter to the Christians of Galatia is a closely reasoned argument and it is probably not fair to him to pick out just one verse.   However it is characteristic of Paul’s style of writing that every so often he expresses some aspect of the Christian faith so vividly that his words imprint themselves on our minds.  One such verse is Galatians 2: 20:</p> <p>‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.’  </p> <p> </p> <p>Martin Luther’s lectures on Galatians were published in 1535.  About this verse he wrote, ‘Mark well the little words, “for me”.  The whole weight of Christ’s saving work was on this “for me”, and the way each of us responds to it.’</p> <p> </p> <p>Charles Wesley, a faithful servant of Christ deeply versed in the Scriptures, received ordination as a priest of the Church of England in 1735.  On Pentecost Sunday, 21 May 1738, he lay seriously ill in bed.  Some friends read to him the comments of Luther on that verse from Galatians.  Wesley felt a deep awakening of the presence of Christ in him and soon wrote the hymn, ‘And can it be . . . ‘. 1 </p> <p> </p> <p>This hymn of Charles Wesley’s is a favourite, not just because of its rousing tune, but because it gives words to the living personal relationship with Christ that Christians experience.</p> <p> </p> <p>‘And can it be . . .’ is the inspiration for these studies.  Wesley’s knowledge of the Scriptures was comprehensive, and each verse breathes the spirit of words of Scripture.  As we work through these studies the aim is for each one of us to share Wesley’s ‘deep awakening of the presence of Christ’.</p> <p> </p> <p>We live in a time which has seen large numbers of new