One Gave All

“One Gave All”

John 3:1-16

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.

As we think about this 242 anniversary of our independence and the great sacrifices that have been made to preserve and defend our freedoms I can’t help but think of the price that has been and is still being paid on our behalf. Over 1 million Americans have given their lives throughout our history so that we can worship in this place today. One of the most interesting pieces of history is what happened to our founding fathers when they signed the Declaration.

THE SIGNERS by Gary Hildrith

Have you ever wondered what happened to the fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence? This is the price they paid:

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the revolutionary army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships resulting from the Revolutionary War.

These men signed, and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor!

What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants. Nine were farmers and large plantation owners. All were men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty could be death if they were captured.

As I thought about their sacrifice I remembered a phrase that a heard a while back; maybe you’ll remember it too. It is found on a black marble monument at Lakeview Cemetery Windom, MN. To honor veterans and the inscription goes like this: “All gave some, some gave all!” As I was thinking about this I was led to our text for this morning’s message and I modified it for our title: “One Gave All!” I invite you to join me as we mediate on this great text. First, as we read it we see:

I. A Great Sentiment

a. It’s source

The greatest love the world has ever known is the love that our creator God has for the creature that He created in His own image. He is the fountainhead from which this great love flows in fallen humanity. Two thoughts come to mind; He is only one that could love us the way that He does and He is the only one that would love us the way that He does.

b. It’s sort

Often we overlook the small words found in scripture but here we have a very important small word. It is the word “so” Again there are two things. It speaks of both the measure of His love and the manner of His love. We often say “I love you so much,” emphasizing the how much we love a person. Again, sometimes use the word so to indicate how we love, not how much.

The way that He loves

Is as fair as the day

That blesses my way with light

The way that He loves is as

Soft as the breeze

Caressing the trees at night

So tender and precious is He

Contented with Jesus I'll be

The way that He loves

By Elmo Mercer 1958

1 Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

c. It’s scope

His love covers every single human being; everyone who has ever lived or ever will live; everyone, no matter who they are or what they have done. His love is an all-encompassing, inclusive, everlasting, unfailing love. You may feel that no one loves you but you would be wrong, the sovereign God of the universe, the one who created you, who knows your name, loves you for all eternity. His love for you will never diminish; you can’t do anything to make Him love you more or less. His love will never change.

II. A Great Sacrifice

a. It is redemptive

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

b. It is representative (for us)

2 Co 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.

c. It is radical (life changing)

2 Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Saul of Tarsus was born to a devout Jewish family between 5 B.C. and 5 A.D. He was a Pharisee and a Roman citizen which made him an unlikely candidate to convert to Christianity in the early days of the religion. In fact, Saul originally did far more than refuse to convert. Saul was known for actively hunting and persecuting Christians. He was the man who held the coats of the mob that martyred Stephen and later described himself as trying to destroy the young Church. Yet Saul would become one of the most devout and influential Christians in history when he left Jerusalem and set out for Damascus. It was on that long road that he was blinded by a bright light and heard a voice asking one of the most famous questions in Christian history: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul of Tarsus, of course, is better known as the Apostle Paul. As a Roman citizen, Paul was essential in establishing Christianity in Rome, and the story of his conversion to Christianity, from persecutor to apostle, continues to move Christians to this day.