God Loved

While Christmas is only once a year, we can get caught up in the busyness and familiarity of the season.  Every year, we do the same things - read the same stories, sing the same songs, and do the same things.  So we can miss the significance of the season.   

At the same time, John 3:16 is one of the most familiar verses in the Bible. 

Christmas and John 3:16 are reminders of God's awesome love.  

As mentioned in this weekend's sermon, it is not that love defines God, but rather that God defines love. 

Because of this, God's love is always given first, not earned.

We have done nothing to deserve God's love.  

God gave.

God gave by becoming a baby in Bethlehem.

God gave by living a perfect life.

God gave by fulfilling the Law.

God gave by dying on the cross for our sins.

God gave through the imputation of His righteousness.

Pastor Brett summarized the passage and sermon with this statement:

The Greatest text (John 3:16) about the Greatest being (God) with the Great power (Love) to the greatest audience (the world) giving the Greatest gift (Jesus) that demands the Greatest command (Belief) to escape the greatest tragedy (Perish) to receive the greatest inheritance (Everlasting Life) 

SERMON AND CATECHISM CONNECTION

God, who defines love, was purposeful in His creation of man and woman.

The fourth question is "How and why did God create us?"

"God created us, male and female, in his own image to know him, love him, live with him, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory."

God loves and created us to love Him.  

The way we love the one who loved us so much He sent his son is by living for His glory. 

PRAYER from New City Catechism

Maker of All, let us not lose sight that we, and every human being you have made, are created in your image. Never let us doubt this about ourselves. Never let us doubt this about any other man or woman, for to do so denies you the glory that is due to your name. Your likeness glimpsed in us testifies that we belong to you, body and soul. Amen.