Introduction

Good morning, family.

As we gather here today, let us remember the words of Jerry Bridges, who said, "God is completely sovereign. God is infinite in wisdom. God is perfect in love. God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about."

With that in mind, we will be diving into the book of John, chapter 5, verses 13-16. It reads:

"But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, 'See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.' The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath."

In this passage, we see the unconditional love of God, as we heard in the quote, the value and necessity of each one of us, and the importance of sharing the message of salvation.

Let's bow our heads in prayer.

Father, we thank You for Your word, for Your love that is unchanging and unconditional. We thank You for seeing value in us, for needing us, and for entrusting us with the message of salvation. Open our hearts as we delve into Your word today. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Now, let's dive in.

God's Love is Unconditional

God's love is unconditional is simple in that it does not require any prerequisites or qualifications, yet it is complex in its depth and breadth, reaching beyond our human understanding. The unconditional love of God is a theme that is woven throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. It is a love that is not based on our performance, our goodness, or our ability to keep rules and regulations. It is a love that is based solely on who God is - a God of love.

A clear demonstration: In the passage, Jesus heals a man, not because the man earned it or deserved it, but simply because Jesus loved him. The man did not even know who Jesus was, yet Jesus sought him out and healed him. This is a picture of God's love for us. We may not know Him, we may not recognize Him, but He seeks us out and offers us healing and wholeness because of His great love for us.

A proactive love: It is not a love that waits for us to make the first move, but a love that took the initiative, that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). This is the essence of God's unconditional love - a love that is not based on our worthiness, but on His mercy and grace.

Unconditional love: There is nothing we can do to make God love us more or less. His love for us is constant and unchanging. It is not a love that is earned by good deeds or lost by bad ones. It is a steadfast love that endures forever.

A sacrificial love: It is a love that was willing to pay the ultimate price for our redemption. John 3:16 tells us that "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." This is the greatest demonstration of God's unconditional love - a love that was willing to die for us so that we might live.

A transforming love: It is a love that changes us from the inside out. In the encounter with the healed man, Jesus tells him to "sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you." This is not a condition for God's love, but a result of it. God's love has the power to transform our lives, to free us from the power of sin and to make us new creations.

We are Valuable and Necessary

The man who was healed by Jesus was not just a face in the crowd; he was a person of significance to Jesus ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO