God so Loved the World

John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

“God so Loved the World that He gave”

How much does God love you? That is the question for today that each of you needs to answer.

I.       2 Corinthians 5:19-21,19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

A.    God loves us so much that He did not impute our sin to us

B.    What does this mean?

1.     If God gave us what we deserve, we would be going to hell, Christ would not have died on the cross

2.     But God loved us so much that He made a way for us to get into heaven

C.    It says here “we are ambassadors for Christ”

1.     We are to be like Christ

2.     We are to act like Him

D.    This verse also tells us that Christ was made sin for us, who knew no sin.

1.     Christ came into this world without any sin.

2.     While He was on the cross, the sins of the whole world came upon Him and He cry’s out “my God my God why has thou forsaken me.”

3.     This was done for you and me

II.     Ephesians 2:4-7,4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

A.    God is rich in mercy

1.     God forgives and keeps on forgiving us.

a)     What if God acted like we do? We would not have salvation

2.     As I mentioned last week, as Christians every time we fall because of our sin, God is there ready to pick us up and help us. He forgives & keeps on forgiving

B.    This verse tells us that “even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ”

1.     Last week I mention that “while we were sinners Christ died for us”

C.    Look at this in verse 6 and 7

1.     God so loved us that He gave of Himself

2.     We get to sit in heavenly places because God forgives us. What love He has for us

III.    Titus 3:4-7,4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

A.    Lets take this to another level. God loved us so much that He made a way for us to get saved.

1.     But the debt had to be paid, it had to be satisfied

2.     God is righteous and knows no sin.

a)     He could not just forgive us; He had to make a way to wipe it away for good.

b)     This is the reason Christ died on the cross

B.    And because of God's love we are made heirs, be are adopted into the family of God

Conclusion:

God so loved that He gave

John 3:30, He must increase, but I must decrease.

Sunday morning biker service 11/12/06