How Has God Loved You? Part 2 Series

How has God loved you?

Introduction:

A wealthy businessman, who was well known for being ruthless and unethical, told Mark Twain that before he died, he wanted to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He said that when he got there he wanted to climb to the top of Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments, and there read the Ten Commandments aloud at the top. “I have a better idea,” replied Twain, in his typical wit, “You could stay in Boston and keep them.”

I. He elected you into His family! v. 2

A. Consider the position of your election: exceptional (Ro. 9:7-14)

1. God draws people to Himself.

2. God’s love is everlasting.

3. God delights in you (2:17).

B. Consider the grace of your election: unmerited (Ro 9:15-18).

1. God grants mercy to those He chooses.

2. God grants grace to you.

C. Consider the privileges of your election: spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3-13).

1. Esau was father to a great nation and land.

2. Jacob was in the line of Abrahamic Covenant

How has God loved you?

Transitional Statement: First, He elected you into His family; secondly, since Christ loves you, He keeps you from being consumed!

II. He keeps you from being consumed! vv. 3-5

Evidence of continued existence (present)

Jacob (father of Israel), and Esau, twin brother, (father of Edomites)

Context: the promise of the coming King

Mic 5:4 (710 B.C.) And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth.

A. Esau heritage was consumed (3-4).

Mal 1:3 (430 B.C.) but I have hated Esau… (his posterity) consumed (destroy)

Eze 25:13 … (600 B.C.) thus says the Lord GOD, "I will also stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off man and beast from it…

Eze 35:9 (600 B.C.) "I will make you an everlasting desolation (barren/wretched… forsaken [abandoned]-uninhabited) and your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Joel 3:19 (800 B.C) … Edom will become a desolate wilderness, Because of the violence done to the sons of Judah…

1. Edom was fleshly.

Heb 12:16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

Gen 25:32 Esau said, "Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?"

25:29-34 As the firstborn, Esau was entitled to a double portion of his father's possessions—that is, twice as much as any other son might inherit. He also became the tribal or family head. This was known as the birthright. In Esau's case, it would also have included being the ancestor of the Messiah.

Esau preferred the gratification of his physical appetite to spiritual blessings.

a. His appetite was very strong,

b. His reasoning was very weak (Gen. 25:32):

2. Edom had their heart and motives perpetually set on the goals and rewards of this world.

Context: The judgment of Edom

Oba 1:4 (600 B.C.) "Though you build high like the eagle, Though you set your nest among the stars, From there I will bring you down," declares the LORD… 18 "… there will be no survivor of the house of Esau," For the LORD has spoken.

3. Edom (descendants) opposed God’s people (Ge. 36).

4. Edom’s heritage was/is final.

B. Jacob’s heritage continues (5).

Gen 28:3 (1760 B.C.) "May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.

Mic 5:4 (710 B.C.) … And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth.

1. He was in the line of the Abrahamic Covenant

Gen 46:2-3 God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here I am." 3 He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there.

2. He is included in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Mat 1:1-2 The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.

3. Every Gentile child of God is engrafted into this same position at the moment of salvation.

Conclusion:

Praise the Lord for the Gospel! What a privilege to be “in Christ”!

C.S. Lewis at a comparative religions conference…

States that Christianity uniquely claims God’s love comes free of charge, no strings attached. No other religion makes that claim.