Calvary's Love!
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Our choir did a great job today praising the Lord for His love that He demonstrated upon Calvary’s cross. If you didn’t pick up on the theme, it was Calvary’s love. This morning in our sunrise service we focused on Christ’s resurrection. We talked that morning as it came it was a glorious morning. It was glorious morning that all kinds of wonderful spiritual implications.
However, right now, I want to take us back to the cross.
The theme song of the choir’s performance was title “Calvary’s Love.” I hope that you truly listened to the words as we sang. Listen once again to his part of that song which says...
Calvary’s love, Calvary’s love
Priceless gift Christ makes us worthy of
The deepest sin can’t rise above
Calvary’s love.
Then the last verse states...
Calvary’s love can heal the spirit (that)
Life has crushed and cast aside
And redeem (that spirit) til Heaven’s promise
Fills with joy one empty eyes
So (then we should) desire to tell His story
Of a love that loved enough to die
(A story) that burns alway all other passions
and (is) fed by Calvary’s love becomes a fire.
Take your Bibles this morning and turn to 1 John 4. I want us to reflect this morning on the great love God demonstrated to us on Mount Calvary over 2000 years ago.
Please read along with me in your Bibles 1 John 4:8-10.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Note here that the Holy Spirit explicitly states that “God is love.” Thus, because God is love He did something so wondrous and so miraculous that even today it continues to impact the lives of men and women.
You see the day Christ went to the cross was a day that changed everything for you and for me. Note with several things from these verses concerning Calvary’s love.
Calvary was the place where...
God’s Love was Vividly Illustrated!
God’s Love was Vividly Illustrated!
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
The word “manifested” means it was clearly revealed to the mind, the senses, and judgment of man. There is no doubt that God clearly demonstrated His love for us with Christ’s death upon the cross. In fact, the Holy Spirit reminds us once again that God sent or dispatched someone very close to Him on a mission of redemption. He sent “His only begotten Son.” The words “only begotten” meaning that there was no one like Jesus Christ. He is without equal. He was God’s only Son. Yet, God willingly gave His Son for our sin.
We all know John 3:16 which says...
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.
If you go to 1 John 3:16 you will note the similarities between the two verses.
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Both speak of God’s love. Remember God is love. Thus, God who is love could only act in His love towards us. One of the great verses of the Bible is Romans 5:8 which says...
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
There is the word “commendeth” which means the same as “was manifested” in 1 John 4:9. Both carry the idea of God DEMONSTRATING that He is love. That demonstration took place as Christ came to this world. He came for one sole purpose and that was die for our sins. That is the essence of John 3:16 and Romans 5:8. He came to die so you and I might have life.
Listen to the story of God’s love.
And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Note that the Holy Spirit records “…having said thus, HE GAVE UP the ghost.” In other words, it was not the beatings, the crown of thorns, or even the nails driven in His hands that killed Him. No, Christ Himself who has the power to create life as well as to take life, willingly and sacrificially gave up HIS OWN LIFE for us.
You want to know the kind of love God has for us? You must no look no further than the words of the Savior himself when He said...
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
That is exactly what He did for us. He laid down his life for us. You see Mount Calvary was the place were God VIVIDLY DEMONSTRATED HIS LOVE to us.
Here is the second thought from 1 John 4:9-10
Calvary was the place where...
Gods Love Invites You to TRULY Live Again!
Gods Love Invites You to TRULY Live Again!
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
For what purpose did God demonstrate His love by sending His only begotten Son to die for our sins. The reason is found at the end verse 9. He did it so “that we might live...”
The irony of the cross is the fact that He died so that we might live.
Scripture is quite clear that each person born physically into this world is born already spiritually dead. This is the result of Adam’s sin in the garden of Eden.
For those who may not be familiar with the story, let me give you a quick synopsis.
God created all things including earth. It was beautiful. It was perfect. It was paradise. God then created man. Genesis, the first book of the Bible also known as the Book of Beginnings, records how God created and formed man out of the dust of the earth. He then breathed life into man making man a living soul. Later, God created from man a help meet and Adam, the first man, called her woman and her name became Eve. God placed Adam and Eve in a wonderful garden filled with many fruit trees for sustenance and enjoyment. In doing so, God only had one demand. His demand was to not eat of the fruit of the tree known as the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It was not hard demand as their were plenty to other trees with fruit to enjoy. Man was content. Man was happy. Man enjoyed wonderful physical and spiritual fellowship with God. It was perfect in every way. However, as we know from the story, God’s enemy, Satan, was not happy. In fact, Satan in his own selfish pride was filled with jealousy. Satan takes the form of a Serpent and begins to convince Eve that God was hiding something wonderful from Adam and Eve. He appeals to her sense of pride and lust. She listens. She begins to doubt God and His Word. She begins to look upon the forbidden fruit. Eventually, she desires it, takes it, and eats the fruit God instructed them not to eat. She gives it to Adam, her husband. He eats of the fruit knowing fully what he was doing. In that instant, they both sinned. They disobeyed God. In effort to make a long story short, God comes down to find they have disobeyed and sinned against Him. God’s holiness demanded that He judge them for their sin. Thus, He condemns them and casts them from the Garden. Their sin ended their perfect relationship and fellowship with God.
Romans 5:12 teaches us...
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
That one man was Adam. He was the one who brought sin into the world. And, in doing so, he was the one who also brought death into the world. You see man God created man to live physically forever. However, sin ruined it. Now, we see and know physical death all around us. However, more importantly, Adam’s sin brought spiritual death. It destroyed man’s relationship with God. One of God’s final acts in the Garden was to cast man out of the garden and from His presence. The day Adam sinned was the day death came into the world. However, on that day Adam did not die physically. In fact, the Bible records that Adam went on to live to the age of 930 years old. Yet, Adam did die spiritually the day he sinned.
