Love That Saves

Introduction

Illustration: I think we can all relate to a story about someone who left. (Insert Jen Story, keep it brief). Maybe with you it was a parent, a friend who disappeared during a difficult season, or maybe even a church member when the relationship became strained or uncomfortable. One of the deepest wounds a person can experience is abandonment.

Jesus love, this series Loving Like Jesus: A Radical Witness in a Broken World has truly shown us that Jesus love is unlike any love the world offers. It is not based on convenience, feelings, or circumstances. It is radical, transformative and it is redemptive.

We have seen that Jesus:

Sees people

Serves people

Speaks truth to people

Crosses barriers for people

Sacrifices Himself for people

And today as we conclude this series, we come to a final and beautiful truth: Jesus’ love stays, and Jesus’ love saves.

In a culture where commitments are often abandoned and relationships discarded when they become difficult, Jesus demonstrates a steadfast love that never give us, never walks away, and never abandons His own.

Big Idea for today: Jesus loved consistently, not conditionally. His enduring love calls believers to remain faithful in their relationships and to reflect His saving grace to a watching world.

Jesus’ Love is Faithful

God’s faithfulness is one of the defining characteristics of His love. Jesus displayed this trait, it seemed radical then and it is radical to see it on display today. turn with me to:

John 13:1 “Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” (Expand on this setting)

His disciples were far from perfect, yet He loved them all the way to the cross. He did not say to them “I’l love you if you never fail.” He simply loved them to the end.

Again, God’s faithfulness is part of His nature, His character, and Jesus is an exact representation of that (Heb1:3) and He took on flesh for us and dwelt among us (Jn1:14-15).

His faithfulness was is contingent on our faithfulness (2Tim2:13)

Application:

Many relationships are built in our culture on I will stay if you meet my expectations, but Jesus teaches us a different way

Christian love reflects faithfulness rather than convenience.

The world needs believers who keep their promises, honor their commitments, and remain faithful through life’s seasons.

Love Stays Through Failure

The kind of love Jesus gives, is love that stays through the failures and there is no better example than Peters. Turn with me:

Mark 14:27–31 “And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ “But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.” But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also.”

The love that stays is found then in Jn21, turn with me:

John 21:15–24 “So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep. “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!” Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” to you? You follow Me!” Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.”

Peter had boldly declared he would “never” deny Christ, yet he did.

Jesus saw Peter’s failure, but He also saw Peter’s future.

True love does not excuse sin, but neither does it abandon people because of it.

Thank God Jesus does not treat us according to our worst moments. The reality is every believer here is a living testimony of God’s staying power.

Application

People around us will disappoint us. Friends, family, and yes church members will fail.

The question is not whether people will fail. The question is whether we will love like Jesus when they do.

Faithful love chooses restoration over rejection wherever, and whenever possible.

Enduring Love Reflects Christ to the World

Staying love, it is commited, devoted love, it is incredible love, and an incredible promise, let’s look at the promise, turn with me to Heb13:5, but to keep in context and to better appreciate it:

Hebrews 13:1–6 “Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?””

Jesus doesn’t merely tell us to stay faithful; He demonstrates faithfulness toward us daily!

The reason believers can remain faithful is because Christ remains faithful to us.

When the church reflects this kind of love, the world takes notice.

Marriages that endure, reflect Christ.

Friendships that persevere, reflect Christ.

Churches that stay united reflect Christ.

Believers who keep loving difficult people reflect Christ.

The world understands temporary love; it is amazed by enduring love.

Key Point: When we stay when others leave, forgive when others walk away, and remain faithful when circumstances become difficult, we provide a powerful witness to the saving love of Jesus.

Application:

Every faithful act of love becomes a sermon that people can see ever before they hear one.

Our consistency points people to Christ’s consistency

Our faithfulness, our enduring love points to Christ’s faithfulness and is evidence of His saving love.

(Conclusion) In a world of broken commitments and disposable relationships, followers of Jesus have an opportunity to display something radically different: A love that lasts. A love that endures, a love that saves.

The story of scripture is the story of a God who stays.

From Gen-Rev, we see a faithful God who has not given up on a sinful, rebellious people.

He stayed with the disciples through failure

He stays with us through weakness, doubt and struggles, even of faith.

The cross is the ultimate proof that Jesus loved us to the end.

Series Wrap-Up

Christlike love is more than an emotion, it is a way of life.

A love that sees

Jesus notices the overlooked and values the forgotten

A love that serves

Jesus demonstrates humility by putting others before Himself

A love that speaks truth

Jesus loves people enough to tell them what they need to hear, not merely what they want to hear

A love that crosses barriers

Jesus breaks through walls of prejudice, division, and exclusion

A Love that sacrifices

Jesus gave Himself completely for the good of others

A Love that saves

Jesus remains faithful to the end and calls us to do the same.

Together all these truths reveal the heart of the gospel and show us what it means to be a radical witness in a broken world.

Now, speaking of the gospel (invitation)