The Matchless Love of God

THE MATCHLESS LOVE OF GOD

C.S Lewis quote

“Love is not merely affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.”

INTRO

Now this Wednesday is what we call Valentines day.

Usually i’ll get Kim some flowers, chocolate, or a giant sized cookie that you get at the grocery store.

Now for the years that I am in trouble or what, we men like to call the doghouse, then I will get her all of the above!

You might do the same thing. You might get your loved one some chocolate or some flowers.

Maybe you don’t do gifts and spend time together or maybe you don’t do anything at all.

Today, I want to talk to about a love that never disappoints or let’s you down. A love like no other. That’s the matchless love of God our father!

Wednesday also marks the beginning of the season of lent which is the beginning of season leading up to easter and focuses on the passion of Christ and a focus on our repentance.

Today I want to speak to you about the Matchless love of God.

There is no other love that compares to the love we receive from our heavenly father...

1 John 3:1 (NKJV)

Behold what manner of love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

First of all....

1. God’s Love looks past our mistakes

A. Now a lot of people confuse mistakes with sin.

A mistake isn’t a sin. The term “mistake” implies an error in judgment—something done unintentionally.

For example, a legitimate mistake might be:

Turning onto a one-way street, going the wrong way.

Pouring salt into your coffee, thinking it was sugar.

or Grabbing the wrong type of milk at the grocery store

A remember a time when a man was leaving his house to go to the grocery store.

On the way out, his wife said make sure you grab some Milk! Make sure it’s whole Milk!

The one with the red cap! The Doctor told me I need to start drinking some more whole milk.

The man say’s okay, I will make sure I do that! He then leaves the house to go to the grocery store.

He’s in a time crunch because of having plans later. He quickly goes through his list.

He almost forgets the milk! It’s the last thing he grabs.

After an hour or two he get’s home and is unloading the groceries.

The wife is sure to ask “Did you remember the milk”? All proud of himself he says, “YES, yes I did and he sets the milk on the counter.

She looks at him, then looks at the milk and says that’s a blue cap, I asked for the red cap.

Now was this man sinning against his wife or was it just a mistake?

James 4:17 says if, anyone, then knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

So according to that verse, if the man unknowingly, accidently grabs the wrong milk after being told what milk to grab then it’s not a sin it’s just a mistake.

But let’s say the man goes in the store. See’s the milk and remembers “Oh the wife said to grab the whole milk which is the red cap”

But this morning she really ticked me off. She overcooked my bacon and forgot my coffee, so for that I am going to give her the milk with the blue cap. That will show her!

Now, is this man sinning against his wife? YES! Because he is deliberately choosing to not do what he is told after having knowledge of it.

His motive in His heart is not very loving.

B. We can make mistakes in our relationships with people too.

By leaving the toilet seat down

Forgetting to do a chore such as washing the dishes or taking out the trash

Forgetting an important date such as an anniversary or birthday

C. God’s love looks past our mistakes and see’s our need

Gods grace extends beyond our mistakes and faults and see’s your need.

Your need understanding

Your need for acceptance

Your need for grace

Most of all, your need for Jesus

God’s love looks beyond our harsh words and see’s someone who needs His kindness

God’s love Looks beyond the petty irritations — and sees someone who needs to be accepted unconditionally.

God’s love looks beyond our own broken-ness and see’s someone who needs reminded that they are created in the image of God

Transition* ...But now Sin is SO much more than a mistake. It’s a deliberate willful choice to do something you know is wrong, or not do something you know is right.

2. God’s Love Was Expressed while We Were still Yet Sinners

A. I think we have lost our sense of need for Christ. If someone asked you “Do you think your a good person”.

What would you say? Most would think we are alright. I go to church, I tithe, I help other people out when I can.

In our evangelism class it showed someone asking people the very same thing. He then goes on to ask them about the 10 commandments.

Have you ever stolen something?

Have you ever lied?

Have you ever took a shortcut or cheated on a test?

Have you ever looked at someone with lust?

In their own admission they say they are a lying, stealing, cheating, adulturer.

Now how good do you sound now?

A. We have good news though. It’s called the divine conspiracy of the grace of God.

Something we can’t understand, that angels can’t comprehend, that God sent us, through His Son.

The cross is an image of Gods saving, self emptying, sacrificial Holy love.

He made himself nothing and made himself even lower then the angels so he could redeem and restore mankind to Himself.

B. This is inspite of our disobedience and sin.

Even yet while we we’re still sinners Christ died for us. The father draws us to Himself in the grace that goes before.

That’s the amazing thing, that God would still love us while we were head deep in the mud of sin.

That God would still love us while we were his enemy, taking his name in vain, and serving the gods of this world.

Gods grace is something we don’t deserve and it’s something we can’t earn.

God can’t love us anymore or any-less than he already does. It’s a reckless love that leaves the 99 and chases us down.

also...

3. God’s Love Bestows a Rich Heritage on Us

A. Christians are told that they are sealed by the Holy Spirit as a promise of our future inheritance — heaven!

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14(NASB)

B. Again we are told that the Holy Spirit is a pledge or a promise of a Christian’s future inheritance.

It is important to know that the word for “pledge” in Ephesians 1:13-14. It comes from the same Greek word, arrabon, which means “earnest-money” or a “deposit.”

That is, at the moment of saving faith, when the Holy Spirit is placed within a Christian, the Spirit is the “earnest-money” or “deposit” for future eternal life.

“Earnest-money” is defined as a small portion of money that is given as a promise by the purchaser that he or she will pay all of the money required to purchase some property.

When the Holy Spirit indwells a Christian, He is God’s earnest-money or pledge that the person will go to heaven.

C. It reminds me of when you put a security deposit on a house.

Now you have to live in it and take care of it.

You need to be a good steward of what you have been given.

You have a responsibility to it’s well being. If you aren’t responsible with it then at the end you won’t be given that security deposit back.

This is the same way with God. He gives us grace. Although unmerited.

We are responsible which is “Being able to respond” because of the gift of free will God has bestowed on us as we are co-heirs with Christ!

As Romans 8:16–17 says... 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

4. Conclusion

We serve a God who has a matchless love for us.

A love that looks past our mistakes.

A love that expressed Himself while we were still sinners and

a love that has entrusted us with a rich heritage of being called His children.

Can you imagine how drastically different our lives could be if we captured the depravity of our sin, the depths of our wickedness and how much God loves us through it all?!