If you look again at Romans 5:12, you will note that it says “so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” All of us are descendants of Adam. He was the first man. He is the father of all mankind. He is also the father of sin. He is the father of death. Both of those things have been passed down from him to every generation born since his day. Every person born physically into this world has been born already dead spiritually. All but one! The one who was not born of man, but born of a virgin, was Jesus Christ. He is the only One born without the sentence of death and sin upon His head. Thus, He was the only One qualified to make atonement for man’s sin.
My point is this. Every person born into this world outside of the Lord Jesus Christ is born spiritually dead. Thus, 1 John 4:9 tells us...
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
You see to be spiritually born again, you must believe and accept Calvary’s love. It was on the cross of Calvary that Christ, the sinless one, died for sinners. It was on the cross of Calvary that Christ, the Giver of Life, died so that we might live.
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
There it is. The word “quickened” means to make alive. You see Christ’s death on the cross paves the way for you to truly live! Everyone is born dead in their sins. Yet, the glorious message of the cross is that you can be made alive.
Calvary was the place where God DEMONSTRATED HIS LOVE. It is the place where YOU AND I CAN TRULY LIVE AGAIN! And, finally,
Calvary was the place where...
God’s Love Made Fellowship with Him Possible!
God’s Love Made Fellowship with Him Possible!
Note verse 10 of our text - 1 John 4:8-10.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
The word “Herein” points us back to the fact of verse 9. God demonstrated His great love because He is love. He did it by sending His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, in that or “herein” is true love.
There are actually three different Greeks words for love in the New Testament. They are...
EROS - used for fleshly and lustful kind of love that is driven by selfish desires.
PHILEO - used of tender affection often found between a father and his children and/or a mother and her children
AGAPE - is used to describe the love of God. It is a love that is alway defined by the act of giving oneself of another. It is the love characterized by Christ in John 15:13.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Eros and phileo are often used in the context of this world’s love. Eros is definitely a selfish, sinful kind of live that focuses only on self. It is the love that world promotes. From the classroom to Hollywood, people are taught to do what pleases them. Thus, if the person pleases you then that must be love. However, when they no longer please you, it was false love. The love of this world is fickle and unreliable. It is the love a those who are spiritually dead and in bondage to sin and self.
That is not the love of 1 John 4:8-10 which is the same love Christ demonstrated on the cross of Calvary. In fact, the Greek word used in our text is not the words eros or phileo, it is the word “agape.” Thus, it was God who sought us out. We did not seek Him. We were dead to Him. Our love was only for ourselves. Yet, God’s love is always focused on us. For that reason, His love is all about sacrifice. A point made quite clear in our text.
Note that God “sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” That big word “propitiation” is a word that means to appease the wrath of someone in order to gain their good will. It is a word often used in live sacrifices that were meant to APPEASE an angry god. Yet, the Holy Spirit uses this word in a much different way. In Scripture, the word “propitiation” means to ATONE or make AMENDS by sacrifice. In other words, our relationship with God has been ATONED or been MENDED through Christ’s death upon the cross of Calvary. He was the “propitiation” for our sins.
One of the things we often forget about Christ’s crucifixion is just how bloody the whole affair truly was. Think about it for a moment. Christ was beat with a cat of nine tails. This was the instrument soldiers used. In doing so, they would tie the individual to a post leaving their back completely exposed. The cat of nine tails was a whip with nine or more long leather straps. It was quite common for those straps to have sharp rocks embedded in the leather. History records that a person who was beaten in such a manner would have their skin literally ripped from their flesh. There is no doubt that Christ’s body was literally ripped apart as they whipped Him and with it the His blood flowed freely.
Later, we read...
And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
I would assume that since these were Roman soldiers known for their enjoyment of brutality that they did not lightly and gently place the crown of thorns on His head. Again, those thorns piercing His brow caused His blood to flow once again.
Then, we come to the cross as they lay Him upon that those wooden beams. They take Roman spikes and they nail them through His hands and His feet. With each strike of the hammer, the blood again flowed. Once they raised Him up between Heaven and earth, that old rugged cross was stained with His blood that was flowing. I would imagine that the cross as well as the ground under His feet and hands was crimson red.
You see Christ, the Son of God, sent by the Father, became the SACRIFICE for our sins. He was literally the blood sacrifice. Salvation did not come cheap. Our salvation demanded a lamb without blemish and the shedding of blood.
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
In all honesty, there is not one of us here this morning who can truly comprehend the cost of Calvary’s love.
However, what we can do is accept by faith what God did for us.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
You see that day on Calvary, Christ shed His blood and atoned for our sin. For that reason, our fellowship with God can be restored. You can once again walk and talk with God. You do not have live or die without Him. Christ did it all.
Calvary is the place where God so vividly illustrated His love. Calvary is the place where man can truly begin to live again. Calvary is the place where Christ atoned for our sins making way for us to be in fellowship with God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
This morning I have done my best to bring your attention to Calvary’s love. I have done my best to show you just how much God truly loves you. Now is the time for action.
UNBELIEVER - You cannot truly live until you accept Christ as your personal Savior. You cannot have fellowship with God until you accept Christ as your personal Savior. God has already demonstrated His love through His Son, Jesus Christ.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Today is the day that must heed the words of Romans 10:9-10 which says...
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Christ is the only way to know life.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Today we celebrate Easter. We celebrate a risen Lord. However, today is also the day we celebrate Him as the sacrificial Lamb. He died for you because He loves you. Will you accept Him today?
Believer - REJOICE! Rejoice in that you know God’s love. Rejoice in what Christ as done for you!. Rejoice that He is alive. Rejoice knowing that you have eternal life.
