Christmas Love

 

[Jesus said] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV).

 

Our reading today has long been celebrated as a powerful, succinct, declaration of the gospel. Of the 31,373 verses in the Bible, it may be the most popular single verse used in the church. As you light today’s candle I thought it might be useful to take this one verse and microscopically examine it. In doing so, we can learn much about the love of God. Think on each of these as a special gift from God to you personally this Christmas.

 

§  We learn the amount of God’s love: For God so loved. This means that the love was a significant amount of love.

§  The idea of so loved is connected to the idea of that He gave – there is a cause and effect relationship. He only gave what He gave because He loved so much.

§  A gift at Christmas shows love if it cost something. Sometimes it may cost more than money. I can remember those late nights before Christmas morning putting together various toys that always cost me more than the price paid at the store from which it was purchased.

§  We learn the object of God’s love: For God so loved the world. God did not wait for the world to turn to Him before He loved the world. He loved and gave His only begotten Son to the world when it was still the world. What Jesus told Nicodemus in (v. 7: You must be born again) refuted the popular Jewish idea of the scope of salvation.  Many Jews in that day didn’t think that God loved the world. They thought that God only loved them. The universal offer of salvation and life in Jesus was revolutionary.

§  We learn the expression of God’s love: He gave His only begotten Son. God’s love didn’t just feel for the problems of a fallen world. God did something about it, and He gave the most precious thing to give: His only begotten Son. Real love – Christmas love – is all about giving.

§  We learn the recipient of God’s love: Whoever believes in Him. God loves the world, but the world does not receive or benefit from that love until it believes in Jesus, the gift that the Father gave.

§  We learn the intention of God’s love: Should not perish. God’s love actually saves man from eternal destruction. He didn’t give suggestions for self-improvement or ideas for personal transformation. He says, “Come to Me, look to Me, and I will save you.”

§  We learn the duration of God’s love: Everlasting life. The love we receive among people may fade or turn, but God’s love will never change. He will never stop loving His people, even unto the furthest distance of eternity.

 

As you light this fourth candle, think on this great love of God. It is for you!