WEBVTT

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 Good morning. Open up your Bibles to 1 John chapter 4.

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 So that's one of my favorite West songs as well.

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! Unless I'm totally imagining this, the first time he ever sang that song for the kids, the bear song,

00:00:17.260 --> 00:00:22.140
 was about 10 of us came back from camping that night, and a bear actually came into our camp,

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 and I think it was kind of dedicated to that event.

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 But I chased the bear off. I think Daniel Swanson slept through the whole thing in his hammock soundly,

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 so it was really fun. Maybe he woke up. He may argue later, but it was a great time for us just to gather around God's Word this morning.

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 As you know, as I said, we're doing Advent, and I have the candle of love today, the Advent of love.

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 So just join me in a quick word of prayer.

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 Father, we gather this morning, as many are doing around the world,

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 to celebrate Christ coming to earth, to walk as a man,

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 and to live among us, and then to die a shameful death,

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 to bring us life.

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 And then raised from death, and now is seated at your right hand.

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 And we celebrate the first event of his life,

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 coming here, and being born as a baby.

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 So Lord,

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 I pray that you would give us eyes to see and ears to hear.

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 You would renew our hearts, our mind, our souls,

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 to look at

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 your love afresh this morning.

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 So Lord, help us.

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 We will walk away

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 unchanged

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 and unmoved unless you move in us

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 through your Word this morning.

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 So we place that before you,

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 and we ask that in Christ's name.

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 Amen.

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 So we'll read our text first.

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 It'll be in 1 John, chapter 4,

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 and we'll read 7 through 19.

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 Beloved,

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 let us love one another,

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 for love is from God,

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 and whoever loves has been born of God

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 and knows God.

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 Anyone who does not love

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 does not know God,

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 because God is love.

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 In this,

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 the love of God was made manifest among us,

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 that God sent His only Son

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 into the world

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 so that He might live,

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 so that we might live through Him.

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 And in this

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 is love.

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 Not that we have loved God,

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 but that He loved us

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 and sent His Son

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 to be the repitiation for our sins.

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 Beloved,

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 if God so loved us,

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 we ought also to love one another.

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 No one has ever seen God.

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 If we love one another,

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 God abides in us,

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 and His love is perfected in us.

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 By this,

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 we know that we abide in Him

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 and He in us,

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 because He has given us

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 of His Spirit.

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 And we have seen

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 and we testify

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 that the Father

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 has sent His Son

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 to be the Savior of the world.

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 Whoever confesses

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 that Jesus Christ

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 is the Son of God

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 abides in Him

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 and He in God.

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 So we have come

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 to know

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 and to believe

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 that the love of God

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 has for us.

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 God is love,

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 and whoever abides in love

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 abides in God,

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 and God abides in Him.

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 By this love

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 is perfected with us

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 so that we may have confidence

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 for the day of judgment,

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 because He is,

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 so also are we

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 in this world.

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 There is no fear in love,

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 but perfect love

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 casts out fear.

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 For fear has to do

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 with punishment,

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 and whoever fears

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 has not been perfected

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 in love.

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 We love

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 because

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 He first loved us.

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 so talk about

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 an immense topic,

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 the love of God,

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 how many

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 misunderstandings

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 there are

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 about the love of God

00:04:35.800 --> 00:04:36.680
 in the church

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 and in the world,

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 but also the Scripture

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 has

00:04:39.780 --> 00:04:41.840
 more than

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 could ever be

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 exhausted on

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 just the idea

00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:45.720
 of the love of God.

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 And

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 it's important for us

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 just to step back

00:04:50.280 --> 00:04:51.120
 during this season

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 and to think about

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 superficial

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 holiday

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 kind of love

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 that will be around us

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 a lot,

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 mainly from the world,

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 but also

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 in some churches.

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 There's a,

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 I want to just

00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:06.420
 mention some of this

00:05:06.420 --> 00:05:07.120
 briefly because

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 I think it demeans

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 the glory

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 of what the love of God

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 truly is

00:05:12.500 --> 00:05:13.579
 if we focus on

00:05:13.579 --> 00:05:14.379
 these things

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 and don't really focus on

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 what God says

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 about His love.

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 But many of us,

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 we,

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 during the holiday season,

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 we kind of take on

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 a

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 sentimental

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 kind of love,

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 an emotional

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 kind of love

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 that

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 really just

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 masquerades around

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 as true love,

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 but it's really not.

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 It's just the warm

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 and fuzzy,

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 gushy love

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 kind of based solely

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 on feelings

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 and

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 it's

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 where we just,

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 you know,

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 we feel generous

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 around this time

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 of the year

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 because it is Christmas.

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 I went to buy some firewood

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 a couple days ago

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 and the lady

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 was trying to,

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 she didn't really have

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 like a set price

00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:56.399
 on her firewood

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 and she was just like,

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 you know what,

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 it's Christmas

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 so I'm just going to

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 give you a lot more

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 for less,

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 you know,

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 just,

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 but,

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 you know,

00:06:02.860 --> 00:06:03.539
 two months ago

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 that would have not

00:06:04.459 --> 00:06:04.800
 happened.

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 It would have been

00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:06.819
 like a lot more money.

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 So,

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 it's just this kind

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 of sentimental love

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 that kind of hits people

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 like it's,

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 it is the season

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 to be nice.

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 It comes in the form

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 of niceness

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 to people

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 and yet

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 after Christmas

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 this kind of good cheer

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 sort of

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 disappears

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 and in,

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 in truth,

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 this sentimental love

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 mimics compassion

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 but it really is

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 as silly

00:06:31.159 --> 00:06:33.000
 as sending a Hallmark card

00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:35.360
 to one of the poor

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 diseased countries

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 in the world

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 and just saying

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 we hope you get better.

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 That's about

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 the gravity

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 and the weight

00:06:41.259 --> 00:06:41.959
 of that kind

00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:42.680
 of sentimental

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 holiday love

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 that is not real

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 and furthermore

00:06:48.420 --> 00:06:50.540
 this sentimental love

00:06:50.540 --> 00:06:51.339
 is really just

00:06:51.339 --> 00:06:52.240
 trivializes

00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:53.959
 real love

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 and it breaks

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 in the face

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 of difficulty

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 and obstacles.

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 It's not going

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 to survive

00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:01.199
 and,

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 you know,

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 also this morning

00:07:02.779 --> 00:07:03.699
 this very morning

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 and tonight

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 a lot of people

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 will attend

00:07:07.899 --> 00:07:08.799
 a church service

00:07:08.799 --> 00:07:10.379
 for the first time

00:07:10.379 --> 00:07:11.599
 or maybe the second time

00:07:11.599 --> 00:07:12.119
 in the year

00:07:12.119 --> 00:07:13.079
 Christmas and Easter

00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:14.259
 and they're going

00:07:14.259 --> 00:07:15.379
 to hear someone

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 stand up

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 and say something

00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:19.659
 along these lines.

00:07:20.779 --> 00:07:21.719
 Christmas is a time

00:07:21.719 --> 00:07:22.279
 to remember

00:07:22.279 --> 00:07:23.279
 that God loves

00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:24.019
 all people

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 and we are all

00:07:25.939 --> 00:07:27.399
 His children

00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:28.599
 and He accepts us

00:07:28.599 --> 00:07:29.479
 just the way

00:07:29.479 --> 00:07:30.139
 we are.

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 I've heard that

00:07:31.939 --> 00:07:33.620
 a service

00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:34.600
 many years ago

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 and what they're

00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:38.300
 really saying

00:07:38.300 --> 00:07:38.920
 is that tons

00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:39.660
 of lost people

00:07:39.660 --> 00:07:40.240
 who are coming

00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:40.519
 there,

00:07:40.620 --> 00:07:41.219
 all they're hearing

00:07:41.219 --> 00:07:42.860
 is God likes

00:07:42.860 --> 00:07:43.480
 you just the way

00:07:43.480 --> 00:07:43.920
 you are

00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:44.500
 and you don't

00:07:44.500 --> 00:07:45.060
 need to have

00:07:45.060 --> 00:07:46.019
 anything changed

00:07:46.019 --> 00:07:47.199
 in your life

00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:48.079
 so they think

00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:48.779
 that they are

00:07:48.779 --> 00:07:50.060
 cool with God

00:07:50.060 --> 00:07:50.680
 and they leave

00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:51.360
 thinking God

00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:51.860
 likes me.

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 See,

00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:53.100
 I was told that

00:07:53.100 --> 00:07:54.220
 tonight.

00:07:55.019 --> 00:07:55.920
 Instead of saying

00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:56.199
 yes,

00:07:56.259 --> 00:07:56.899
 God loves you

00:07:56.899 --> 00:07:57.639
 but He loves you

00:07:57.639 --> 00:07:58.000
 too much

00:07:58.000 --> 00:07:58.480
 to leave you

00:07:58.480 --> 00:07:59.080
 in your sin

00:07:59.080 --> 00:08:00.180
 and that you

00:08:00.180 --> 00:08:00.819
 need a Savior.

00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:02.580
 And so,

00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:03.520
 many people

00:08:03.520 --> 00:08:04.000
 that talk

00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:04.560
 about the love

00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:04.920
 of God

00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:05.259
 are really

00:08:05.259 --> 00:08:06.160
 total strangers

00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:07.400
 to the love

00:08:07.400 --> 00:08:07.800
 of God.

00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:08.319
 It's not

00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:09.480
 just sort of

00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:10.379
 some divine

00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:12.220
 good-natured

00:08:12.220 --> 00:08:12.840
 indulgence

00:08:12.840 --> 00:08:13.560
 that a parent

00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:14.100
 might have

00:08:14.100 --> 00:08:15.000
 for a kid.

00:08:15.100 --> 00:08:15.480
 It's very,

00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:16.740
 very different.

00:08:17.700 --> 00:08:18.120
 And we need

00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:19.520
 to kind of

00:08:19.520 --> 00:08:20.180
 draw a line

00:08:20.180 --> 00:08:20.960
 and say that

00:08:20.960 --> 00:08:22.439
 you know,

00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:23.040
 sadly,

00:08:23.259 --> 00:08:23.840
 tragically,

00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:25.400
 all people

00:08:25.399 --> 00:08:26.060
 are not

00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:26.739
 all God's

00:08:26.739 --> 00:08:27.079
 children.

00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:29.039
 In John

00:08:29.039 --> 00:08:29.799
 chapter 1

00:08:29.799 --> 00:08:30.319
 it says,

00:08:31.099 --> 00:08:31.579
 but to all

00:08:31.579 --> 00:08:32.399
 who did

00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:33.419
 receive Christ

00:08:33.419 --> 00:08:34.600
 who believed

00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:35.379
 in His name

00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:36.919
 He gave them

00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:37.480
 the right

00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:38.220
 to become

00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:38.799
 the children

00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:39.480
 of God.

00:08:40.139 --> 00:08:40.459
 So,

00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:41.159
 in Christ

00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:41.639
 alone

00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:42.340
 do we have

00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:43.980
 that idea

00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:44.679
 of becoming

00:08:44.679 --> 00:08:45.679
 God's children

00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:46.579
 and until then

00:08:46.579 --> 00:08:47.579
 we are hostile,

00:08:47.819 --> 00:08:48.240
 separated

00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:49.579
 from God.

