GOD IS RICH

4 years ago a world record was set for the most expensive painting ever sold - allegedly Leonardo da Vinci's take on Jesus, called "Salvator Mundi" (Savior of the World). It sold at auction for the staggering price of $450 million.

Before ever looking up who paid such a sum, we can deduce a few facts about them: 1) He/she is insanely wealthy 2) the painting held incredible value in their eyes, and 3) they had some purpose for the painting that motivated their purchase.

Now think about the subject of the painting. John 3:16 tells us that God loved you, me, and everybody else so much that He gave His only begotten Son for our salvation. All of the paintings, houses, and jewels in all the world could never hold a candle to the price He paid for us when Jesus came to this earth and went to the cross.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NASB95

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Just like the buyer of the painting, we can learn much about Him from His spending habits:

1) God is incredibly wealthy in the currency He spent. Eph. 2:4ff Rich denotes an overflowing abundance - not lacking in any way

Rich in mercy

we were headed for ruin and we deserved the blow of the weight of our sin

Romans 6:23 NASB95

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah 59:1–2 NASB95

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

Jeremiah 3:25 NASB95

“Let us lie down in our shame, and let our humiliation cover us; for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day. And we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.”

God is merciful - does not give us what man deserves

2 Peter 3:9 NASB95

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Hosea 2:19 NASB95

“I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and in compassion,

2 Corinthians 1:3 NASB95

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

Romans 9:23 NASB95

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,

Micah 7:18 NASB95

Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love.

Psalm 51:1 NASB95

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

Romans 12:1–2 NASB95

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Rich in love

- gave the greatest gift ever imaginable. the giving of us one and only son.

Romans 5:8 NASB95

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:8 NASB95

The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:9–10 NASB95

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.

1 John 4:16 NASB95

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

John 15:13 NASB95

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

Ephesians 5:25 NASB95

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

rich in grace

God giving us what we do not deserve

2 Corinthians 8:9 NASB95

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

Romans 6:23 NASB95

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 2:9 NASB95

But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

Titus 2:11–12 NASB95

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

v. 8 exceeding riches of his grace

Titus 3:4–7 NASB95

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

rich in kindness

Romans 2:4 NASB95

Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

When we were his enemies and set ourselves up against God, he was kind. When we were lost and alone in our sins he was kind in giving us his one and only son

2) He saw incredible value in you and me to pay such a price, and

the object of his richness is us. God value you and me so much they gave the ultimate gift. He gave everything for you and me. The full weight of his riches he freely gave for you and me. all of his mercy, grace, love, kindness wrapped up in one package for you.

3) has a purpose for that which He has purchased. Eph. 2:10

Ephesians 2:10 NASB95

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

good works that is our purpose. We are to show the world God’s grace, mercy, love, & kindness by how we serve and live for him each day. How we treat other people. What kind of works are you doing for the Lord because of the grace, mercy, love, & kindness he has richly lavished upon you?

The value God has placed on your head is unfathomable, far beyond any $450 million painting. He loves you more than you'll ever know, and He has a purpose for all those He has purchased by the blood of Christ.