Love - The Promise Revealed

Today marks the fourth and final week of Advent. This morning, we’ll be looking at the theme of love; specifically Love, the Promise Revealed. Over the past three weeks we have reflected on Hope, Peace, and Joy. Each of those promises of Christmas finds its fullness or completeness here, because love is the driving force behind them all. God’s love is not abstract, which would suggest it is just a thought without anything tangible. God’s love is not sentimental, based only upon feelings. Neither is God’s love theoretical, meant only for deep thinking and discussion, with no basis in reality. Instead, we know that God’s love has been revealed. It has been revealed visibly, historically, and personally — in the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth, taking upon Himself the very form of man.

The world often speaks of love in vague or self‑focused terms. Love becomes a feeling, a preference, or a transaction. I love chocolate. I love the scenery. I love that style of music. I love this weather. They exchanged loving glances.

But the Bible defines love by action, sacrifice, and purpose. There is intentionality with love. Love is a decision, a choice. Love is not something with which we fall into or out of. Advent reminds us that love did not remain distant in heaven. Love was not something that would be impossible for humanity to experience. Love was not some elusive, fleeting idea. Advent reminds us that Love stepped into our broken world, took on flesh, and ultimately bore our sin at the cross.

Love is God’s greatest gift, shown in Christ’s incarnation and the cross.

I. Love Revealed in God’s Initiative (John 3:16–17)

John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

These words are perhaps the most familiar verse in all of Scripture. We see it on bumper stickers; we see it on signs at sporting events; we even see it on people’s face; the list goes on. Even though it is so familiar, it almost gets lost in the noise of our world, its depth is inexhaustible.

The verse begins not with humanity’s need, but with God’s initiative: “For God so loved the world…” We need to clearly understand that we had no idea of how lost and hopeless we were. We didn’t realize that we were guilty and deserving of death. Jesus coming to this earth was the result of God loving us. The story of redemption, our salvation, begins with God’s love, not our worthiness.

The fact is that God loved humanity in all its sinfulness and evil simply because He chose to do so. We certainly were not lovable by any stretch of the imagination.

The word for world is a general term for humanity. This is not suggesting that everyone will be saved. That is disproved in verse 18, when Jesus states that he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God.

Brothers and sisters, I really cannot adequately describe to you how amazing this love is. Paul even used the adjective indescribable in 2 Corinthians 9.15.

God’s love is described not merely by words, but by what He did — “that He gave His only Son.” The incarnation itself is an act of love. Emmanuel, God with us, humbling himself to become man, is an act of love. The eternal Son willingly entered human history; the eternal Son chose to embrace weakness; the eternal Son of God chose to live among those who would ultimately reject Him.

Verse 17 clarifies God’s purpose. John 3:17 ““For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

Love’s purpose and goal was rescue, restoration, and reconciliation. Jesus came to rescue those who were lost and dying in their sins. Jesus came to repair the relationship that had been ruined by sin. Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father, so that we would no longer be His enemies, but His children. Advent reminds us that God’s love moves toward sinners, not away from them.

II. Love Defined by Sacrifice (1 John 4:9–10)

1 John 4:9–10 “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

The apostle John expands on the meaning of love in his first letter. He reminds us that love is not something we define by mere words; it is something God demonstrates. “By this the love of God was manifested in us . . .” God’s love became visible, tangible, and unmistakable when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, come to earth in the flesh.

Verse 10 gives us one of the clearest definitions of biblical love: In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Love is measured by sacrifice. The manger points forward to the cross. Christmas cannot be separated from Calvary. Easter requires Christmas. You cannot have the cradle of Christmas without the cross of Calvary.

God’s love confronts our sin honestly and deals with it fully. Christ did not come merely to inspire us, but to redeem us. The cross stands as the ultimate revelation of divine love — holy, costly, and saving.

III. Love Experienced Through New Life (John 3:16)

God’s love is not only revealed and defined; it is also received. We need to go back to our earlier passage.

John 3:16 declares that “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Love invites a response. Faith is the means by which we receive the gift God has given. This requires believ[ing] in Him. It’s not simply an acceptance of information. Belief requires us to commit ourselves completely to surrendering our lives and trusting our lives to God’s promises.

Eternal life is more than future hope; it is present transformation. To be loved by God is to be brought from death to life, from alienation to adoption. Advent celebrates not only Christ’s coming, but the new life He brings to all who trust Him.

This love offers assurance. Because salvation rests on God’s love rather than our performance, believers can live with confidence, gratitude, and peace.

IV. Love Reflected Through God’s People (1 John 4:11–12)

John moves from theology to application.

1 John 4:11–12 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.”

God’s love never terminates with us; it transforms us into conduits of that same love. This leads to the truth that because of God’s love for us, which sparked love within us for Him, we should then flesh out that love to one another, as seen in 1 John 4:11 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” It is no longer about us and our self-centered focus. We have been made new creations, so that as a result of experiencing salvation by grace through faith in Jesus, we will shower this love upon others.

Verse 12 reminds us that although no one has seen God, His love is made visible when believers love one another. The church becomes a living testimony of God’s love in the world. This is a reminder to us that advent love is not passive. It is expressed by those who have experienced and received God’s love gift of salvation through Jesus Christ; it is seen through forgiveness, generosity, patience, and sacrificial care.

In a fractured and often hostile world, the love of Christ displayed through His people becomes a powerful witness to the reality of the gospel.

Conclusion

As we conclude this Advent journey, we see that love is the promise revealed. God’s love is not a feeling waiting to be discovered, but a gift already given.

In Christ’s incarnation, God came near.

In Christ’s cross, God dealt with sin.

In Christ’s resurrection, God secured life.

This Advent season calls us to rest in that love. This advent season we can rejoice in that love. In this advent season we need to take time and reflect on that love. May we respond with faith and gratitude, with lives shaped by the greatest gift ever given — the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

Love is God’s greatest gift, shown in Christ’s incarnation and the cross.

God’s love is fully revealed in sending His Son.