00:08:50.579 --> 00:08:50.939
 And so,

00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:51.620
 though God

00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:52.199
 does have

00:08:52.199 --> 00:08:52.699
 a general

00:08:52.699 --> 00:08:53.319
 care

00:08:53.319 --> 00:08:54.860
 for all

00:08:54.860 --> 00:08:55.259
 people

00:08:55.259 --> 00:08:55.759
 created

00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:56.120
 in His

00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:56.559
 image,

00:08:57.279 --> 00:08:57.620
 He has

00:08:57.620 --> 00:08:58.259
 a special

00:08:58.259 --> 00:08:58.639
 love,

00:08:58.740 --> 00:08:59.279
 a special

00:08:59.279 --> 00:08:59.860
 affection

00:08:59.860 --> 00:09:01.200
 set upon

00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:01.819
 His children

00:09:01.819 --> 00:09:02.460
 that's very

00:09:02.460 --> 00:09:03.179
 different from

00:09:03.179 --> 00:09:03.779
 the rest

00:09:03.779 --> 00:09:04.399
 of the world.

00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:05.899
 So,

00:09:06.100 --> 00:09:06.439
 I want to

00:09:06.439 --> 00:09:06.700
 kind of

00:09:06.700 --> 00:09:07.559
 just define

00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:09.159
 the love

00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:09.639
 of God

00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:11.919
 based on

00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:12.139
 this.

00:09:12.179 --> 00:09:12.419
 This is

00:09:12.419 --> 00:09:12.720
 kind of

00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:13.139
 a hybrid

00:09:13.139 --> 00:09:13.740
 definition

00:09:13.740 --> 00:09:14.279
 of J.I.

00:09:14.340 --> 00:09:14.679
 Packer

00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:15.379
 and Wayne

00:09:15.379 --> 00:09:15.879
 Grudem's

00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:16.360
 definition.

00:09:17.539 --> 00:09:17.779
 But,

00:09:18.299 --> 00:09:19.220
 let's define

00:09:19.220 --> 00:09:19.779
 true,

00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:21.039
 biblical,

00:09:21.419 --> 00:09:21.799
 godly

00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:22.279
 love.

00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:22.819
 So,

00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:23.899
 when I say

00:09:23.899 --> 00:09:24.559
 God's love,

00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:24.819
 what does

00:09:24.820 --> 00:09:25.280
 that mean?

00:09:26.180 --> 00:09:26.540
 And here

00:09:26.540 --> 00:09:26.980
 it is.

00:09:28.460 --> 00:09:29.379
 God's love

00:09:29.379 --> 00:09:29.760
 is an

00:09:29.760 --> 00:09:30.240
 exercise

00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:31.180
 of His

00:09:31.180 --> 00:09:31.740
 goodness

00:09:31.740 --> 00:09:33.060
 whereby

00:09:33.060 --> 00:09:33.980
 He freely

00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:35.580
 and eternally

00:09:35.580 --> 00:09:36.420
 gives of

00:09:36.420 --> 00:09:36.760
 Himself

00:09:36.760 --> 00:09:38.100
 to others.

00:09:39.780 --> 00:09:40.720
 God's love

00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:41.040
 is an

00:09:41.040 --> 00:09:41.460
 exercise

00:09:41.460 --> 00:09:42.160
 of His

00:09:42.160 --> 00:09:42.680
 goodness

00:09:42.680 --> 00:09:43.660
 whereby

00:09:43.660 --> 00:09:44.440
 He freely

00:09:44.440 --> 00:09:45.320
 and eternally

00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:46.080
 gives of

00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:46.400
 Himself

00:09:46.400 --> 00:09:47.400
 to others.

00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:48.399
 God's love

00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:48.399


00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:49.039
 love

00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:49.679
 God's

00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:49.919
 love

00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:50.840
 is an

00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:51.439
 God

00:09:51.439 --> 00:09:51.879
 is unlike

00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:52.459
 any other

00:09:52.459 --> 00:09:53.159
 being in

00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:53.860
 the universe

00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:54.579
 and His

00:09:54.579 --> 00:09:55.059
 love

00:09:55.059 --> 00:09:55.740
 is so

00:09:55.740 --> 00:09:57.360
 immense

00:09:57.360 --> 00:09:58.579
 and infinite.

00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:00.439
 Scriptures say

00:10:00.439 --> 00:10:00.919
 all through,

00:10:01.079 --> 00:10:01.179
 I mean,

00:10:01.319 --> 00:10:02.019
 I could just

00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:02.579
 pick a hundred

00:10:02.579 --> 00:10:03.840
 different texts

00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:04.459
 to look at,

00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:04.980
 but in Psalm

00:10:04.980 --> 00:10:05.500
 103,

00:10:05.659 --> 00:10:06.259
 verse 11,

00:10:06.259 --> 00:10:07.220
 for as

00:10:07.220 --> 00:10:07.799
 high as

00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:08.259
 the heavens

00:10:08.259 --> 00:10:08.980
 are above

00:10:08.980 --> 00:10:09.519
 the earth,

00:10:09.700 --> 00:10:10.679
 so great

00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:11.059
 is His

00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:12.059
 steadfast love

00:10:12.059 --> 00:10:13.759
 toward those

00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:14.500
 who fear Him.

00:10:15.259 --> 00:10:15.819
 And then later

00:10:15.819 --> 00:10:16.919
 on in verse 17,

00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:18.700
 for the steadfast

00:10:18.700 --> 00:10:19.700
 love of the Lord

00:10:19.700 --> 00:10:20.759
 is from everlasting

00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:21.879
 to everlasting

00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:23.240
 on those

00:10:23.240 --> 00:10:24.039
 who fear Him.

00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:25.539
 It's

00:10:25.539 --> 00:10:26.860
 such a

00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:27.539
 magnificent

00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:28.840
 truth we find

00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:30.139
 in the Scripture.

00:10:31.179 --> 00:10:31.720
 And so using

00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:32.519
 our text

00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:33.399
 from 1 John,

00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:35.080
 I want to make

00:10:35.080 --> 00:10:35.740
 just really

00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:36.600
 three points

00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:37.960
 about how

00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:38.840
 we can indicate

00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:39.960
 what true love

00:10:39.960 --> 00:10:40.860
 really is.

00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:42.460
 And I stole

00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:42.840
 these,

00:10:42.919 --> 00:10:43.779
 or I borrowed

00:10:43.779 --> 00:10:44.480
 them from

00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:45.379
 Sinclair Ferguson,

00:10:45.559 --> 00:10:45.980
 so I'll give them

00:10:45.980 --> 00:10:46.799
 back to him

00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:47.080
 later.

00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:48.200
 But these

00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:49.559
 are really,

00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:50.259
 really awesome

00:10:50.259 --> 00:10:51.939
 indicators

00:10:51.939 --> 00:10:52.559
 of what

00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:53.159
 true biblical

00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:53.939
 love is.

00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:55.159
 Okay?

00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:57.200
 So the first one,

00:10:57.240 --> 00:10:57.840
 number one,

00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:00.139
 to understand

00:11:00.139 --> 00:11:00.860
 what love is,

00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:01.179
 we have to

00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:01.799
 understand the

00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:02.279
 identity

00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:03.659
 of the lover.

00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:05.539
 The identity

00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:06.519
 of the lover.

00:11:07.620 --> 00:11:08.259
 So if we look

00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:09.439
 at 1 John

00:11:09.439 --> 00:11:10.879
 chapter 4,

00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:11.939
 look at verse 7,

00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:12.639
 it talks about

00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:13.059
 how

00:11:13.059 --> 00:11:14.700
 for love

00:11:14.700 --> 00:11:15.840
 is from God,

00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:17.720
 and in verse 8,

00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:18.980
 God is love.

00:11:20.259 --> 00:11:21.179
 Verse 16,

00:11:22.439 --> 00:11:23.039
 so we have

00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:23.840
 come to know

00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:25.100
 and to believe

00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:26.299
 the love

00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:26.759
 that God

00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:28.000
 has for us.

00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.700
 God is love.

00:11:31.100 --> 00:11:31.519
 And so,

00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:32.819
 each one of

00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:33.500
 these points,

00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:34.620
 I want to give

00:11:34.620 --> 00:11:35.500
 you a principle

00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:36.200
 to kind of

00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:37.539
 further clarify.

00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:38.120
 So we're talking

00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:38.860
 about the identity

00:11:38.860 --> 00:11:39.600
 of the lover.

00:11:40.319 --> 00:11:40.939
 So here's the

00:11:40.939 --> 00:11:41.340
 principle.

00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:43.139
 The greater

00:11:43.139 --> 00:11:44.080
 the lover,

00:11:44.840 --> 00:11:45.659
 the greater

00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:46.679
 the love.

00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:48.599
 the greater

00:11:48.599 --> 00:11:49.159
 the lover,

00:11:49.459 --> 00:11:49.819
 the greater

00:11:49.819 --> 00:11:50.279
 the love.

00:11:50.359 --> 00:11:51.039
 Real simple.

00:11:51.939 --> 00:11:52.739
 So with that,

00:11:53.439 --> 00:11:54.059
 kind of let your

00:11:54.059 --> 00:11:54.719
 soul try to

00:11:54.719 --> 00:11:55.459
 grasp that

00:11:55.459 --> 00:11:56.819
 of there is

00:11:56.819 --> 00:11:57.419
 no greater

00:11:57.419 --> 00:11:58.339
 lover than

00:11:58.339 --> 00:11:59.120
 the sovereign,

00:11:59.359 --> 00:11:59.839
 eternal,

00:12:00.599 --> 00:12:01.459
 infinite God.

00:12:02.219 --> 00:12:02.979
 No being

00:12:02.979 --> 00:12:03.739
 in existence

00:12:03.739 --> 00:12:04.500
 that has the

00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:05.000
 capacity

00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:06.659
 to love

00:12:06.659 --> 00:12:07.159
 the way

00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:07.679
 that He

00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:08.039
 does,

00:12:08.179 --> 00:12:09.019
 the immensity,

00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:09.939
 the vastness.

00:12:11.099 --> 00:12:11.339
 So,

00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:12.639
 stay in

00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:13.120
 1 John,

00:12:13.199 --> 00:12:13.639
 but just go

00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:14.779
 one chapter

00:12:14.779 --> 00:12:16.259
 before that.

00:12:17.059 --> 00:12:17.799
 Chapter 3

00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:19.819
 and look at

00:12:19.819 --> 00:12:22.120
 verse 1.

00:12:24.220 --> 00:12:24.759
 See

00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:26.419
 what kind

00:12:26.419 --> 00:12:26.879
 of love

00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:27.399
 the Father

00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:28.039
 has given

00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:28.919
 to us

00:12:28.919 --> 00:12:30.139
 that we

00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:30.620
 should be

00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:31.059
 called

00:12:31.059 --> 00:12:31.779
 children of

00:12:31.779 --> 00:12:32.159
 God

00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:32.779
 and so

00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:33.519
 we are.

00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:35.399
 So,

00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:36.259
 this is

00:12:36.259 --> 00:12:37.379
 an amazing

00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:37.919
 verse I'd

00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:38.299
 just like to

00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:38.899
 talk about,

00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:40.299
 but this is

00:12:40.299 --> 00:12:41.379
 the attitude

00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:42.200
 we should take

00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:42.519
 when we're

00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:42.939
 approaching

00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:43.620
 the identity

00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:44.040
 of the

00:12:44.040 --> 00:12:44.260
 lover.

