John 3:16-18
Interestingly, in John 3:16-18 we
discover the motive, action and purpose of the beautiful gift of Christ. It is a Christmas verse.
Christmas and Easter are one act
of God - It is called redemption.
I. The Source of Christmas – God
The
origin and initiative of salvation lie with God.
II.
The Spirit of Christmas so loved
“As
is His majesty, so is His mercy.”
Christmas
is the display of the heart of God as well as the purpose of God
and person of God.
III.
The Recipients of
Christmas the world - John 3:17-20
It was
His creation that God so loved. (Grk. cosmos)
The
problem of the world is that we are all at war with God from our very nature
as sinners.
God is LOVE but God is also HOLY. He
must respond to man in His holiness.
Humans
are not proved to be human because we sin; it is because we are human that
we sin.
IV.
The Act of Christmas that He gave
Love must act if it is to be experienced.
The
fact God “gave” rather than “sent” emphasizes sacrifice.
Sacrificial love will create sacrificial giving.
V. The Gift
of Christmas his
only begotten son
We can never “out
love” nor out give God.
VI. The Purpose of Christmas that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life
Christmas is not
just beautiful and sweet...It is powerful!
God has not condemned man; God only loved him; each man has condemned
himself.
To receive
Christ is to know the meaning of Christmas and nothing less.
What Does it Mean to “Believe?”
Belief is not
just intellectual assent to a truth.
It is changing the source of our thoughts and motives.
The gospel is
not merely an invitation; it is a command to repent and trust in
the Son of God.
