Holy Love. Easter 2023
Notes
Transcript
Holy Love
Holy Love
God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
This morning we’ve sung songs, we read scripture, we reflected on the cross and the empty tomb.
It’s Easter Sunday.
Resurrection Day.
We join with millions around the world, the Church, to celebrate Jesus victory of death, hell, and the grave.
Jesus is alive.
The Gospels tell us of his sacrifice and his resurrection.
Peter preaches this Good News to the crowds in Jerusalem on Pentecost.
The apostle Paul tells us he was raised to life on the third day.
Paul tells us that he seeks to preach nothing other that Christ crucified and raised to life.
This is the simple gospel that saves, heals, delivers, reconciles, transforms, empowers, resurrects, and makes alive.
This is the simple gospel that defeats darkness, breaks the curse, overthrows principalities and powers, crushes Satan, and rebukes demons.
This is the simple gospel that brings justice, gives mercy, restores the broken, establishes a kingdom of righteousness, joy, and peace.
This is the simple gospel that heals profound implications and powerful ramifications.
This is the simple gospel.
This is Holy Love.
This is God’s love on full display.
This is the fullest revelation of God’s love.
This is Jesus Christ his only Son of the Father, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
This is Holy Love.
it wasn’t my sin that nailed him on the cross, it was His love.
It wasn’t my sin that demanded His life, it was His love.
It wasn’t my sin that held power over Him, it was His love that held power over my sin.
Yes, my sin yelled crucify, but His love said Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Yes, my sin was deserved punishment, but His love took my sin upon Himself.
Yes, I was under the curse, but His love chose to bless me.
Yes, I belonged to darkness, but his love shined on my heart and made my a child of God and a citizen of heaven.
Yes, this is Jesus.
Yes, This is Holy Love.
Not that we love God, but that God first loved us.
He is Holy Love and we are Wholly Loved.
I want us to look at three passages of scripture this morning that help us understand this Holy Love of God on full display in Jesus.
First scripture I want us to look at this morning is a scripture that most of you probably have memorized. I hope we can look at it with fresh eyes this morning.
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Jesus Is The Gift Of Holy Love
Jesus Is The Gift Of Holy Love
God loves the world.
God loves you.
God sent His gift of Holy Love to the world So that everyone who believes will have eternal life.
His Holy Love doesn’t force you to believe, but His Holy Love longs for you to believe.
Hear me this morning - Jesus is Holy Love looking to rescue us.
God takes no joy in condemning sinners.
Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to rescue the world.
The world is condemned already.
Jesus comes to save what is lost, to rescue what is enslaved, to free what is bound, to bless what is cursed, to heal what is dying.
Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world because the world is already condemned.
The world is already broken.
You can’t watch the news and not see the condemnation at work in the world.
Violence.
Injustice.
Sexual confusion.
School shootings.
Corporate greed.
Abortion on demand.
Political upheaval.
Church scandals.
Racism.
Terrorism.
Suicide.
Jesus came not to condemn but to save us from this cursed condemnation.
We brought condemnation on ourselves.
And we live in self condemnation.
Holy Love is Jesus coming to save us.
To save me.
To save you.
This cursed condemnation brings death.
Jesus came to give us eternal life.
To save us from condemnation and give us eternal life.
Believe in Jesus.
It’s the simple gospel of Holy Love.
Jesus Is The Revelation Of Holy Love
Jesus Is The Revelation Of Holy Love
God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
A revelation is a revealing - its a seeing with clarity something that was hidden.
Jesus is the full revealing of the Holy Love of God.
Jesus is how God revealed His Holy Love.
Jesus being born of a virgin in a stable is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus love of the house of God is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus turning water into wine is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus teaching the parable of the persistent widow is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus taking the scroll and declaring himself to be the fulfillment of the law and prophets is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus feeding the 5,000 is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus sitting with women and giving them divinity is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus bringing children near and protecting them is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus healing the sick is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus rebuking religious hypocrites is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus casting out demons is revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus eating with siners is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus touching the leper is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus claiming to be the Messiah is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus claiming equality with the Father is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus teaching how to pray to God as Father is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus teaching a moral and social moral code is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus tearing down racial barriers is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus forgiving the sin of the paralytic is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus defining human sexuality with gendered language and heterosexual behavior is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus calming the storm is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus washing the disciples feet is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus raising the dead is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus cleansing the temple is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemene is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus turning the other cheek is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus being mocked and beaten and not retaliating is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus taking the place of Barabbus is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus on trial even though he had committed no sin is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus crowned with thorns is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus carrying his cross is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus praying for his executioners is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus forgiving the thief on the cross is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus bloodied back is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus holes in his hands and feet is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus side pouring blood and water is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus last words are a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus final breath is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus laying down his life is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus as the sacrificial lamb is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus new covenant blood and body is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus descending into the pit to set the captives free Is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus being raised to life on the third day is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus folding the grave clothes and leaving them in the tomb is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus appearing to the women in the garden is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus breaking bread with the disciples is a revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus explaining the scriptures to his followers is a revelation of Holy Love.
JESUS IS THE HOLY LOVE OF OF GOD REVEALED TO US.
What we thought we knew about God is fully revealed in Jesus.
JESUS IS THE REVEALING OF HOLY LOVE.
Jesus atonement, Jesus dealing with, of our sin is the full revelation of Holy Love.
I wish I had to talk about atonement, this morning.
Check my FB. I link to an article giving a very basic overview of atonement theories.
But basically the atonement what Jesus did and what Jesus accomplished on the cross when He dealt with our sin.
Jesus atonement is revelation of Holy Love.
But not only is Jesus the revelation of Holy Love, Jesus is the proof of Holy Love.
Jesus Is The Proof Of Holy Love
Jesus Is The Proof Of Holy Love
For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.
God proves His love for us, not by picking the best of us to save but be saving the worst of us.
Holy Love invites all to be reconciled to God.
Holy Love doesn’t discriminate between sinners.
Holy Love sees us all needing to be rescued and Holy Love does what is necessary to bring salvation.
We’ve all watch movies where we want the innocent victim to be rescued and the guilty perpetrator to be dealt with severely.
We’ve seen movies where someone dies to save a good person or a loved one.
Maybe you’ve seen Saving Private Ryan. The army unity faces certain death to save a fellow brother in arms.
Powerful movie.
They disregard their own safety to rescue their fellow soldier.
Jesus is God disregarding His own safety to rescue His creation.
This is the proof of Holy Love.
God didn’t wait until we were good to save us because we can’t fix what we broke.
We are the child hiding the toy we broke that we can’t fix hoping we don’t get punished.
Jesus is the Holy Love of God that offers to fix the toy that we can even if it costs of repair is His life.
Jesus is Holy Love fixing what we broke.
Jesus is the proof of this holy Love.
The proof of Holy Love is this - while we were sinners Christ died for us.
The proof of His Holy Love isn’t just that He died, it’s who He died for.
The proof of His Holy Love isn’t just that He was the perfect sacrifice, it’s who He gave himself up for.
The proof of His Holy Love is that while we were sinners He reconciled us to God.
The proof of His Holy Love is that while we couldn’t come near to God God came near to us.
He is Holy Love. We are Wholly Loved.
Jesus is the gift of Holy Love.
Jesus is the revelation of Holy Love.
Jesus is the proof of Holy Love.
This Easter Sunday you can experience the Holy Love of God and you can know life Wholly Loved by God.
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Believe in Jesus.