00:12:44.400 --> 00:12:44.520
 Like,

00:12:44.560 --> 00:12:44.800
 we need

00:12:44.800 --> 00:12:46.800
 this idea

00:12:46.800 --> 00:12:47.880
 of beholding

00:12:47.880 --> 00:12:48.760
 the love

00:12:48.760 --> 00:12:49.420
 of God.

00:12:51.880 --> 00:12:52.480
 You know,

00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:52.940
 the only

00:12:52.940 --> 00:12:53.640
 illustration I

00:12:53.640 --> 00:12:53.960
 can really

00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:54.400
 think of

00:12:54.400 --> 00:12:54.740
 with this

00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:55.000
 is one

00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:55.220
 that I

00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:55.580
 shared a

00:12:55.580 --> 00:12:55.960
 long time

00:12:55.960 --> 00:12:56.240
 ago,

00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.280
 but just

00:12:57.280 --> 00:12:57.920
 indulge me.

00:12:58.020 --> 00:12:58.280
 But when

00:12:58.280 --> 00:12:58.820
 I went to

00:12:58.820 --> 00:12:59.400
 the Grand

00:12:59.400 --> 00:13:00.200
 Canyon in

00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:01.540
 November

00:13:01.540 --> 00:13:03.120
 2014,

00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:04.880
 I was with

00:13:04.880 --> 00:13:05.260
 my friend

00:13:05.260 --> 00:13:05.640
 Kevin,

00:13:05.700 --> 00:13:05.960
 and some

00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:06.160
 of you

00:13:06.160 --> 00:13:06.680
 know him.

00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:08.080
 He can

00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:08.560
 be a man

00:13:08.560 --> 00:13:08.880
 a few

00:13:08.880 --> 00:13:09.300
 words

00:13:09.300 --> 00:13:10.440
 sometimes,

00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:12.380
 and just

00:13:12.380 --> 00:13:13.060
 a deep

00:13:13.060 --> 00:13:13.960
 gruffy voice,

00:13:14.620 --> 00:13:14.900
 and we

00:13:14.900 --> 00:13:15.440
 were walking

00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:16.080
 up on the

00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:16.600
 Grand Canyon.

00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:16.940
 We ended

00:13:16.940 --> 00:13:17.340
 up hiking

00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:18.100
 about 13

00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:18.780
 miles around

00:13:18.780 --> 00:13:19.020
 it,

00:13:19.820 --> 00:13:20.380
 and I don't

00:13:20.380 --> 00:13:20.560
 know if

00:13:20.560 --> 00:13:20.840
 you've ever

00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:21.440
 been there,

00:13:21.800 --> 00:13:22.340
 but it's

00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:23.560
 pretty amazing.

00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:23.900
 You can

00:13:23.900 --> 00:13:24.260
 spend,

00:13:24.420 --> 00:13:24.800
 you know,

00:13:25.300 --> 00:13:25.900
 a year,

00:13:26.020 --> 00:13:26.780
 years just

00:13:26.780 --> 00:13:27.700
 exploring all

00:13:27.700 --> 00:13:28.060
 the stuff

00:13:28.060 --> 00:13:28.640
 that is there,

00:13:29.280 --> 00:13:30.040
 and we

00:13:30.040 --> 00:13:30.580
 walked up

00:13:30.580 --> 00:13:31.020
 on it,

00:13:31.940 --> 00:13:32.300
 you're just

00:13:32.300 --> 00:13:32.540
 kind of

00:13:32.540 --> 00:13:32.900
 driving,

00:13:33.060 --> 00:13:33.160
 and you

00:13:33.160 --> 00:13:33.340
 go out

00:13:33.340 --> 00:13:33.480
 and you

00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:33.780
 walk,

00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:34.020
 and the

00:13:34.020 --> 00:13:34.340
 narrative

00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:35.300
 just opens

00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:36.539
 up to

00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:36.719
 this

00:13:36.719 --> 00:13:37.339
 immense,

00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:37.740
 you know,

00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:38.579
 glorious

00:13:38.579 --> 00:13:40.120
 wonder of

00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:40.620
 the world,

00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:42.879
 and again,

00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:43.379
 Kevin,

00:13:43.479 --> 00:13:43.719
 at this

00:13:43.719 --> 00:13:43.939
 point,

00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:44.120
 man,

00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:44.399
 a few

00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:44.859
 words,

00:13:45.099 --> 00:13:45.419
 he kind

00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:45.620
 of just

00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:46.099
 walks up

00:13:46.099 --> 00:13:46.279
 and he

00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:46.719
 just says,

00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:47.839
 wow,

00:13:48.459 --> 00:13:50.159
 look at

00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:50.979
 that.

00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:53.479
 And if

00:13:53.479 --> 00:13:54.039
 Kevin had

00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:54.579
 been speaking

00:13:54.579 --> 00:13:54.959
 in the

00:13:54.959 --> 00:13:55.500
 Old English,

00:13:55.579 --> 00:13:55.919
 which he

00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:56.240
 would never

00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:56.519
 do,

00:13:57.299 --> 00:13:57.819
 he would

00:13:57.819 --> 00:13:58.259
 have said,

00:13:58.539 --> 00:13:58.979
 behold,

00:14:00.039 --> 00:14:00.539
 the Grand

00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:00.919
 Canyon.

00:14:03.139 --> 00:14:03.919
 It means

00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:04.259
 to like

00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:05.199
 gaze upon,

00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:06.659
 take heed

00:14:06.659 --> 00:14:07.120
 of that,

00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:07.899
 look at

00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:08.299
 that.

00:14:08.859 --> 00:14:10.139
 And that

00:14:10.139 --> 00:14:10.779
 is the

00:14:10.779 --> 00:14:11.879
 language that

00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:12.359
 John is

00:14:12.359 --> 00:14:12.939
 trying to

00:14:12.939 --> 00:14:13.620
 convey here,

00:14:13.719 --> 00:14:15.339
 this idea

00:14:15.339 --> 00:14:15.839
 that is

00:14:15.839 --> 00:14:16.620
 like astounding

00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:16.979
 as someone

00:14:16.979 --> 00:14:17.219
 at the

00:14:17.219 --> 00:14:17.419
 Grand

00:14:17.419 --> 00:14:18.139
 Canyon is

00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:19.679
 nothing in

00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:20.759
 comparison to

00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:21.899
 the one who

00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:22.419
 made it and

00:14:22.419 --> 00:14:23.279
 the glory of

00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:23.979
 the love of

00:14:23.979 --> 00:14:24.479
 the one who

00:14:24.479 --> 00:14:24.919
 made it.

00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:26.000
 So,

00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:26.959
 see or

00:14:26.959 --> 00:14:27.879
 behold,

00:14:28.059 --> 00:14:28.759
 gaze upon

00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:30.000
 what kind

00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:30.599
 of love

00:14:30.599 --> 00:14:31.819
 the Father

00:14:31.819 --> 00:14:32.379
 has given.

00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:32.819
 Some of the

00:14:32.819 --> 00:14:33.639
 older translations

00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:34.259
 are like better,

00:14:34.359 --> 00:14:35.259
 has lavished

00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:36.340
 upon us,

00:14:36.819 --> 00:14:37.220
 that we

00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:37.659
 should be

00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:38.080
 called

00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:39.620
 children of

00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:40.000
 God.

00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:41.419
 So,

00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:42.039
 another way to

00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:43.000
 understand what

00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:43.580
 the love of

00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:44.159
 God actually

00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:45.960
 means is to

00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:46.620
 just look at

00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.379
 the language.

00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:48.379
 So,

00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:49.059
 what kind of

00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:49.700
 love is this?

00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:50.600
 What sort?

00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:51.559
 What manner of

00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:51.980
 love?

00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:53.539
 And if you,

00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:55.799
 people who like to

00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:56.419
 study and go

00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:56.740
 deep,

00:14:57.799 --> 00:14:59.460
 the love word

00:14:59.460 --> 00:14:59.980
 that's used

00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:01.639
 here is

00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.379
 agape,

00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:04.399
 the highest

00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:05.259
 form of

00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.300
 love in

00:15:06.300 --> 00:15:06.740
 existence.

00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:07.820
 So,

00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:08.620
 it's not like a

00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:09.500
 brotherly love.

00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:10.639
 It's not

00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:11.480
 necessarily even

00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:12.659
 like a love

00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:13.000
 that you might

00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:13.519
 have for your

00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:14.300
 husband or

00:15:14.300 --> 00:15:14.680
 wife.

00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:16.139
 It's much

00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:16.879
 deeper than

00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:17.220
 that.

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:19.039
 Since God,

00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:19.899
 by his very

00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:20.500
 definition,

00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:22.320
 defines what

00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:23.060
 love is,

00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:24.779
 he alone

00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:25.820
 kind of possesses

00:15:25.820 --> 00:15:26.580
 this attribute

00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:27.379
 of agape

00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:28.740
 love.

00:15:29.560 --> 00:15:30.520
 That word

00:15:30.520 --> 00:15:31.420
 was used

00:15:31.420 --> 00:15:32.340
 very rarely

00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:33.180
 in Greek

00:15:33.180 --> 00:15:35.379
 speaking cultures

00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:36.780
 and societies.

00:15:37.700 --> 00:15:38.300
 It wasn't

00:15:38.300 --> 00:15:38.840
 used a lot.

00:15:38.940 --> 00:15:39.440
 It usually

00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:40.200
 was associated

00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:40.680
 with just

00:15:40.680 --> 00:15:41.180
 some sort

00:15:41.180 --> 00:15:41.640
 of divine

00:15:41.640 --> 00:15:42.080
 love.

00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:43.000
 But in the

00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:43.580
 New Testament,

00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:44.879
 it's used

00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:46.600
 320 times,

00:15:46.920 --> 00:15:47.820
 which is

00:15:47.820 --> 00:15:48.760
 magnifying

00:15:48.760 --> 00:15:49.460
 that idea

00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:50.080
 that this

00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:50.820
 is a special,

00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:51.820
 unique,

00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:52.760
 other kind

00:15:52.760 --> 00:15:53.300
 of love

00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:54.620
 that God

00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:55.740
 has.

00:15:55.820 --> 00:15:56.700
 That is

00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:58.160
 self-sacrificing

00:15:58.160 --> 00:15:59.640
 and unconditional.

00:16:00.940 --> 00:16:01.440
 So it is

00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:02.600
 not a type

00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:03.500
 of human

00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:04.560
 origin kind

00:16:04.560 --> 00:16:05.080
 of love

00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:05.640
 at all.

00:16:06.560 --> 00:16:06.960
 Agape,

00:16:07.140 --> 00:16:07.760
 he has given

00:16:07.760 --> 00:16:08.100
 this,

00:16:08.140 --> 00:16:08.900
 he has lavished

00:16:08.900 --> 00:16:09.680
 this freely,

00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:11.060
 bestowed on

00:16:11.060 --> 00:16:12.160
 this abundantly

00:16:12.160 --> 00:16:12.960
 to us,

00:16:13.560 --> 00:16:14.060
 the love

00:16:14.060 --> 00:16:14.600
 of God.

