Savior Of The World Series

Introduction: God Is Love

A farmer placed a weather vane inscribed with the words “God is love” on top of his barn. One day a traveler stopped by the farm and watched the weather vane moving with the breeze. Then, with a smirk on his face, he asked, “Do you mean to say that your God is as changeable as the wind?”

The farmer shook his head and replied, “No. What I mean to say is that no matter which way the wind blows, God is love!”

The statement “God is love” implies much more than that God demonstrates His love regardless of the circumstances. It means that love is the essence of God’s character. We will never be able to plumb the depths of His love—not even in eternity. But the apostle John pointed out that we can begin to understand it as we view the cross (1 Jn. 4:9-10). As we see Christ dying there for us, we catch a glimpse of the beauty of the loving heart of God.

John went on to point out that if God is love, His children should resemble Him (vv.11-21). Consequently, if there is no warm glow in our hearts for our brother, if we do not thrill to the lovely name of Jesus, we may well question the reality of our conversion experience.

Do we know and reflect the love of God?

Unfailing is God's matchless love,

So kind, so pure, so true;

And those who draw upon that love

Show love in all they do. —DJD

A person who knows God's love shows God's love.

Source: Henry G. Bosch

I. We Have Seen And Testify 14

14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.

A. We Have Seen The Savior Of The World

1. When Jesus was a baby…

a. Simeon and Anna

i. Simeon

Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against

—Luke 2:34

ii. Anna

And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

—Luke 2:38

b. But Simeon and Anna did not witness Jesus becoming the Savior of the World.

2. When Jesus was a Child

a. The wise men arrived

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

—Matthew 2:11

b. But the Wise Men did not witness Jesus becoming the Savior of the World.

3. When Jesus was a Young Man (pre-teen)

a. Mary and Joseph lost him and found him three days later in the Temple with the Doctors of the Law.

Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

—Luke 2:51

b. Mary saw him become the Savior of the world, but kept those things in her heart.

i. Mary might be excluded from this list.

ii. She was one of the women who found the Empty Tomb and believed immediately.

iii. To say that she did not testify is to argue from silence for the Scripture says nothing about this.

4. But John was an eyewitness almost from day one.

a. Peter and his brother Andrew were the first Apostles called.

b. Next were James and his brother, John – this John

5. What did he see and hear?

a. Jesus

i. Walk on water

ii. Heal the sick

iii. Raise the dead

b. Jesus did something far more important that these miracles

i. He preached the Gospel

ii. He saved the lost

c. What good would it have done if

i. Jesus walked on water and Did Not Save The Lost?

ii. Healed the sick and Did Not Save The Lost?

iii. Raised the dead and Did Not Save The Lost?

iv. Preached the Gospel and Did Not Save The Lost?

B. We Testify The Father Sent The Son As Savior

1. Simeon and Anna saw and recognized Jesus when he was just eight days old.

2. The wise men saw and recognized Jesus when he was a toddler.

3. Mary recognized the divinity of Jesus from conception.

a. Gabriel was sent to announce the births of both John the Baptist and Jesus.

b. Both sets of parents knew their sons would be extraordinary.

c. But Mary was told

31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.

32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.