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Scripture: John 3:16-17
Key Points: Explore the foundational concept of God's unconditional love as expressed in (Jn. 3:16-17)
Target: God's love is life to all who believe
We are beginning a new series together as we consider God's Unconditional Love. I pray that we will grow in understanding God's love as His love transforms us.
With each series or study we begin, I am constantly reminded of how much I have to learn and grow. As I start studying themes or books of the Bible, the more I realize the depth of God's word, the depth of His love, and the depth of His commitment to life. At times, I need clarification. Other times, I am lost and often think, who am I to share His word? I am often left with more questions.
Do you ever feel this way? Do you feel lost or confused as you read and study God's word? Does it ever feel like, "I just don't get it?" Are we challenged as we consider the Scriptures and led by His Spirit?
I often am! Thankfully, the Lord's desire is not that we would be confused, lost, or discouraged. He desires that we know Him and that our lives are transformed through Him. He has revealed Himself through the Scriptures, and as we consider His Unconditional Love and what His love means for our lives today, He wants us to understand His love and come to know Him more.
Today, we begin as we dive into the depths of His love; our desire should be to know the Lord more fully and to have His love transform our lives. Our desire should be to have our lives shaped after His as we follow Him.
God's love is life!
The Purpose of God's Love
Grasping the fullness and depth of God's Unconditional Love is challenging. There will likely be many challenging questions along the way. This morning, I want to start with a man named Nicodemus, who had questions for Jesus and some of the most well-known words recorded in Scripture.
Join me in (John 3), where Nicodemus had questions about life. Jesus tells Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.1 This statement puzzled Nicodemus, as I am sure it would also have us. Jesus continues to explain what He means. To have life, a person must be born of the water and the Spirit.2 As Nicodemus, one of Israel's teachers, considers this, he is still puzzled. How can a person be born again? This seems to be the question where Nicodemus is stuck.
At this point, the conversation shifts a bit. Jesus reveals who He is and, in part, His purpose.
John 3:13–15 (NIV)
"No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him."
Jesus reveals Himself as "the Son of Man." A reference embedded in the prophetic and powerful vision of (Daniel 7). His purpose is to be lifted up like the snake so that everyone who believes may have life.
This seems like a very odd purpose statement! I don't know many of us have that on our vision boards for the new year. Jesus is referencing an Old Testament story. As the Lord delivered the children of Israel from the oppression of Egypt, they were complaining in the wilderness. Why has God brought us out into this desert to die? God sent venomous snakes that bit the people, and many of the Israelis died.3 In recognition of their sin, they asked Moses to pray on their behalf.
Numbers 21:8–9 (NIV)
"The Lord said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived."
The bronze snake lifted up on a pole became a source of life. Just like Moses lifted up the snake, Jesus will be lifted up on a pole. He will be the source of eternal life for all who believe. This, in part, is His purpose. To be life for all who believe.
For all who believe
John 3:16-17 (NIV)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
God's love extends far beyond our imagination. His love is given for the world. Every person, every tribe, every language, there is no extent or boundary to His love. He demonstrates this through the giving of His Son, a selfless gift.
God's love is not demonstrated in an abundance of possessions and gifts. His love was shown through surrendering His greatest gift, Jesus. Jesus is the demonstration of God's selfless act of love. Jesus, fully God, the Creator, stepped into a broken creation to redeem and rescue what had been lost. All driven by His unconditional love.
Jesus, the Son of God, who stepped down from the glory of heaven to the dusty roads of our lives, experienced pain, hunger, suffering, and rejection all because of His unconditional love.
His love is limitless. His love is so that we may know and have life. God's purpose is not condemnation. His purpose is not eternal separation. His purpose is life and communion with Him.
We have often presented the gospel in a way that demonstrates God as angry and just looking for any reason to punish and condemn. As I consider the depths of His love, I find the gospel to be about life. He desires that no one should perish.4 Jesus came to save and redeem His creation. He came so that the world might be saved through Him, and this is a gift offered to all.
God's Love Is Life
As we begin exploring God's unconditional love, His desire is for us to know Him. God's love is life. He has revealed Himself through the Scriptures for that purpose.
Depending on our background, there may be a lot of things we have heard about God. Many people look at God as a judge who is just looking for a reason to put you in jail or a god who is angry and set on punishment. Here is our challenge: to know God as He has revealed Himself.
God's unconditional love is life. His greatest gift, the gift of His Son Jesus, was given so that the world might be saved. Boarders or limited extents do not bind his love, His love is for all.
This week, we may need to reimagine our understanding of God's love. It's not just for me. It's not limited to groups like me; His unconditional love is for all of His creation. Every tribe and every tongue; His love is for ALL, and that includes me. God's love is LIFE. This is something we all need to know.
Walk In His Love
There are a lot of people in our world today who do not know the love of God. They don't know His story of redemption or the gift of His Son Jesus. What they have heard or even what they have experienced is not consistent with God's nature, His character, or His love. For many, what they know about Jesus has been limited to news clips and TikTok videos.
Many have not experienced authentic Christians shaped by God's unconditional love. We need to be a community formed by God's love and one who walks in His love. Our world, communities, and homes would be different if we lived out God's unconditional love. Let's walk in His love because His love is life.
notes:
Scripture references and quotations are from the: Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.