00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:16.500
 So,

00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:17.780
 something else

00:16:17.780 --> 00:16:18.240
 to think

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:18.580
 about,

00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:20.080
 this idea

00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:20.780
 of the love

00:16:20.780 --> 00:16:21.300
 of God,

00:16:22.060 --> 00:16:23.200
 is to think

00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:23.800
 about it in

00:16:23.800 --> 00:16:24.340
 the form of

00:16:24.340 --> 00:16:24.740
 just his

00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:25.380
 attributes.

00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.680
 God has

00:16:26.680 --> 00:16:27.379
 many attributes,

00:16:27.560 --> 00:16:27.860
 holiness,

00:16:29.060 --> 00:16:29.400
 justice,

00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:30.520
 goodness,

00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:31.800
 mercy,

00:16:32.420 --> 00:16:32.840
 love,

00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:34.860
 but when you

00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:35.300
 study the

00:16:35.300 --> 00:16:35.980
 attributes of

00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:36.280
 God,

00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:36.720
 you need to

00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:37.300
 sort of be

00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:38.840
 aware that

00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:40.780
 it's not just

00:16:40.780 --> 00:16:41.400
 that God

00:16:41.400 --> 00:16:43.340
 has goodness

00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:45.200
 or has

00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:45.700
 love,

00:16:45.760 --> 00:16:46.420
 it's that he

00:16:46.420 --> 00:16:47.620
 is goodness

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.720
 and is

00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.100
 love.

00:16:49.660 --> 00:16:50.700
 He defines

00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:51.100
 those things

00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:51.380
 and they're

00:16:51.380 --> 00:16:52.140
 very different

00:16:52.140 --> 00:16:53.620
 the way I

00:16:53.620 --> 00:16:54.299
 just explained

00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:54.639
 that.

00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:55.960
 You and I

00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:56.519
 can have

00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:56.879
 goodness,

00:16:57.060 --> 00:16:57.679
 we can be

00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:58.120
 good,

00:16:58.840 --> 00:16:59.899
 we can be

00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:00.279
 loving,

00:17:01.060 --> 00:17:01.600
 but then,

00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:03.080
 like many of

00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:03.560
 us know,

00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.640
 all that has

00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:06.259
 to happen is

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:06.759
 the one has

00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:07.180
 to blow a

00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:07.700
 different way

00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:08.519
 and circumstances

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.079
 get rough

00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:09.400
 and then we

00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:10.160
 are not so

00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:10.539
 good,

00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:12.339
 not so loving.

00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:13.940
 We change

00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:15.420
 very quickly

00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:16.980
 as our

00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:17.599
 circumstances

00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:18.119
 get more

00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:18.579
 difficult.

00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:19.980
 You ever

00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:20.380
 heard someone

00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:20.780
 say,

00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:21.060
 you know,

00:17:21.060 --> 00:17:21.500
 she used

00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:21.920
 to be

00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:22.380
 such a

00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:22.660
 loving

00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:23.160
 and kind

00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:23.620
 person,

00:17:24.360 --> 00:17:24.940
 but then

00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:25.620
 she lost

00:17:25.620 --> 00:17:26.240
 her job

00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.240
 and now

00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:27.760
 she's very

00:17:27.760 --> 00:17:28.520
 just upset

00:17:28.520 --> 00:17:29.980
 and angry

00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:30.860
 and depressed.

00:17:31.360 --> 00:17:32.520
 We change,

00:17:32.620 --> 00:17:33.460
 but the

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.300
 difference is,

00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:35.460
 again,

00:17:35.580 --> 00:17:36.060
 that God

00:17:36.060 --> 00:17:36.880
 is his

00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:37.340
 attributes.

00:17:37.560 --> 00:17:38.160
 He is

00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:38.540
 love.

00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:38.920
 We've read

00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:39.760
 that in our

00:17:39.760 --> 00:17:40.400
 text twice.

00:17:40.560 --> 00:17:41.280
 God is

00:17:41.280 --> 00:17:42.520
 love.

00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:43.880
 And so

00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:44.380
 his love

00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:44.800
 for us

00:17:44.800 --> 00:17:45.140
 is not

00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:45.640
 worn out

00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:46.060
 by our

00:17:46.060 --> 00:17:46.520
 sins

00:17:46.520 --> 00:17:47.140
 or by our

00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:47.760
 indifference.

00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:48.480
 It continues

00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.760
 to be

00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:50.299
 what it

00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:50.640
 is.

00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:53.039
 This love

00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:54.440
 extends from

00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:55.740
 the love

00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:56.440
 that the

00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:56.819
 Trinity

00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:57.700
 possesses,

00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:58.000
 Father,

00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:58.519
 Son,

00:17:59.220 --> 00:17:59.700
 and Holy

00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:00.079
 Spirit,

00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:00.440
 and the

00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:00.799
 love that

00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.359
 they have

00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:01.779
 together

00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:02.259
 that then

00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:02.879
 extends

00:18:02.879 --> 00:18:04.000
 out to

00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:04.420
 us.

00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:06.119
 I love

00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:06.680
 that idea

00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:08.180
 that I

00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:08.599
 can't wait

00:18:08.599 --> 00:18:08.819
 to,

00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:09.500
 we'll eventually

00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:10.400
 maybe do a

00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:10.920
 series on

00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:11.799
 John 17,

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.019
 the high

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:13.299
 priestly

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:13.700
 prayer.

00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:15.480
 And I

00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:15.859
 love it

00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:16.240
 that Jesus

00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:17.220
 actually says,

00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:19.339
 I ask

00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:20.019
 that those

00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:20.319
 whom you

00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:20.720
 have given

00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:22.000
 me may

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:22.419
 one day

00:18:22.419 --> 00:18:22.839
 be with

00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:23.199
 me where

00:18:23.199 --> 00:18:23.759
 I am

00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.859
 to behold

00:18:24.859 --> 00:18:25.599
 my glory.

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.079
 Then he

00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:26.319
 says,

00:18:26.399 --> 00:18:26.819
 the glory

00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:27.319
 I had

00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:27.919
 with you

00:18:27.919 --> 00:18:28.980
 before the

00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.199
 world

00:18:29.199 --> 00:18:29.679
 existed.

00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:30.899
 It's this

00:18:30.899 --> 00:18:31.399
 idea of

00:18:31.399 --> 00:18:32.099
 like joy

00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:33.859
 and contentment

00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:34.740
 inside the

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.199
 Godhead

00:18:35.199 --> 00:18:36.059
 before anything

00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:36.579
 existed.

00:18:37.419 --> 00:18:37.799
 He didn't

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.480
 need us.

00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.019
 Very

00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.639
 complete,

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.179
 very

00:18:41.179 --> 00:18:42.059
 joyful,

00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:42.659
 very

00:18:42.659 --> 00:18:43.699
 much

00:18:43.699 --> 00:18:44.980
 love

00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:45.779
 inside

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:46.720
 the

00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:47.059
 Trinity.

00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:48.339
 And if

00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:48.599
 you look

00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:48.839
 at our

00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:49.319
 text in

00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:49.559
 John,

00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:50.059
 you see

00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:50.299
 the

00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:50.660
 Father,

00:18:50.879 --> 00:18:51.139
 Son,

00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:51.539
 and the

00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:52.019
 Holy Spirit

00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.539
 mentioned

00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.339
 in this

00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:54.240
 idea of

00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:55.559
 love.

00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:56.720
 So is

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.559
 an extension

00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:59.059
 of those

00:18:59.059 --> 00:18:59.500
 things.

00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:01.039
 The love

00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:01.599
 of God

00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:03.700
 is

00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:04.899
 uninfluenced.

00:19:06.139 --> 00:19:06.579
 What I

00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:07.000
 mean by

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.819
 that is

00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:08.879
 that there

00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:09.359
 is nothing

00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:10.059
 about you

00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:10.519
 and I

00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:12.200
 that prompted

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:13.019
 or attracted

00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:13.660
 that love

00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:13.899
 that he

00:19:13.899 --> 00:19:14.420
 gave us.

00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.600
 And that

00:19:15.600 --> 00:19:15.980
 might be

00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:16.360
 hard to

00:19:16.360 --> 00:19:17.440
 hear for

00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.060
 some people.

00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:20.019
 But it

00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:20.600
 was something

00:19:20.600 --> 00:19:21.140
 that he

00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:22.620
 did simply

00:19:22.620 --> 00:19:23.320
 because he

00:19:23.320 --> 00:19:24.000
 chose to.

00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:25.000
 Because it

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.460
 was in his

00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:26.980
 nature to

00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:27.600
 show love.

00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:28.060
 But he

00:19:28.060 --> 00:19:28.420
 wasn't

00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:30.080
 obligated to

00:19:30.080 --> 00:19:30.740
 show love

00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.300
 at all.

00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:32.519
 There was

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.080
 nothing in

00:19:33.080 --> 00:19:33.920
 us at all.

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.200
 We'll get

00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:34.840
 to that in a

00:19:34.840 --> 00:19:35.100
 minute.

00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:36.259
 But that

00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:36.700
 love is

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.700
 uninfluenced.

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.300
 It doesn't

00:19:39.300 --> 00:19:39.720
 waver.

00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.140
 Think about

00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:43.980
 the favorite

00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:45.240
 John 3.16.

00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:46.920
 Incredible

00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:47.480
 verse.

00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:49.140
 Incredible

00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:49.680
 verse.

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:50.779
 But we

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.440
 often mistake

00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:52.000
 this idea

00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:52.799
 of God

00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.860
 so loved

00:19:53.860 --> 00:19:54.420
 the world

00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:55.980
 to mean

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:56.360
 that God

00:19:56.360 --> 00:19:56.799
 loved the

00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:57.480
 world so

00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.319
 much.

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.099
 Like extend

00:19:59.099 --> 00:19:59.599
 the O's

00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.019
 on that.

00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:01.299
 And that's

00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:01.940
 not what it's

00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:02.240
 saying.

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:02.900
 It's just

00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:04.059
 they chose

00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:04.440
 to kind of

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:04.799
 stick with

00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.140
 the old

00:20:05.140 --> 00:20:05.519
 English.

00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.460
 Like God

00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:06.799
 loved the

00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.019
 world.

00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:07.539
 And then

00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.059
 back then

00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:08.360
 you said

00:20:08.360 --> 00:20:09.079
 well how

00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:09.480
 so?

00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:11.240
 Well he

00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:11.579
 gave his

00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.140
 only son.

00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:13.680
 So it's

00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:14.160
 this idea

00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.060
 that it

00:20:15.060 --> 00:20:15.900
 really magnifies

00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:16.900
 God's choice

00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:17.380
 to send

00:20:17.380 --> 00:20:17.880
 his son.

00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:18.180
 That he

00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:19.100
 chose to

00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:19.520
 send his

00:20:19.520 --> 00:20:19.780
 son.

00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.100
 That's how

00:20:21.100 --> 00:20:22.400
 he loved

00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:22.920
 the world.

00:20:24.120 --> 00:20:24.340
 And it's

00:20:24.340 --> 00:20:25.140
 God's love

00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:25.960
 is eternal.

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:26.520
 Jeremiah

00:20:26.520 --> 00:20:27.660
 31.3

00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:28.720
 I have

00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.300
 loved you

00:20:29.300 --> 00:20:29.640
 with an

00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:30.240
 everlasting

00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:31.160
 love.

