The Gift of Love<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pastor Don Carpenter<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best Christmas Ever<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a great theologian who came to the USA from England and was being interviewed by a group of seminary students. The question was asked, \u201cWhat is the most profound thought that ever occupied your mind.\u201d The answer was, \u201cJesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may go very, very deep in theology; you may become a scholar; you may become a philosopher, but you\u2019ll never ever understand anything more profound than to understand that God loves you so much He gave His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the last three weeks we have been considering what makes this the Best Christmas Ever. Each week we have been focusing on a different element of the Advent. Jesus came into this world, God became flesh. With His arrival He brought us Hope, Peace, Joy, and today we will focus on the final element of Advent, LOVE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Any birth is a sweet story of miracles, life and love, but Christ\u2019s arrival was no ordinary birth. Jesus, God\u2019s only Son, became flesh so that He could live a perfect life, pay the price for Sin on the cross, and rise again victorious over sin and death, providing us a way to be saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Romans 6:23<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Corinthians 9:15<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gift of Love to the Unlovely<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gift Was Totally Undeserved<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 3:10<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 3:23<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 6:23<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gift was Given out of Love For Sinners<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 5:6\u20138<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gift Was God\u2019s Only Son<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/em>John 3:16<\/em> (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n John 1:14<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n John 1:18<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/em>1 John 4:9\u201310<\/em> (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (2662 ???????)<\/p>\n\n\n\n ??????? =means of forgiveness, an atoning sacrifice<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gift of Life to the Dead <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/em>John 3:16<\/em> (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n On Our Own We are Dead In Sin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ephesians 2:1\u20132<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 5:12<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n John 3:18<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n John 3:36<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We Unwrap the Gift of Eternal Life By Faith<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ephesians 2:8\u20139<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Not of works, lest any man should boast.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Galatians 2:21<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 5:10<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n John 3:15<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Timothy 1:15\u201316<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 8:33<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God\u2019s elect? It is God that justifieth.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 5:1<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t understand electricity, but I\u2019m no fool\u2014I\u2019m not going to sit around in the dark till I do. I don\u2019t understand the thermodynamics of internal combustion and the hydraulics of an automatic transmission either, but I\u2019m no fool\u2014I\u2019m not going to stay in one place until I do. The truth is that I don\u2019t understand a great deal of the things that are part of my everyday life, but I make them a part of my life anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same is true of salvation. No one will fully understand how God could become man, how he could die, how his death could be the basis for our forgiveness, how he could give you and me a new life, and all of the other aspects of salvation. But only a fool would ignore such a great opportunity just because he didn\u2019t understand it.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 318.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gift of Righteousness to the Condemned<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n John 3:17<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Next time you\u2019re in an airport notice the difference between passengers who have confirmed tickets and those on standby (Hybels, Too Busy Not to Pray 113). Those who have confirmed tickets are relaxed, their confident and expectant. Those on standby hang around the ticket counter, they pace and smoke, pace and smoke, pace and smoke\u2026all because of uncertainty. God offers us freedom from the burden of uncertainty, so we can know for sure where we stand with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 3:19\u201325<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Corinthians 5:19\u201321<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ\u2019s stead, be ye reconciled to God. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Corinthians 9:15<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This last Sunday before Christmas 2021, let us rejoice in God\u2019s Gift of Love, His own precious Son…. given for our salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are still trying to merit heaven by your actions, your denomination, your sacraments, please, turn from these dead works and trust in Jesus\u2019 finished work on the cross. You will experience the true meaning of the statement \u201cGod So Loved the World\u201d. Ask Jesus to save you once and for all, and this will be the Best Christmas Ever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exported from Logos Bible Software, 3:52 PM December 16, 2021.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Gift of Love Pastor Don Carpenter Best Christmas Ever There was a great theologian who came to the USA from England and was being interviewed by a group of seminary students. The question was asked, \u201cWhat is the most profound thought that ever occupied your mind.\u201d The answer was, \u201cJesus loves me this I … Continue reading The Gift of Love<\/span>