A Love So Amazing

Outline.

1. A Love So Great

2. A Love So Generous

3. A Love So Gracious

Remarks.

1. In our lesson today we will be discussing, a love so amazing. It is described by some as a love indescribable, incomprehensive and that pass finding out. It is a love that is “so great, so generous and so gracious” one is unable to believe such could be true. Paul defines it saying: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye, being rooted and grounded in love. May be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and the length, and the depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth all knowledge, that you made be filled with the fullness of God,” Ephesians 3:17-19.

2. First of all, the apostle John describes Christ’s offering as “a love so great,” John 15:13-14. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.” Jesus describes a love that passeth all understanding. That a man should lay down his life for his friends. He’s a friend that stickiest closer than a brother. O’ what a friend – we have in Jesus!

3. Secondly, we will discuss God’s gift of His Son as “a love so generous,” John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” What an amazing love – that God has given all he had, not for the righteous alone - but the entire world. Who can understand such a love? A love of great magnitude!

4. Lastly, we will notice “a love so gracious,” Titus 3:4-7. “But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior, toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he has shed forth on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Lord; that being justified by his grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” This is going to be one of my topical sermons. We will not discuss the scripture read to your hearing. Please turn to John 15, and let’s begin our discussion of a “love so great.” Notice verse number 12.

I A LOVE SO GREAT

A. This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Notice John 15:12-17.

1. Jesus commandment on love. John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” Why has our message gone unheard, brethren beloved in the Lord? We have become a church that no longer exhibits the Lord’s commandment here – “love each other – as I love you!”

2. The sign of discipleship? The real test of fellowship is not just attending each other’s functions. But being able to lay down all the ill feelings, hurt and personal attacks that once divided us, for His love sake; that we might be one in Christ. Don’t tell the world we are one in Christ – show them. Isn’t Jesus and the Father one? John 10:30. Does our heaven Father and the Lord Jesus desire us to be one? Even as they are one?

B. Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends.

1. Notice a love so great! That a man lay down his life for his friends. Can we lay down our arms for each other? Notice the love Christ has challenged us to achieve – that we lay down our lives for each other. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren,” 1 John 3:16. The Lord laid down his life for us. Can we lie down are arms for each other?

Illustrate: Boyfriend’s greatest love. Lay down my life, swim the widest ocean, climb the highest mountain – and I’ll see you tomorrow if it doesn’t rain!

2. Would Christ be pleased by what he sees in this City? A broken and splintered church? Can a parent be pleased with a broken and divided family?

3. I think of our young men and women in uniform – when I hear our Lord say He will – “lay down his life for his friends.” Many have done just that! “All have given some – some have given all.” Some have returned home to a divided government – for which they willingly hazarded their lives, to defend. Only to see a congress, its court and its White House divided and splintered. Total dysfunction! I can feel their hurt, especially for those who lost close friends in battle; those that, laid down their life for this country. In order to “support and defend the constitution of the United States.”