A Sermon For You
A Ministry of Huckaby’s Evangelism
Sermon Title
God’s Unconditional Love
By-Evangelist Gary Huckaby D.D.
Please turn to the book of 1John for our text reading today.
1John 4:7-21; Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
(Prayer)
Heavenly Father, speak to us today about you unconditional Love. We need you today, and everyday of our lives. We ask you to fill your servants with the Holy Spirit that we can do your best in this message we are bringing to the people. Forgive us of our sins, cleanse us from them all by the blood of your Son, Jesus Christ. Save those who are lost, and revive those who are saved. In the Name of your Dear Son I ask this. Amen!
Conditions Apply
Often when we make an application to a Bank for a loan, or when we apply to some web sight on the Internet, or even when we buy a car from a dealership, we find that there are terms and conditions that are attached to the contracts. The conditions vary with each individual contract, but in almost every case there are conditions that the user must agree to before the contract is complete.
The same is true when one opens an account at a Bank for a checking, or savings account. Even CD notes are upon conditions before they reach their maturity. You may purchase a CD note for $10.000 dollars, but if you withdraw from the contract you will pay a penalty, or lose a good deal of the money that the note is worth. If you follow the conditions of the terms, then you can reap the full benefits of the contract, but remember you must follow the terms and conditions of the contract.
Job employments also have conditions attached to them. Conditions such as the time to start your working hours, the time to stop your work day, Tardiness for being late, or past the set hours of the company work schedule. Leaving work early also carries penalties and many have found themselves without a job because they did not follow the conditions of the company for which they worked.
Marriage is another union which has conditions attached. In most marriage vows the man and woman repeat the preacher in saying that they will follow conditions set forth in their union to each other. Vows such as, the promise to love the partner, honor them, to keep them in sickness and in health, and finally the last part of most vows, till death do them part. There is also a promise by the parties that they will stay true to each other, that they will not go out into sin with anyone else in adultery. There are conditions on almost everything in life.
I remember a young couple coming to me when I was Pastor of a Church for their counseling session before the wedding. (I do this with all couples I join together in marriage) After the Scripture session of the counseling, I ask if they had any problems with becoming partners. "Do you have any conditions that you have attached to this union?" I ask them. Without hesitation the young lady said, "I promise to love him as long as he doesn’t leave me at home while he goes out with the guys." His response was, "OK, I’ll do that as long as you do not put your career before our marriage." Conditions were applied by both in their promise of love for each other.
Once when counseling a lady about a problem she was having with tobacco , the lady looked at her husband and said, "I will quit smoking for good, if you will quit chewing tobacco."
She wanted to condition her reason for quitting something that was causing her health problems, by attaching the clause that her husband would stop something. She wanted to include him although he was there in support of her in coming to counsel with the preacher. He came because I will not counsel a lady without another adult present when doing so. Too many ministers have their ministries ruined because of such a thing. So you see I put conditions on things that I do too.
God’s Love Is Unconditional
In the Gospel account of Luke we see Jesus speaking with a Pharisee concerning God’s Unconditional Love, and how the lost pass over His Love.
Lu 11:37-42; And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
If you are not a believer in God the Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit, you are walking all over but not believing God’s Unconditional Love! God Loves all people, no matter their condition. Their walk in life, their social standing, their depravity in sin. God’s Love is to all. Sad to say though, many, many millions are daily passing over the Unconditional Love of God.
In the Gospel of John we see Jesus speaking to the Jews, the nation of people through which He came to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world. Here is what He told them.
John 5:40-41; And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
To have God’s Unconditional Love one only has to receive Him.That Love is transferred from Him to us at the moment of salvation.The unbeliever does not have living in their heart God’s Love. This is by choice that they pass over God’s Love. Anyone can come to Christ for salvation. God wants all to be saved, 2Peter 3:9; The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. This is why He tells us in Scripture, Revelation 22:17; And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Again in 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.
Any person who comes to Christ and receives Him as Lord and Saviour will have salvation, that is unconditional Love.
God’s Unconditional Love In Us Who Believe
Every believer has God’s Unconditional Love within their hearts. We see from the book of Romans that it is because the love of God is shed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit that we have the attributes of hope, faith, Grace, patience, and we are not ashamed of our Lord or our testimony for Him.
Romans 5:1; Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
It is an unpleasant thing to be around those who proclaim that they love the Lord, to begin to speak out against another believer. This shows that they themselves are not right with God, for they do not show forth His love toward others. When you knock another, you are not in possession of God’s Unconditional Love. You have put into it your conditions to those who you associate with, and that is not like God’s Love. God’s Love is unconditional! He wants all to come to Him for salvation from sin. He Loves us so much that He gave His Only Begotten Son to die in our place. 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.
Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today?
Huckaby’s Evangelism
P.O.Box 1011
Pine Mountain, Ga. 31822
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