Advent 2023 - Love

When you tear away all the additions, Christmas is simple.

We were without hope, peace, and joy, so God sent love in human form to the world to save us.

What an amazing blessing. This is the “greatest story ever told.”

“If Christmas was just a nice legend, in a sense you are on your own. But if Christmas is true, then you can be saved by grace.” - Tim Keller

Today, we will light the Advent Candle of Love… JD Henderson & Family. John 3:16-18.

This proclamation has been on the lips of preachers and missionaries in every age.

1. God’s love is not sentimental.

God took action when he sent Jesus to the world. This verse provides a concise summary of the gospel message, tying the events of Jesus’ death to God’s love for the world he created.

Many translations say, “For God SO loved the world...”

(Houtos) - “So much” - Not to denote how much, but “in what way”

“For in this way… God loved the world.”

Numbers 21:4-9.

The bronze snake was lifted up for the people infected from the poisonous snakes. Those who gazed upon the serpent were healed.

God lifted up the son of God and saved mankind in this way.

The word “love” has been hijacked for centuries. (Power in relationships, excuse to sin, an empty gesture.

Roman 5:8

8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God proved his love for mankind in Jesus.

2. God’s love has a consequence.

As a consequence of this love, God gave his one and only Son so that those who believe may have eternal life.

Because God’s love was presented in this way, everyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life.

“Eternal life” - To have eternal life is to know God, i.e. be in relationship with him and experience all the blessings which flow from that, both in the present age and age to come.

Acts 4:12.

12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.

Every action comes with a consequence. The word “consequence” is not an indicator of something negative though.

A consequence is meant to be final.

In other words, those who inherit eternal life are consequentially saved from sin for all eternally.

Why does our heart and soul struggle so regularly to comprehend such a grace?

The grace of God is scandalous.

“I am what I am.” - Paul

Accept the consequences of eternal life.

3. God’s Love is Motivated.

As the one sent by God, Jesus fully represented his Father on earth.

To believe in Jesus is to believe in God and avoid condemnation.

To reject Jesus is to reject God and to accept condemnation.

“Condemn” (Judge) - To separate.

Condemnation is an issue of Christ’s mission, it is not the object of His mission, which is purely a saving one.

Jesus came to saved, not condemn. However, having carried out that commission, the Father has now put into His hands the responsibility for final judgment.

John 12:44-50

44 Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in me believes not in me, but in him who sent me. 45 And the one who sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me would not remain in darkness.

47 If anyone hears my words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and doesn’t receive my sayings has this as his judge: The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

49 For I have not spoken on my own, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a command to say everything I have said. 50 I know that his command is eternal life. So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told me.”

“Dear son, refrain: it is not well thus a God should suffer for the sake of men.” Pagan gods Juno to Vulcan in the Illiad.

God is actively involved in history and our life.

We don’t have to look up to see God and hope he hears us.

“Jesus was God and man in one person, that God and man might be happy together again.” - George Whitfield

God is actively motivated in his love for all people.