00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.680
 And therefore

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.180
 with love

00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:33.759
 and kindness

00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:34.140
 I have

00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:34.700
 drawn you.

00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:36.140
 So that

00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:36.520
 is the

00:20:36.520 --> 00:20:37.160
 testimony

00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:38.780
 of God's

00:20:38.780 --> 00:20:38.960
 love.

00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.259
 there is

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:39.500
 no

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:39.940
 greater

00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:40.559
 lover

00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:41.180
 than

00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:41.620
 the

00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:42.000
 sovereign

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.079
 almighty

00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:43.519
 God.

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:46.120
 So we

00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:46.799
 weaken in

00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:47.299
 our love

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:47.740
 but he

00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:48.519
 remains

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.299
 true

00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:50.920
 and steadfast.

00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:52.420
 And that

00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:52.880
 brings us

00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:53.180
 to the

00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:53.380
 second

00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:53.779
 point.

00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:56.220
 And that

00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:56.640
 is the

00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:57.259
 object

00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:58.759
 of love.

00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.160
 The

00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:00.720
 object

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.519
 of love.

00:21:02.620 --> 00:21:02.980
 If you

00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:03.400
 look at

00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:04.100
 verse 10

00:21:04.100 --> 00:21:05.380
 back in

00:21:05.380 --> 00:21:06.019
 chapter 4

00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:08.139
 it says

00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:08.619
 and this

00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:09.079
 is love

00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:09.339
 and it

00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:09.539
 says

00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:10.420
 not

00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:11.079
 that we

00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:11.420
 have

00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:11.639
 loved

00:21:11.639 --> 00:21:12.039
 God.

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.259
 Just

00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.859
 chew on

00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:14.220
 that for

00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:14.579
 a second.

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.359
 So here's

00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:16.879
 the principle

00:21:16.879 --> 00:21:17.519
 attached to

00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.099
 this point.

00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.460
 The lesser

00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:21.599
 the object

00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.940
 the greater

00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:23.500
 the love.

00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.259
 The lesser

00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:26.119
 the object

00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:27.339
 the greater

00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:27.900
 the love.

00:21:28.639 --> 00:21:29.339
 It is

00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:30.619
 really easy

00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:31.420
 to love

00:21:31.420 --> 00:21:31.920
 people who

00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:32.379
 are lovable.

00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:33.759
 It is

00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.400
 really easy

00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:34.799
 to love

00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.240
 people who

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.639
 are loving

00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:36.180
 you in

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:36.880
 return and

00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:37.259
 giving you

00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:37.660
 a lot

00:21:37.660 --> 00:21:38.220
 more back

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:38.560
 for what

00:21:38.560 --> 00:21:39.040
 you give.

00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:43.000
 Jesus

00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:43.500
 said

00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:44.700
 if you

00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.380
 love those

00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:45.800
 who love

00:21:45.800 --> 00:21:46.140
 you

00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:47.660
 what benefit

00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:48.200
 is that

00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:48.900
 to you?

00:21:49.520 --> 00:21:49.980
 For even

00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:50.440
 sinners

00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:50.880
 those who

00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.400
 don't know

00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:51.800
 God

00:21:51.800 --> 00:21:52.560
 love those

00:21:52.560 --> 00:21:53.020
 who love

00:21:53.020 --> 00:21:53.580
 them.

00:21:54.820 --> 00:21:55.420
 It is

00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:56.000
 a weak

00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:56.460
 love.

00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:58.640
 And so

00:21:58.640 --> 00:22:00.580
 we have

00:22:00.580 --> 00:22:01.280
 this idea

00:22:01.280 --> 00:22:01.720
 that

00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:03.600
 God had

00:22:03.600 --> 00:22:03.980
 to come

00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:04.620
 here and

00:22:04.620 --> 00:22:04.820
 send

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.019
 his son

00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:06.439
 to die

00:22:06.439 --> 00:22:06.960
 for us

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.740
 because

00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.359
 we were

00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:08.700
 so

00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.159
 worthy.

00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:10.259
 Because

00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:10.539
 we were

00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:11.000
 so

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.639
 lovable.

00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:12.059
 Because

00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.259
 he

00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:12.659
 could not

00:22:12.659 --> 00:22:13.299
 go on

00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:14.159
 without

00:22:14.159 --> 00:22:14.720
 us.

00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:14.980
 And he

00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:15.539
 had to

00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:15.759
 send

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.179
 Jesus

00:22:16.179 --> 00:22:17.679
 to die.

00:22:18.679 --> 00:22:18.919
 And so

00:22:18.919 --> 00:22:19.460
 what happens

00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.079
 is me and the

00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:20.539
 church have

00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:21.059
 wrongfully

00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:21.839
 turned God's

00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.279
 love into

00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:22.759
 an echo

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.619
 of man's

00:22:23.619 --> 00:22:24.519
 value,

00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.279
 man's

00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:25.819
 excellence,

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.119
 man's

00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:27.519
 worth.

00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:29.039
 Instead of

00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:29.859
 seeing it as

00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:31.139
 an affront

00:22:31.139 --> 00:22:31.759
 to the

00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:32.319
 glory of

00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:32.740
 God and

00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.199
 the holiness

00:22:33.199 --> 00:22:33.799
 of God

00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:35.039
 and rebellion

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:35.659
 against the

00:22:35.659 --> 00:22:36.099
 greatest

00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:38.000
 being in

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.519
 the universe.

00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:40.379
 So he

00:22:40.379 --> 00:22:40.939
 didn't have

00:22:40.939 --> 00:22:41.439
 to come

00:22:41.439 --> 00:22:41.919
 and save

00:22:41.919 --> 00:22:42.099
 us,

00:22:42.139 --> 00:22:42.379
 but he

00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:43.139
 chose to.

00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:44.159
 Right?

00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.000
 Rebellious,

00:22:45.159 --> 00:22:45.639
 ungodly

00:22:45.639 --> 00:22:45.959
 sinners.

00:22:46.639 --> 00:22:47.219
 So remember,

00:22:47.399 --> 00:22:47.979
 the lesser the

00:22:47.979 --> 00:22:48.359
 object,

00:22:48.479 --> 00:22:49.179
 we are way

00:22:49.179 --> 00:22:49.719
 down here,

00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:50.779
 the greater

00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.279
 the love.

00:22:52.119 --> 00:22:53.079
 When you

00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:53.959
 magnify how

00:22:53.959 --> 00:22:54.419
 great you

00:22:54.419 --> 00:22:54.639
 are,

00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.379
 you demean

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:55.740
 the love

00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.159
 of God,

00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:56.740
 is what I'm

00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.259
 trying to say.

00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:58.160
 When you

00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:58.940
 understand what

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.299
 the Bible

00:22:59.299 --> 00:23:00.039
 really says

00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:00.539
 about who

00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.180
 we were,

00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:02.539
 as people

00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.359
 separated from

00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:03.740
 God,

00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.879
 it magnifies

00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:05.539
 the love

00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:06.099
 of God.

00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:08.039
 Hard to

00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:08.579
 love things

00:23:08.579 --> 00:23:08.819
 that are

00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:09.359
 unlovable,

00:23:10.119 --> 00:23:11.039
 but he

00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:11.519
 chose to

00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.019
 do so.

00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:13.319
 So that

00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:13.680
 is the

00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.900
 test of

00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:15.259
 love.

00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.180
 Hold your

00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:16.579
 hand in

00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.160
 verse John,

00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:18.980
 but look

00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.519
 over at

00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:20.160
 Ephesians

00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:21.700
 chapter 2.

00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.339
 Just turn

00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.240
 to the left.

00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.200
 Ephesians

00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.259
 chapter 2.

00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:32.240
 So many

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.799
 of us know

00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:33.180
 that it's

00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:34.079
 not hard

00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.640
 to profess

00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:35.180
 love for

00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:35.960
 someone when

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.740
 circumstances

00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:38.079
 are great,

00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:39.920
 and when you

00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:40.400
 feel like you're

00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:40.940
 getting love

00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.500
 in return.

00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:42.319
 But however,

00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:42.839
 the true

00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:43.319
 test of

00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:43.859
 love comes

00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:45.140
 when difficulty,

00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:45.680
 hardship,

00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.160
 and trials,

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:47.839
 and obstacles

00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:48.420
 come our

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:48.740
 way.

00:23:48.879 --> 00:23:49.160
 Are you

00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:49.460
 going to

00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.119
 love through

00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:50.460
 that,

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:50.819
 or is

00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:51.119
 your love

00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:51.640
 going to

00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:52.220
 vanish?

00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.619
 And this

00:23:54.619 --> 00:23:55.180
 is a picture

00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:55.599
 of,

00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.319
 again,

00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:56.919
 the lesser

00:23:56.919 --> 00:23:57.740
 the object,

00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.159
 which would

00:23:58.159 --> 00:23:58.759
 be us,

00:23:59.659 --> 00:24:00.279
 the greater

00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:00.819
 the love.

00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:01.339
 So,

00:24:01.939 --> 00:24:02.759
 Ephesians 2,

00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.079
 look at

00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:03.799
 verse 1.

00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:05.619
 Very

00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:06.480
 familiar text.

00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.860
 we were

00:24:07.860 --> 00:24:08.420
 dead in our

00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:09.059
 trespasses

00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:09.620
 and sin,

00:24:10.620 --> 00:24:11.599
 in which

00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:12.059
 you once

00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:12.500
 walked,

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.200
 following

00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:14.319
 the course

00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:14.660
 of this

00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:15.019
 world,

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.240
 following

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:16.920
 the prince

00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:17.200
 of the

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:17.819
 power of

00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:18.259
 the air,

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.779
 the spirit

00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:20.299
 that is now

00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:20.660
 at work

00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:20.940
 in the

00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:21.380
 sons of

00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:22.259
 disobedience,

00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:24.079
 among whom

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:24.579
 we all

00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.339
 once lived

00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:25.620
 in the

00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:26.360
 passions of

00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:26.940
 our flesh,

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.440
 carrying out

00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.039
 the desires

00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.660
 of the body

00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.019
 and the

00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:29.400
 mind,

00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:30.480
 and were

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:31.099
 by nature

00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:31.599
 children

00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:32.559
 of wrath,

00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:33.480
 like the

00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.079
 rest of

00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:34.440
 mankind.

00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:35.740
 stop.

00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:37.420
 What is

00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:38.320
 lovable about

00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:38.980
 any of that?

00:24:39.080 --> 00:24:39.420
 What is

00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:40.320
 worthy about

00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:41.080
 any of that?

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:42.279
 Nothing.

00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:43.960
 He is

00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:44.720
 explaining who

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.299
 they were

00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:46.759
 before Jesus

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.259
 and really

00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:47.680
 who we

00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:47.980
 were.

00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.180
 We didn't

00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:49.660
 love God,

00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:49.960
 we were

00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:50.680
 alienated

00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:51.440
 from God.

00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:52.180
 We were

00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:52.759
 dead in

00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:53.420
 our sins

00:24:53.420 --> 00:24:53.779
 and we

00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.120
 followed

00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:54.720
 the world

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:56.100
 and we

00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:56.539
 followed

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:58.380
 our flesh,

00:24:58.680 --> 00:24:59.380
 the passions

00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:00.059
 of our flesh

00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:00.299
 and we

00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:00.880
 walked in

00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:01.779
 disobedience.

