We are on the cusp of celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s a day about love. But not some saccharine filled sappy kind of sweetness that some call love - this is the real kind of love.

The Beatles told us: Love is all we need. But what is love? They didn’t define it.

In the 70’s the Cap’n and Tennille (who some of you may remember) sang, “Love will keep us together.” Yet they ended up divorcing.

People will talk about their favorite food, drink, movie, song, or whatever and say, “I LOVE this __________ (fill in the blank).” But what do they mean?

Just the other day I saw a banner at a football game on television that read, John 3:16

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

So God loved the world, and there was an action attributed to that love, an act of giving.

There are four different loves in the Greek language:

Phileo - friendship Eros - romantic love Storge - familial Agape - God’s love - selfless

How does the Bible describe love?

You might think of the love chapter in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (NIV)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Clearly love is defined by actions.

In the Old Testament we read from Jeremiah writing in Lamentations 3:22

Lamentations 3:22 ESV

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;

Steadfast love - the Hebrew Word here is Hased. It is translated as love, kindness, loyalty, goodness, mercy, and favor. All of these are demonstrated by action.

Action is an important part of what we think of when we think of love.

For God it was an act of giving as said in John 3:16, and in our passage today: Romans 5:5

Romans 5:5 (ESV)

God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

and we learn it is not based on anything we have done. That perhaps is the greatest surprise to our world that wants people to get “what they deserve.” In verse 8 we read, Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

So if there’s anything we can take solace in this Christmas as we think about love, it is love is somehow a giving to those whom may not be deserving of anything (in our own view).

The action of God’s love - the sending of his son - was for a purpose. What was that purpose?

Jesus himself summed up his purpose as we see him later in his life towards the end of his ministry. In the Gospel of John as we enter the Passion week Jesus says, John 12:27-28

John 12:27–28 (ESV)

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this PURPOSE I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

Later in his Gospel John records Jesus before Pilate, John 18:37

John 18:37 (ESV)

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this PURPOSE I was born and for this PURPOSE I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

What was this truth that Jesus refers to?

Is it about God’s love? Yes! Is it about our own sinfulness? Yes! Is it about our need for a savior? YES!

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Paul causes us to think about this fact and go further with it:

Romans 5:10–11 ESV

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

The joy of Christmas is knowing our God sought us out right where we are.

God’s Love Has Been Shown

Imagine if you were in a grand palace (if I can imagine heaven to be such a place) and were given the opportunity to give it all up to go to a group of people that could care less about you. To give up the glories of heaven to walk on this earth, a place that was far less than it could be. Paul quoted what was likely a popular hymn of the time: Phil 2:6-11

Philippians 2:6–11 ESV

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Now wait, how is God’s glory about love? Some ask. That seems to make it about Him, God gets the glory. How is that giving?

Philippians 2:7 ESV

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Perhaps that is the best description of love is emptying oneself. Giving up your position in life, giving up your stature, giving up your possessions, giving up your treasure, giving up your time, giving up your talent, it is simply giving up yourself.

Jesus is the embodiment of love, he is described as love incarnate. One could put Jesus name in place of love in the way he lived:

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (NIV)

Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind. He does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. He does not dishonor others, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. Jesus does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Jesus never fails.

Jesus is God’s love displayed. Love comes in humility, not power. In the ultimate surrender of power, Jesus comes as a baby, absolutely dependent upon others for everything - food, clothing, changing, protection, and more.

This Advent Season, we celebrate LOVE displayed through Christ’s arrival, born as a child, as God with us. This is what we celebrate.

In case you don’t know it yet, God loves you.

Oh, you say, I’ve heard it before. Ya, ya…

Seriously, God loves you.

Then come the yeah, but’s. A list of reasons why you’re not worthy of being loved by God, you don’t deserve it. Well, you’re exactly right AND God loves you. That’s what Christmas is about.

We’ve been hanging out in Romans 5 for the entire month so far and we read, Ro 5:5

Romans 5:5 (ESV)

God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

and

Romans 5:10 ESV

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

God’s love is real. And we celebrate Christmas because we look forward to Easter. I hope you’ll join us this evening for our Christmas Eve candle light service. It is always a moving service and you’ll have more time to sing some of your favorite Carols and we’ll look at different perspectives of those at the manger scene.

Let me pray for you.

God’s Love Has Been Shown