Love is for Everyone!
Notes
Transcript
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Theologian Michael J. Wilkens writes”
“But “love” in the New Testament is a specific term for a uniquely biblical orientation toward relationships and toward life, which is best seen in the example of Jesus Christ. In fact, the kind of love that Jesus taught and displayed was revolutionary, because it was centered in giving, not getting.
In what may be the most familiar verse in all of Scripture, we might easily overlook the profound nature of Jesus’ love because we are too familiar with it: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
The key to understanding Jesus’ love is the word “gave.” God the Father gave his Son, and the Son freely gave his life so that we might live. As Jesus was prepared to go to the cross, the apostle John tells us, “Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love” (John 13:1).
The full extent of his love meant giving his life for us on the cross. That is the profound nature of Jesus’ love toward us, and it becomes the example of the love that we can have for one another.” - Michael J. Wilkens
As we continue talking about how Christmas is for everyone, this morning we will look at how love is for everyone!
The key to understanding true love is to understand who Jesus is!
23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Jesus is God the incarnate, meaning God in the flesh!
16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.
When we understand that that God is love and that Jesus is God in the flesh, we then understand that Jesus is the embodiment of love
Love is something that Jesus is!
So, when we look for ultimate love, we look no further and that who Jesus is!
The perfect picture of love is as Dr. Wilkens writes, in the common verse “for God so loved the world…”
It really is that simple.
Why did Jesus come, because God loved the world!
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
You see, God didn’t stop loving the world even though it was sinful! In fact, it was quiet the opposite!
God reached out even further in the brokenness to redeem the world by coming in the flesh!
The ultimate act of love was for Jesus to die in my place!
God could have come in any way that He chose!
So, He comes in the most humble way!
He was born in a stable and laid in a feeding trough!
Oh yeah, and then a couple years after He was born, he had to flee for His life!
And the good news, is that He did that for everyone that would receive Him!
I honestly believe that many of the world’s problems would be solved if we would all simply believe how much God loves us!
And when we respond to how much God loves us, and how much better things are when we surrender to Him, our lives and the lives of others would be changed!
I think many of us spend so much time trying to earn the love and affection of others, when we simply need to know how much we are loved!
Knowing how much we are loved by our creator is the key to freeing us up to be loved, and to love others!
19 We love because he first loved us.
We understand His love for us and therefore respond in love for others!
I absolutely love the opening lyrics to the song Jireh
“I'll never be more loved than I am right now
Wasn't holding You up So there's nothing I can do to let You down
It doesn't take a trophy to make You proud
I'll never be more loved than I am right now”
You see, God won’t ever love us anymore or any less than He does right now!
I believe the closer we walk with Him, the more we understand His love!
Now, don’t get me wrong, this is not a message claiming that God loves you so do whatever you want…
No, not at all! This is a message saying that God loves you, so turn to Him, and walk with Him! Surrender your life to Him!
As we grow in understanding God’s love, we see His heart for holiness and righteousness…
Sin and brokenness are not of Jesus! Purity and holiness are…so don’t misunderstand love to mean approval of evil desires…
It simply means knowing God loves you…even enough to see whats best for you!
When we understand how much God loves us, it compels us to love others!
As we have read:
19 We love because he first loved us.
In fact, we are commanded to love others!
Jesus commanded many things, but especially
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
The two greatest commands is to love God with everything…and to love others!
We talked about this earlier this morning, but powerful conversation between Jesus and Peter
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
To love Jesus, means to take care of His sheep!
In fact, so much so, that Jesus says:
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
I am not going to spend time diving into every way that we can love others...
But to be simple....if we truly love God, we will see how He loves others…and we too, will follow suit!
So, this Christmas season, let’s challenge to love God relationally, and to love others the way that God loves us!