00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:02.740
 And then it

00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.180
 says the

00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:03.700
 result of

00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.120
 that was

00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:04.419
 we were

00:25:04.419 --> 00:25:05.179
 by nature

00:25:05.179 --> 00:25:06.339
 children

00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:06.959
 of wrath.

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.079
 Nothing

00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:10.919
 worthy about

00:25:10.919 --> 00:25:11.279
 that.

00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.839
 Verse 4

00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.099
 though,

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.099
 here's

00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:15.319
 that,

00:25:15.419 --> 00:25:15.639
 here's

00:25:15.639 --> 00:25:16.119
 this idea

00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:16.719
 explained.

00:25:17.459 --> 00:25:18.039
 But God,

00:25:18.719 --> 00:25:19.259
 being rich

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:19.779
 in mercy

00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:21.079
 because of

00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:21.699
 the great

00:25:21.699 --> 00:25:23.519
 love with

00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.019
 which he

00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:24.719
 loved us,

00:25:25.199 --> 00:25:25.919
 even when

00:25:25.919 --> 00:25:26.219
 we were

00:25:26.219 --> 00:25:26.859
 dead in

00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:27.739
 our trespasses,

00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:28.179
 made us

00:25:28.179 --> 00:25:29.139
 alive together

00:25:29.139 --> 00:25:30.000
 with Christ.

00:25:31.179 --> 00:25:32.099
 By grace

00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:32.879
 you have

00:25:32.879 --> 00:25:33.779
 been saved.

00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:35.579
 so when

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.259
 we pause

00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:36.879
 to consider

00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:37.699
 how truly

00:25:37.699 --> 00:25:38.779
 wretched

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.759
 and unworthy

00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:41.339
 we really

00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:41.719
 are,

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.599
 and I know

00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:43.859
 I don't

00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:44.399
 deserve any

00:25:44.399 --> 00:25:45.000
 good thing,

00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.179
 and yet I

00:25:46.179 --> 00:25:47.059
 still think I

00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:47.500
 deserve it

00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:47.819
 from time

00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:48.219
 to time.

00:25:48.379 --> 00:25:48.459
 Like,

00:25:48.459 --> 00:25:49.319
 in my right

00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:49.619
 mind,

00:25:49.699 --> 00:25:50.399
 I am a

00:25:50.399 --> 00:25:51.939
 sinful man.

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.739
 Peter's words

00:25:53.739 --> 00:25:54.379
 often come to

00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:54.939
 my mind,

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.299
 like,

00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:56.639
 when Jesus

00:25:56.639 --> 00:25:57.819
 spoke to

00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.559
 him in

00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.779
 Luke for

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.139
 the first

00:26:00.139 --> 00:26:00.479
 time,

00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:00.720
 and he

00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:01.339
 realized

00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:01.839
 who Jesus

00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:02.319
 was,

00:26:02.360 --> 00:26:02.559
 and he

00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:02.819
 said,

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.220
 go away

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:04.700
 from me.

00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.140
 I'm a

00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:05.860
 sinful man.

00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.460
 I'm a

00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.180
 wicked man.

00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:07.460
 Don't

00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:07.880
 come near

00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:08.180
 me.

00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:09.420
 And Jesus

00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:11.120
 then says,

00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.539
 come here.

00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:12.779
 You're going

00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.360
 to be mine.

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:16.099
 And worked

00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:16.860
 in Simon's

00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:17.240
 life,

00:26:17.860 --> 00:26:18.720
 often how I

00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:19.059
 feel.

00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:20.620
 But this,

00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:21.180
 again,

00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:22.480
 this magnifies

00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:23.259
 the love of

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.720
 God to

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.500
 understand that

00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.140
 we were not

00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:25.579
 lovable.

00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:27.180
 Nothing

00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:28.380
 attractive about

00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:28.820
 us at

00:26:28.820 --> 00:26:29.080
 all.

00:26:29.780 --> 00:26:30.060
 But he

00:26:30.060 --> 00:26:30.820
 chose to

00:26:30.820 --> 00:26:31.220
 do it.

00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:32.540
 And that

00:26:32.540 --> 00:26:32.940
 brings us

00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:33.200
 to the

00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:33.700
 third point.

00:26:33.840 --> 00:26:33.960
 So,

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.620
 how did

00:26:35.620 --> 00:26:36.620
 he express

00:26:36.620 --> 00:26:37.080
 this love?

00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:37.440
 This number

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:37.820
 three,

00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.780
 the expression

00:26:39.780 --> 00:26:40.740
 of love.

00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:42.620
 The expression

00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.240
 of love.

00:26:44.100 --> 00:26:44.360
 So,

00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:44.720
 we have the

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.340
 identity of

00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:45.680
 the lover,

00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.260
 right?

00:26:47.520 --> 00:26:48.440
 The object

00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:49.020
 of love,

00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:50.320
 and then

00:26:50.320 --> 00:26:50.940
 lastly and

00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.220
 thirdly,

00:26:51.280 --> 00:26:51.860
 the expression

00:26:51.860 --> 00:26:52.820
 of love.

00:26:53.780 --> 00:26:54.120
 And the

00:26:54.120 --> 00:26:54.940
 principle for

00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:55.600
 this is,

00:26:56.140 --> 00:26:57.880
 the greater

00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:58.580
 the expression,

00:26:59.480 --> 00:26:59.840
 the more

00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:00.520
 marvelous the

00:27:00.520 --> 00:27:00.820
 love.

00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:02.900
 The greater

00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.540
 the expression,

00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:03.960
 the more

00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.940
 marvelous the

00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:05.260
 love.

00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:07.600
 And there's

00:27:07.600 --> 00:27:07.980
 no greater

00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.500
 lover than

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:08.880
 God,

00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:10.340
 no lesser

00:27:10.340 --> 00:27:11.400
 objects worthy

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:12.000
 of love

00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:12.900
 than us,

00:27:13.800 --> 00:27:14.300
 and no

00:27:14.300 --> 00:27:14.980
 greater echo

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:15.900
 of the love

00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.520
 of God

00:27:16.520 --> 00:27:17.320
 than the

00:27:17.320 --> 00:27:17.740
 rugged,

00:27:18.340 --> 00:27:19.360
 bloodstained

00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:20.100
 cross of

00:27:20.100 --> 00:27:20.600
 his son,

00:27:22.080 --> 00:27:23.260
 Jesus Christ.

00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:24.760
 So,

00:27:24.820 --> 00:27:25.420
 God's love

00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:25.900
 paid the

00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.820
 highest price,

00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:27.259
 the life

00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:27.799
 of his son

00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.720
 to ungodly

00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:30.019
 sinners.

00:27:30.879 --> 00:27:31.659
 He gave

00:27:31.659 --> 00:27:32.000
 that,

00:27:32.639 --> 00:27:33.839
 freely gave

00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:34.179
 that,

00:27:34.639 --> 00:27:35.019
 paid the

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.939
 highest price

00:27:35.939 --> 00:27:37.019
 he could

00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.299
 pay.

00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:38.939
 I think

00:27:38.939 --> 00:27:39.359
 some people

00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:39.919
 were shocked

00:27:39.919 --> 00:27:41.519
 when I was

00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.159
 shocked years

00:27:42.159 --> 00:27:43.700
 ago when a

00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.240
 man asked

00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:44.460
 me,

00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:45.059
 so you know

00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:46.559
 what God

00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.240
 loves the

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:47.720
 most?

00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:48.980
 And I was

00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.119
 like,

00:27:49.179 --> 00:27:49.460
 me?

00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.079
 He loves

00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:51.419
 me.

00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:53.079
 And he was

00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.319
 like,

00:27:53.579 --> 00:27:54.039
 no.

00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.019
 And I was

00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:55.099
 like,

00:27:55.159 --> 00:27:56.099
 oh my gosh,

00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:56.359
 like,

00:27:56.719 --> 00:27:57.139
 what are

00:27:57.139 --> 00:27:57.399
 you about

00:27:57.399 --> 00:27:57.819
 to say?

00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:58.099
 And he's

00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:58.299
 like,

00:27:58.859 --> 00:27:59.480
 he loves

00:27:59.480 --> 00:27:59.980
 his son.

00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:01.439
 His son

00:28:01.439 --> 00:28:01.699
 is the

00:28:01.699 --> 00:28:02.219
 most precious

00:28:02.219 --> 00:28:03.539
 thing to

00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:03.839
 him.

00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:04.379
 And he

00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:04.799
 willingly

00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.599
 and freely

00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:07.019
 gave the

00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.699
 most precious

00:28:07.699 --> 00:28:10.000
 thing to

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.419
 bring us

00:28:10.419 --> 00:28:10.980
 salvation,

00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:12.139
 though we

00:28:12.139 --> 00:28:13.019
 didn't deserve

00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:13.299
 it.

00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:14.559
 He came

00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:14.799
 and he

00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:15.219
 paid the

00:28:15.219 --> 00:28:15.719
 price for

00:28:15.719 --> 00:28:16.740
 sin on

00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.279
 the cross.

00:28:18.199 --> 00:28:18.619
 So,

00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:19.599
 love is

00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:20.619
 also expressed

00:28:20.619 --> 00:28:20.939
 in like,

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.699
 how low

00:28:21.699 --> 00:28:22.719
 are you

00:28:22.719 --> 00:28:23.439
 willing to

00:28:23.439 --> 00:28:24.459
 stoop for

00:28:24.459 --> 00:28:24.759
 me?

00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:25.839
 Right?

00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.140
 Think about

00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:27.460
 that.

00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:29.359
 How low

00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:29.640
 are you

00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:30.259
 willing to

00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:30.640
 stoop?

00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:32.400
 Humble

00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:32.980
 yourself

00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.460
 for

00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:33.819
 another.

00:28:35.059 --> 00:28:35.519
 Christ

00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.799
 stooped

00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:37.200
 unlike

00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:38.019
 any other

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.599
 being in

00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.000
 existence.

00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:40.720
 He washed

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.319
 the disciples'

00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:41.940
 feet for

00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.460
 goodness sake.

00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:42.700
 And I

00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.279
 hate feet.

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:43.740
 I could

00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.980
 never do

00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:45.359
 that in a

00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:45.980
 million years.

00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:47.240
 And so,

00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:48.279
 he made

00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:48.619
 himself,

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.019
 took on

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.480
 the role

00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:49.900
 of a

00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.200
 servant

00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:50.680
 that was

00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.740
 prophesied

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.240
 about in

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.220
 Isaiah 53,

00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:54.440
 the suffering

00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.140
 servant.

00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:56.340
 Though he

00:28:56.340 --> 00:28:56.920
 was worthy

00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:57.259
 of all

00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:57.539
 glory,

00:28:57.620 --> 00:28:57.900
 he really

00:28:57.900 --> 00:28:58.380
 was the

00:28:58.380 --> 00:28:58.799
 king.

00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.080
 He took

00:28:59.080 --> 00:28:59.380
 on the

00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:00.620
 role of

00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:01.059
 a servant.

00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:02.640
 And he

00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:03.640
 even loved

00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:04.279
 the one

00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:05.180
 and washed

00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:05.759
 the feet of

00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.140
 the one

00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:06.620
 who would

00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:07.019
 betray

00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.340
 him.

