He Loved me any way.
John 15:9 (NKJ)
How do I know that God loves me?
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (NKJ)
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NKJ)
Why did Jesus have to die for us?
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (NKJ)
You may ask what’s the big deal about sin?
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJ)
For the wages of sin is death, means you are separated from God because of your sin.
God gave his Son to die in your place, to pay your sin Deut, Why because he wants to spend eternity with you.
You may say you don’t know how big my sin Deut is, THERE IS SOME THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW.
1) I am the thorn in your crown.
John 19:1-4 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. 3 Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.
4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” (NKJ)
Pilate said, I find no fault in Him.
But I want you to know there is a lot of faults you could find in me.
• I have lied to people.
• I have cheated people.
• I have put other things before you God.
• I have misused your name.
• I have shamed my family.
• I have killed people with my words.
• I have been a false witness.
• I have stolen from others.
Even though I have faults you love me any way.
2) I am the sweat from your brow.
Luke 22:44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (NKJ)
As Jesus prayed God reminded him through the great drops of blood falling to the ground that one drop of his blood on Calvary would take care of Ray’s sin Deut.
I have caused agony on Jesus.
• When I say I am a Christian, but live like the world.
1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (NKJ)
Do your actions reflect the world’s values or God’s values?
• When you see people in need and you turn your head.
James 2:15-17 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (NKJ)
James illustrates his point by comparing faith without works to words of compassion without acts of compassion.
A professed faith must produce a change in behaviour, otherwise it is dead and useless.
• When I tar down my brother and sister in stead of building them up.
Encouragement is oxygen to the soul. It is our duty to build one another up.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. (NLT)
Galatians 5:13-15 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. (NLT)
Philippians 2:3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. (NLT)
Even though I cause you agony you love me any way.
3) I am the nail in your hands.
John 20:27-29 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (NKJ)
Do you sometimes have doubts?
Some people need to doubt before they believe.
If doubt leads to questions, questions lead to answers, and answers are accepted, then doubt has done a good work.
It is when doubt becomes stubbornness and stubbornness becomes a life-style that doubt harms faith.
Even though I have doubts you love me any way.
4) I am Judas’ kiss.
Matthew 26:14-16 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. (NKJ)
Matthew 26:48-49 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” 49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. (NKJ)
Have you ever betrayed Jesus?
• Were you salient when you should have spoken up.
• Did you blind in instead of standing out.
• Were you unfaithful instead of being faithful.
Even though I betrayed you, you love me any way.
5) I am the man that called out from the crowed.
Matthew 27:20-23 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” (NKJ)
Did you make a choice between Barabbas or Jesus this morning?
• Going to church or doing your own thing.
• Quite time or TV time.
• Reading the Bible or reading the news paper.
Even though I have chosen Baabbas at times you love me any way.
The Bible says God is love, so how is it that God loves me even though:
1) I have faults
2) I cause Him agony
3) I have doubts
4) I betrayed Him
5) I have chosen Baabbas at times
Look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (NKJ)
When you can love like this you can get pasted the Faults, Agony, Doubts, Betrayal, and wrong choices of life.
Jesus love is like nothing in life that I’ve ever know.
You may have tried to bury the grace of God and you may fill like he won’t forgive you,
But Romans 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (NKJ)
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJ)
If you won’t to have this love like nothing in life you ever know, come and call on Jesus Christ.
First you must believe 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, (NKJ)
Second you must repent Luke 13:3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. (NKJ)
Repent means turn from your old life, and turn to Jesus.
Third confess Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (NKJ)
