The Meaning Of Christmas: Love Series

Intro: 5 am...day after Thanksgiving, shoppers pushing, shoving, trampling over one another to get

bargains on merchandise. Cashiers cursed by customers because they made a mistake, moms yelling at kids, kids crying because they’re tired, dads stressed out seeing bills forthcoming. Conceal your gifts, lock your car, guard your purse, park in well lit areas, watch for strangers and scammers. Family gatherings turning into disaster, fatigue, exhaustion, grouchiness, and anger seem to characterize the day. Welcome to Christmas season! THIS IS NOT WHAT GOD INTENDED! THIS IS NOT THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS! GOD MUST BE GRIEVED AS TO WHAT WE HAVE ALLOWED THIS SEASON TO BECOME.

WHAT, THEN, IS THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS? WE CAN SUM IT UP IN ONE WORD: LOVE!!!

Three words for love in Scripture:

eros: physical, phileo: brotherly AGAPE: GOD-KIND

(LOVE IN SPITE OF)

JOHN 3:16 (REPEAT TOGETHER) GIVES US OUR FOUNDATION

FOR THIS MESSAGE. FROM IT LET US LOOK AT FOUR GREAT

TRUTHS ABOUT GOD’S LOVE:

I. THE ORIGIN OF GOD’S LOVE: GOD HIMSELF

"..for God so loved..."

A. STEMS FROM HIS NATURE

B. HE IS LOVE

C. HE FIRST LOVED US

D. THAT’S JUST WHO HE IS...HE IS LOVE!

II.THE OBJECTS OF GOD’S LOVE: ALL HUMAN BEINGS

"...God so loved the world..."

Although God hates sin, He loves those who are

caught up in sin...and it grieves Him to see what

sin is doing to those whom He loves.

It is hard to think of God loving persons who

are involved in terrorism, drug cultures,

murders, alcohol abuse, etc. BUT GOD LOVES

THE PERSON...DESPITE THE SIN!

HARDEST OF ALL TO BELIVE: THAT HE LOVES ME!!!

SOMEONE SAID "But you don’t know what I’ve done.."

**God does...and loves you still!!

III. THE OPERATION OF GOD’S LOVE:

"..that He GAVE His Only Son..that WHOEVER

BELIEVES IN HIM ..."

Two words to consider: GAVE AND BELIEVE

A. GOD GAVE JESUS BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US

B. FOR THAT GIFT TO BECOME EFFECTIVE IN OUR LIVES

WE MUST BELIEVE IN JESUS AND RECEIVE HIM.

*speaks of PERSONALLY receiving HIM into your

heart by repentance and faith*

*speaks of ENTRUSTING your future into HIS

Hands (and those are the nail scarred hands..

what better hands???)

EX: WHAT if someone who loved you (spouse, parent

etc) went to the time & trouble to sacrifically

purchase you a GIFT that you needed. They came

and presented that gift to you...and you said:

a. "not now...maybe later"

b. " I can’t...I don’t deserve it."

c. "No thanks...I don’t want it."

**that’s how we treat GOD if we spurn HIS SON!!!

**Jesus is what we need...God went through a lot

of suffering, and it cost a great deal to give us

access to Salvation...HOW DARE WE REFUSE!!!

IV. THE OUTCOME OF THIS LOVE

"...should not perish, but have eternal life"

IF we BELIEVE AND RECEIVE THE GIFT (JESUS) GOD

GAVE US...WE WILL NOT HAVE TO SPEND ETERNITY IN

TORMENT IN HELL..RATHER WE CAN SPEND A BLESSED

ETERNITY IN HEAVEN WITH THE FATHER!

IF WE DO NOT BELIEVE AND RECEIVE...WE WILL PERISH!

IT’s OUR CHOICE...He’s done all He can do....

CONCLUSION

Because He loves us, He GAVE JESUS TO US...SO THAT

BY BELIEVING IN JESUS, WE MIGHT HAVE ACCESS TO ETERNAL

LIFE THROUGH HIM.

WILL YOU RECEIVE GOD’S GIFT TODAY???