00:29:08.080 --> 00:29:08.600
 What

00:29:08.600 --> 00:29:09.440
 incredible

00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:10.360
 love that

00:29:10.360 --> 00:29:10.779
 was.

00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:12.680
 And there

00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:12.980
 was no

00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.539
 greater way

00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:13.799
 that he

00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.380
 stooped

00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:15.559
 than coming

00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.279
 in the

00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:16.720
 incarnation

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:18.200
 and then

00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:19.159
 in death.

00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:20.379
 In John

00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:20.980
 15,

00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:22.299
 verse 13,

00:29:22.419 --> 00:29:22.859
 it says,

00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.059
 Jesus says

00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:24.480
 this to his

00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.000
 disciples,

00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.759
 greater love

00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.440
 has no

00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:28.679
 one than

00:29:28.679 --> 00:29:29.099
 this,

00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:30.399
 that someone

00:29:30.399 --> 00:29:31.079
 lay down

00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:31.799
 his life

00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:32.940
 for his

00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:33.399
 friends.

00:29:34.899 --> 00:29:35.759
 And I

00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.059
 want you

00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.899
 to flip,

00:29:37.899 --> 00:29:38.440
 I think this

00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:38.839
 is the last

00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:39.179
 place you're

00:29:39.179 --> 00:29:39.480
 going to turn,

00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:39.740
 no,

00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:40.399
 100 place,

00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.079
 but Romans

00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:41.619
 5,

00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:42.639
 again,

00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.200
 one of my

00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:44.179
 go-tos for

00:29:44.179 --> 00:29:44.440
 this.

00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.039
 Just read a

00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:45.599
 couple verses

00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.759
 just to

00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.119
 make this

00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:47.539
 point.

00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:49.859
 Romans 5,

00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:50.859
 verse 6.

00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.019
 And think

00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:55.460
 about these

00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:56.159
 three points

00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:56.799
 that we've

00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.220
 made about

00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:57.700
 love as

00:29:57.700 --> 00:29:58.180
 we read

00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:58.500
 this.

00:29:59.139 --> 00:29:59.639
 The identity

00:29:59.639 --> 00:29:59.980
 of the

00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:00.220
 lover,

00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:01.059
 the object

00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:01.519
 of love,

00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:01.740
 and the

00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:02.099
 expression

00:30:02.099 --> 00:30:02.680
 of love.

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:06.159
 Verse 6,

00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:06.579
 for while

00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:06.920
 we were

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.680
 still weak,

00:30:08.159 --> 00:30:08.920
 at the

00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:09.680
 right time

00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:10.680
 Christ died

00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:11.680
 for the

00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.379
 ungodly.

00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:16.039
 for one

00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:16.799
 will scarcely

00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.599
 die for

00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:18.039
 a righteous

00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:18.579
 person,

00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:20.220
 though perhaps

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:20.859
 for a good

00:30:20.859 --> 00:30:21.519
 person one

00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:22.079
 would dare

00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:22.639
 even to

00:30:22.639 --> 00:30:22.960
 die.

00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:23.639
 Again,

00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:24.200
 it's easy

00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:24.599
 to love

00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:25.079
 those who

00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:25.599
 love you,

00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:26.980
 easy to

00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:27.379
 love those

00:30:27.379 --> 00:30:27.700
 who do

00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:28.299
 good to

00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:28.579
 you,

00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:29.779
 not how

00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.099
 we were

00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:30.619
 with God.

00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:31.779
 But then

00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.119
 he says,

00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:32.799
 but God

00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:34.399
 shows or

00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:35.079
 demonstrates

00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:36.079
 his great

00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:36.639
 love for

00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:36.899
 us,

00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.180
 and that

00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:37.500
 while we

00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.019
 were still

00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:38.519
 sinners,

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:39.899
 Christ died

00:30:39.899 --> 00:30:40.359
 for us.

00:30:40.359 --> 00:30:42.099
 So there's

00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:42.740
 this idea

00:30:42.740 --> 00:30:43.039
 of the

00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:43.519
 expression

00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:44.179
 of love.

00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:44.579
 While we

00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:44.959
 were his,

00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:45.459
 you keep

00:30:45.459 --> 00:30:45.759
 reading,

00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:46.500
 his enemies,

00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:47.919
 Christ died

00:30:47.919 --> 00:30:48.359
 for us.

00:30:48.439 --> 00:30:48.979
 Human love

00:30:48.979 --> 00:30:49.419
 does not

00:30:49.419 --> 00:30:49.859
 do that.

00:30:49.959 --> 00:30:50.439
 Human love

00:30:50.439 --> 00:30:51.019
 does not

00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:52.099
 lay down

00:30:52.099 --> 00:30:52.899
 their life

00:30:52.899 --> 00:30:53.379
 for an

00:30:53.379 --> 00:30:53.679
 enemy.

00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:55.079
 And not

00:30:55.079 --> 00:30:55.799
 yet.

00:30:56.219 --> 00:30:56.579
 That is

00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:57.279
 what the

00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:57.579
 Son of

00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.079
 God did.

00:30:58.899 --> 00:30:59.399
 He came

00:30:59.399 --> 00:30:59.699
 and he

00:30:59.699 --> 00:31:00.319
 stooped.

00:31:01.219 --> 00:31:01.539
 When I

00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:01.779
 was in

00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:02.259
 Oakwood,

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.459
 I got to

00:31:03.459 --> 00:31:03.959
 speak on

00:31:03.959 --> 00:31:04.819
 Philippians 2.

00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:05.959
 I'll just

00:31:05.959 --> 00:31:06.759
 read it to

00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:06.959
 you,

00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:08.339
 but talking

00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:08.719
 about how

00:31:08.719 --> 00:31:09.500
 Christ humbled

00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:09.979
 himself,

00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:12.039
 ridiculously

00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:12.459
 humbled

00:31:12.459 --> 00:31:12.979
 himself,

00:31:13.679 --> 00:31:14.559
 scandalously

00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:15.139
 humbled

00:31:15.139 --> 00:31:15.659
 himself.

00:31:16.939 --> 00:31:17.719
 Philippians 2

00:31:17.719 --> 00:31:18.439
 verse 5,

00:31:19.159 --> 00:31:19.479
 he says,

00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:19.919
 have this

00:31:19.919 --> 00:31:20.240
 in your

00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:20.819
 mind among

00:31:20.819 --> 00:31:21.339
 yourselves,

00:31:21.439 --> 00:31:21.839
 which was

00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:22.299
 yours in

00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:22.959
 Christ Jesus,

00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:24.199
 who though

00:31:24.199 --> 00:31:24.699
 he was in

00:31:24.699 --> 00:31:25.319
 the form

00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:25.959
 of God,

00:31:26.699 --> 00:31:27.559
 the form

00:31:27.559 --> 00:31:28.099
 of God,

00:31:28.919 --> 00:31:30.000
 the morphe

00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:30.619
 of God,

00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:32.279
 he possessed

00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:32.759
 all the

00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.839
 divine attributes

00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.359
 that God

00:31:34.359 --> 00:31:34.799
 possessed,

00:31:34.899 --> 00:31:35.359
 was by

00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:35.839
 himself,

00:31:35.959 --> 00:31:36.679
 very nature,

00:31:36.939 --> 00:31:37.319
 God,

00:31:38.159 --> 00:31:38.899
 did not

00:31:38.899 --> 00:31:39.819
 count equality

00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.460
 with God,

00:31:40.639 --> 00:31:40.939
 a thing

00:31:40.939 --> 00:31:41.200
 to be

00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.700
 grasped,

00:31:42.419 --> 00:31:42.819
 but he

00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:43.200
 emptied

00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:43.740
 himself

00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:45.019
 by taking

00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:45.519
 on the

00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.960
 form of

00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:47.399
 a servant.

00:31:48.659 --> 00:31:49.359
 The word

00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:49.879
 form is

00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:50.299
 used three

00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:50.759
 times in

00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.240
 these verses

00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:51.679
 and this

00:31:51.679 --> 00:31:52.439
 is the

00:31:52.439 --> 00:31:53.039
 same one.

00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:53.559
 He took

00:31:53.559 --> 00:31:53.879
 on the

00:31:53.879 --> 00:31:54.480
 form of

00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:55.000
 a servant

00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:56.259
 being born

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:56.279
 being born

00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:56.559
 in the

00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:56.980
 likeness

00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.480
 of men

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.619
 and being

00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:59.319
 found in

00:31:59.319 --> 00:32:00.160
 human form.

00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.380
 He humbled

00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:02.200
 himself by

00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:02.579
 becoming

00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:03.319
 obedient to

00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:03.740
 the point

00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.259
 of death,

00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:05.640
 even death

00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:06.359
 on a

00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:06.740
 cross.

00:32:07.599 --> 00:32:08.259
 Mind

00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:08.599
 blowing.

00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:10.680
 And he

00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:10.900
 didn't

00:32:10.900 --> 00:32:11.299
 waver.

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.420
 A quote

00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:14.420
 by C.S.

00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:14.720
 Lewis

00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:18.059
 on the

00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:18.460
 love of

00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:19.119
 God and

00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:19.480
 all the

00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:19.740
 stuff that

00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.000
 we've been

00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.599
 talking about

00:32:20.599 --> 00:32:20.920
 really.

00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:22.360
 he said

00:32:22.360 --> 00:32:23.320
 Christ did

00:32:23.320 --> 00:32:23.960
 not die

00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:24.620
 for men

00:32:24.620 --> 00:32:25.800
 because they

00:32:25.800 --> 00:32:26.820
 were intrinsically

00:32:26.820 --> 00:32:28.019
 worth dying

00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:28.380
 for,

00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:30.140
 but because

00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:30.880
 he is

00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:31.560
 intrinsically

00:32:31.560 --> 00:32:32.240
 love,

00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:33.600
 and therefore

00:32:33.600 --> 00:32:34.960
 loves indefinitely.

00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:36.980
 God loves

00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:37.380
 us,

00:32:37.860 --> 00:32:38.820
 not because

00:32:38.820 --> 00:32:39.320
 we are

00:32:39.320 --> 00:32:39.740
 lovable,

00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:41.060
 but because

00:32:41.060 --> 00:32:41.740
 he is

00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:42.380
 love.

00:32:43.180 --> 00:32:43.900
 Not because

00:32:43.900 --> 00:32:44.560
 he needs

00:32:44.560 --> 00:32:45.320
 to receive,

00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:46.620
 but because

00:32:46.620 --> 00:32:47.340
 he delights

00:32:47.340 --> 00:32:48.140
 to give.

00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.200
 Sums it

00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:50.700
 all up.

00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:52.100
 for us.

00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:53.580
 So,

00:32:54.360 --> 00:32:54.840
 as we

00:32:54.840 --> 00:32:55.620
 continue to

00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:57.240
 think about

00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:57.740
 these three

00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.140
 things,

00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:58.740
 just a few

00:32:58.740 --> 00:32:59.420
 conclusions,

00:32:59.800 --> 00:33:00.660
 we have to

00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:01.360
 draw.

00:33:01.480 --> 00:33:02.200
 This demands

00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:02.820
 a response,

00:33:02.940 --> 00:33:03.420
 not just

00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:04.519
 to store

00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:05.019
 more head

00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:05.380
 knowledge,

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:05.960
 but to

00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:06.779
 respond to.

