Love Advent 2023

Introduction

Being made in God’s image is something that is known among the Christian but rarely expressed in terms of the attributes that are given to image bearers. These attributes while they don’t make us god, they are from God and should be part of who we are.

It is today on this final advent sermon for the year that we examine the attribute of God, that God is love. In stating this attribute it also here that will examine our call to love.

Love is one of those words that in western culture is confused, I want us to look at love through the Greek word Agape or better stated unconditional love that is not sexual in action. Rather this love is best understood as that a mother would have for her child.

Even then the love of God is not fully understood in the love a mother would have for a child. I have worked many years in my career with broken families where even the mother is separated from her child. Unconditional love a mother has for her child can indeed be switched to a condition of love due to the nature of sin.

So what is this love of God? A love that is so unconditional that we must aim as Christians to not only understand but act within?

Love displayed at Christmas

Look at 1 John4:9

1 John 4:9 NKJV

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

The father’s love was manifested toward us, that He sent Jesus into the world so that we might live through Him.

First consider that love, that God the Father sent His only son to depart from His throne, to live among sinners who hate God, and to give his life as an atonement of sin.

My grandfathers to my great grand fathers served in the military during war times for the sake of our freedom. They were young men we they in, mothers would send them off to known wars.

Meanwhile some of these wars were despised by the American people and even today we have those in their freedom spitting on the American flag.

It’s disgusting behavior and goes directly against Romans 13.1 which is the call to pray for our nations and give honor.

Now having heard that, would you as a parent be so willing to send your son or daughter off into war to return to a country man that spits on the flag that blood was shed for? More than likely as a parent would you plead the case for your child not to serve.

The difference is the Father out of love that was manifested, willing sent His son to die so that you God’s created being may have life that was taken by your own choosing of sin.

It is the Son, who willing took the cup prepared for His Bride, the elect to die for those who commited treason against the Father, who spit on God, who reject God, and willfully disobey him.

1 John 4:10 KJV 1900

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

No where in scripture do we see as a collective whole of people loving God, sure we have David but he sinned too. In the first Adam to which all men are decedents are by nature against God and hate God.

Yet God loved Adam that he gave us the promise of Genesis 3:15

Genesis 3:15 KJV 1900

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

This promise is kept through the giving of the Son, for the propitiation of Sin, so that you through Christ alone may live.

Not only do you gain life through the blood of Christ, but you are heirs of the Kingdom, the bride of the Son, the Child of the Father, and have everlasting life in a Kingdom filled with joy declared righteousness by the Bridegroom, Christ himself.

The only condition of God’s love was Christ who we know is the second person of the Trinity.

God’s love is truly unconditional for those whom He has called.

The Command to Love Verse 11

1 John 4:11 KJV 1900

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

John now gives us the command to love, which Jesus gave himself when asked what is the greatest commandment; to love God and neighbor.

This seems easy right, at least when things are going well. Look at the love of God as we just spoke about; will you love like this?

Because this is the love that Christ is calling us too. He is not calling us to a romantic love that would have for their spouse, or even the love of a friend. He is calling for love that would shed blood unto death.

Love of God/Born Again

First this calling is to love God, which you can only do if your born again. I could care less if you serve the church and are not born again, your membership at a church since you were born, does not mean your born again.

The Father who calls the elect to life through the Son, and whose Spirit regenerate the soul is born again.

How do you know if your born again compared to just being religious? Examine your soul.

Is Christ not first in your life, but is Christ your life. Paul Washer in one of his sermons stated, “ I know a man’s theology is not proper when he states that is Christ is first, no Christ must be everything.”

If Christ is not your heart and soul, if worshiping Him is not your heart and soul, if this not the beating of your soul morning to evening, then examine your soul.

I know many religious people who claim Christ, the liberal church proclaims Christ through being social justice warriors to conservatives who claim strong theological convictions but Christ is absent from their soul.

Your works will not save you, your theology will not save you, and neither of those things mark salvation. They mark works, but without Christ they are but useless deeds that will have the words of Christ in Matthew 7:22-23

Matthew 7:22–23 KJV 1900

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Examine your soul; indeed the love of God is manifested for those that hear His voice. His love is indeed for you as it displayed in Christ.

So if you are born again, your love for God will be so manifested that Christ is not just first, but Christ is everything.

Love for Neighbor

First let me say this, your neighbor could very well be your enemy and the command to love than becomes a challenge.

In the 1860’s this country saw war between neigh boors, and there was not victory just defeat. Lives were lost and the impact of the war is still felt today.

The natural nature of man is like Cain, to murder their brother, to hate their neighbor . This is the result of the fall, war between image bearers.

Yet it here is in the war against each other that God commands we love.

Are willing to die to self to service our neighbor? Because Christ died to self to save sinners who hated Him.

This is more then a call to be socially minded or theologically sound. It is a call to put self last, give Christ to all, and mortify sin that harms each other.

Love for neighbor is a mark of a Christian, but again this does not save you, only Christ does.

How to love/faith

1 John 4:19 KJV 1900

We love him, because he first loved us.

How do to achieve this love, as doing so in our works would bring much fear which takes the soul captive. This love can only be achieved because God loved us first.

Just like coming to Salvation is fully dependent upon God, so is your ability to love God and neighbor.

Love is an act of obedience by faith alone in Christ alone.

So do not leave here relfecting on obeying the commandment of God without faith in Christ. For indeed love is of God and those born again will love.

For a mark of salvation is love. You can not love God and hate your brother.

Application

Love God in having Christ as your gaze in all of life

Love neighbor by making disciples so they too may know the love of God.

Conclusion

To know God is to know love, for God is love. This love of God is manifested through the first advent and fully realized at the second advent.

For those of you in Christ, not only can you know this love of God today, but you will know the love of God for everlasting life in His Kingdom, in the New Heaven, New Earth.

The promise of God’s love is kept in the Son, so that you may have life through Christ alone.

So this Christmas tell of the love of Christ for this is the gospel, that God so loved the world that whosoever believes in Him shall have enteral life.