No Greater Love

NO GREATER LOVE

EPHESIANS 2:1-7

Ephesians 2:1-7 "And you has he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."

Introduction: In the December 4, 1989 issue of Newsweek magazine, there was an article about a little known mental disorder called erotomania. It is a mental illness in which a person has the delusion that he or she is the object of someone’s love. Some imagine love affairs that continue for years, yet it all exists only in the imagination of the sufferer. The title of the article was "The Delusions of Love." While romantic love may have many delusions, there is no delusion about God’s love. There is no greater love than God’s love. His love is unmerited, unconditional, unending, and undeniable.

I. God’s Love is Unmerited

A. Ephesians 2:3 declares that all mankind are " by nature the children of wrath."

B. Romans 3:10-12 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [11] There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one."

C. John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

D. Romans 5:5-8 "…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

E. He loved us not because we were lovable, but because He is love. - C. S. Lewis

F. 1 John 4:10 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

G. Karl Barth was invited to deliver one of the distinguished lectureships at a theological seminary in the East, and while he was there a group of ministers and theologians and dignitaries of one kind or another sat down with him in a kind of question-and-answer period. Someone asked the question, "What is the most profound thought that you know, Dr. Barth?" This is what he said: "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

II. God’s Love is Unconditional

A. Even as God’s love is unmerited it is also unconditional.

B. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more! There is nothing you can do to make God love you less! His love is unconditional and impartial.

C. Ephesians 1:4-6 tells us that Christ has "chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. That we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

D. God accepts and loves each of us just as we are.

E. When you accepted God’s love through a reception of Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior God credited to you the righteousness of Jesus Christ. You cannot add or take away from what Christ did for you on the cross. You are deeply loved. You are completely forgiven. You are totally accepted by God and absolutely complete in Christ.

F. “I know what you look like. I know your past. I know your future. I know your thoughts, even those you try persistently to hide. And you know what? I love you because you’re mine.” – Steve Goodier

G. 2 Corinthians 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."