Amazing Love

Dec 20, 2020    Ron Barnard

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7 ESV
We have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 1 John 4:14 ESV
God wrote a merciful redemptive role for Himself into the worst part of our story.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 NLT - I don’t come from a line of strong dads...
From the manger to the cross, I see amazing love!
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1 ESV
Biology doesn’t make us family; love does.
In God’s love we see the attributes that mark real love in its purest form!
God’s love is Sacrificial
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16 NLT
Jesus knew the price for real relationship would be high, and He reckoned the price worth paying.
God’s love is Immeasurable
Rob’s video
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. Ephesians 3:16-18 NLT
God’s love Endures
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:26 ESV
Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were still living in rebellion.  Romans 5:6-8 MSG