00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.380
 We have

00:33:08.380 --> 00:33:08.980
 to understand

00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:09.380
 that.

00:33:10.360 --> 00:33:11.080
 Here are

00:33:11.080 --> 00:33:11.380
 a couple

00:33:11.380 --> 00:33:11.880
 of things.

00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:13.720
 First off,

00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.160
 if we really

00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:14.539
 do know

00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:14.820
 that we

00:33:14.820 --> 00:33:16.700
 are saved,

00:33:16.920 --> 00:33:17.560
 blood-bought,

00:33:18.060 --> 00:33:18.800
 born again,

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:19.440
 children of

00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:19.779
 God,

00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:21.440
 let Christmas

00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:22.000
 be kind

00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:22.200
 of a

00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:22.639
 reminder

00:33:22.639 --> 00:33:24.379
 for these

00:33:24.379 --> 00:33:25.000
 two things.

00:33:25.700 --> 00:33:25.920
 So,

00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:26.579
 because God

00:33:26.579 --> 00:33:26.940
 has so

00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:27.240
 freely

00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:27.920
 lavished his

00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:28.339
 love on

00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:28.599
 us,

00:33:28.639 --> 00:33:29.000
 let us

00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:29.779
 love him

00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:30.639
 in return.

00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:31.119
 Let us

00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:32.359
 worship him

00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:33.019
 and adore

00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:33.359
 him.

00:33:34.139 --> 00:33:34.559
 He brought

00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:35.519
 salvation to

00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:35.740
 us,

00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:36.660
 delivering us

00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:37.379
 from hell.

00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:38.799
 He's forgiven

00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:39.759
 us our sin

00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:40.480
 and our evil,

00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:41.299
 canceled our

00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:41.759
 debt.

00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:43.240
 He's justified

00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:43.960
 us in his

00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:44.319
 sight,

00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:45.839
 taking away

00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:46.839
 our unrighteousness

00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:47.279
 and giving

00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:47.839
 us the

00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:48.220
 perfect

00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:48.819
 righteousness

00:33:48.819 --> 00:33:49.639
 of his

00:33:49.639 --> 00:33:49.959
 son.

00:33:51.439 --> 00:33:51.879
 We are

00:33:51.879 --> 00:33:53.039
 reconciled to

00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:53.779
 him through

00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.299
 the death

00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:54.699
 of his

00:33:54.699 --> 00:33:55.039
 son,

00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:55.639
 though we

00:33:55.639 --> 00:33:56.240
 were his

00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:56.679
 enemies.

00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.439
 And perhaps

00:33:58.439 --> 00:33:59.139
 maybe even the

00:33:59.139 --> 00:33:59.819
 greatest privilege,

00:33:59.919 --> 00:34:00.339
 now we are

00:34:00.339 --> 00:34:01.419
 given the

00:34:01.419 --> 00:34:02.059
 privilege to

00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:02.740
 know him

00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:03.659
 and to be

00:34:03.659 --> 00:34:04.199
 known by

00:34:04.199 --> 00:34:05.259
 him and

00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:05.539
 to have

00:34:05.539 --> 00:34:05.919
 eternal

00:34:05.919 --> 00:34:06.379
 life.

00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:08.079
 Jesus says

00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:08.900
 in John 17

00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:09.219
 3,

00:34:09.319 --> 00:34:09.699
 and this

00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:10.579
 is eternal

00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:10.980
 life,

00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:11.799
 that they

00:34:11.799 --> 00:34:12.539
 know you,

00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:13.519
 the only

00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.259
 true God,

00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:15.360
 and Jesus

00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:16.180
 Christ whom

00:34:16.180 --> 00:34:16.460
 you have

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:16.760
 sent.

00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:18.360
 That is the

00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:19.260
 privilege we

00:34:19.260 --> 00:34:19.620
 have.

00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:20.820
 So,

00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:22.660
 let this

00:34:22.660 --> 00:34:23.180
 Christmas be

00:34:23.180 --> 00:34:23.599
 a reminder

00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:23.900
 that you

00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:24.200
 don't need

00:34:24.200 --> 00:34:24.720
 to look

00:34:24.720 --> 00:34:26.079
 further than

00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:26.599
 the cross

00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:27.000
 to be a

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:27.500
 reminder that

00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:27.960
 God loves

00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:28.140
 you.

00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:29.440
 Don't think,

00:34:29.720 --> 00:34:30.220
 you're tempted

00:34:30.220 --> 00:34:30.680
 to think,

00:34:30.720 --> 00:34:31.019
 and I'm

00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:31.400
 tempted to

00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:31.579
 think,

00:34:31.660 --> 00:34:32.079
 if God

00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:32.880
 would just

00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:33.460
 fill in

00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:33.860
 the blank,

00:34:34.640 --> 00:34:35.059
 then I

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:35.440
 would really

00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:36.579
 feel loved

00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:37.820
 by God.

00:34:39.240 --> 00:34:40.160
 There's no

00:34:40.160 --> 00:34:41.160
 greater way

00:34:41.160 --> 00:34:41.800
 he demonstrated

00:34:41.800 --> 00:34:42.519
 that than

00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.079
 the cross.

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:44.400
 None.

00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:44.880
 So don't

00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:45.559
 look beyond

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:45.820
 it,

00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:46.599
 but sit

00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:47.640
 there in

00:34:47.640 --> 00:34:48.059
 front of

00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:48.500
 it and

00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.160
 gaze at

00:34:49.160 --> 00:34:49.380
 it.

00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:50.980
 And so

00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:51.880
 that kind

00:34:51.880 --> 00:34:53.360
 of love,

00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:54.180
 if we truly

00:34:54.180 --> 00:34:54.579
 have been

00:34:54.579 --> 00:34:55.200
 touched by

00:34:55.200 --> 00:34:55.460
 it,

00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:56.740
 will transform

00:34:56.740 --> 00:34:57.180
 us,

00:34:57.300 --> 00:34:57.599
 and it will

00:34:57.599 --> 00:34:58.640
 cause us

00:34:58.640 --> 00:34:59.240
 to love

00:34:59.240 --> 00:35:00.599
 God in

00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:01.039
 return.

00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:02.559
 It's just

00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:03.340
 the natural

00:35:03.340 --> 00:35:03.940
 outcome.

00:35:04.680 --> 00:35:05.320
 If we have

00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:05.940
 been touched,

00:35:06.640 --> 00:35:07.019
 we will

00:35:07.019 --> 00:35:07.380
 love.

00:35:08.099 --> 00:35:08.820
 This is what

00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:09.420
 John is trying

00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:09.860
 to say.

00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:10.720
 If you don't

00:35:10.720 --> 00:35:11.400
 have love,

00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:12.460
 then you're

00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:13.220
 probably not

00:35:13.220 --> 00:35:13.740
 of God.

00:35:13.860 --> 00:35:14.140
 You have

00:35:14.139 --> 00:35:14.879
 not known

00:35:14.879 --> 00:35:15.519
 God if

00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:15.759
 you do

00:35:15.759 --> 00:35:17.000
 not love

00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:17.559
 God.

00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:19.639
 And very

00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:20.699
 simply,

00:35:21.879 --> 00:35:22.839
 obviously,

00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:23.259
 the next

00:35:23.259 --> 00:35:23.900
 response is

00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.440
 because God

00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:24.759
 has so

00:35:24.759 --> 00:35:25.179
 freely

00:35:25.179 --> 00:35:26.619
 lavished his

00:35:26.619 --> 00:35:27.179
 love on

00:35:27.179 --> 00:35:27.559
 us,

00:35:28.099 --> 00:35:28.579
 and that we

00:35:28.579 --> 00:35:29.000
 love him

00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:29.519
 in return,

00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:30.000
 we should

00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:30.759
 love those

00:35:30.759 --> 00:35:31.339
 around us,

00:35:31.420 --> 00:35:32.139
 love others.

00:35:33.400 --> 00:35:34.199
 Jesus said,

00:35:35.359 --> 00:35:35.719
 write,

00:35:36.599 --> 00:35:36.879
 a new

00:35:36.879 --> 00:35:37.400
 command I

00:35:37.400 --> 00:35:37.699
 give you

00:35:37.699 --> 00:35:38.219
 to love

00:35:38.219 --> 00:35:38.839
 one another

00:35:38.839 --> 00:35:39.539
 just as I

00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:40.199
 have loved

00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:40.679
 you.

00:35:42.099 --> 00:35:42.679
 And John,

00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:43.939
 back in

00:35:43.939 --> 00:35:44.539
 1 John,

00:35:45.359 --> 00:35:45.759
 beloved,

00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:46.359
 love one

00:35:46.359 --> 00:35:46.679
 another,

00:35:46.839 --> 00:35:47.219
 for love

00:35:47.219 --> 00:35:47.659
 is from

00:35:47.659 --> 00:35:48.139
 God,

00:35:48.659 --> 00:35:49.219
 and whoever

00:35:49.219 --> 00:35:50.039
 loves has

00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:50.579
 been born

00:35:50.579 --> 00:35:51.119
 of God

00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:51.699
 and knows

00:35:51.699 --> 00:35:52.119
 God,

00:35:52.859 --> 00:35:53.619
 and anyone

00:35:53.619 --> 00:35:54.019
 who does

00:35:54.019 --> 00:35:54.679
 not love

00:35:54.679 --> 00:35:55.460
 does not

00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:56.219
 know God.

00:35:56.939 --> 00:35:57.699
 This is

00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:58.419
 staggering to

00:35:58.419 --> 00:35:58.839
 me because

00:35:58.839 --> 00:35:59.519
 what he's

00:35:59.519 --> 00:36:00.199
 really saying

00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:01.199
 is you

00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:02.000
 can't truly

00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:02.799
 love someone

00:36:02.799 --> 00:36:03.559
 unless you

00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:04.019
 know God.

00:36:04.779 --> 00:36:05.419
 Think about

00:36:05.419 --> 00:36:05.719
 that.

00:36:05.719 --> 00:36:07.679
 it means

00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:08.399
 that a lot

00:36:08.399 --> 00:36:08.659
 of people

00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:09.039
 are walking

00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:09.559
 around the

00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:10.019
 day without

00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:10.559
 Christ,

00:36:11.419 --> 00:36:11.759
 who they

00:36:11.759 --> 00:36:12.179
 have some

00:36:12.179 --> 00:36:12.799
 kind of

00:36:12.799 --> 00:36:14.579
 deficient

00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:15.819
 love that

00:36:15.819 --> 00:36:16.219
 they're giving

00:36:16.219 --> 00:36:16.559
 to other

00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.299
 people because

00:36:17.299 --> 00:36:17.759
 it's mainly

00:36:17.759 --> 00:36:19.639
 motivated out

00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:20.039
 of what they

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.579
 can get out

00:36:20.579 --> 00:36:20.899
 of it.

00:36:21.699 --> 00:36:22.319
 It's not

00:36:22.319 --> 00:36:23.139
 the agape

00:36:23.139 --> 00:36:24.159
 Christ-like

00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:24.959
 love that we

00:36:24.959 --> 00:36:25.980
 have experienced,

00:36:26.799 --> 00:36:27.719
 but because we

00:36:27.719 --> 00:36:28.719
 know God and

00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:29.359
 have been saved

00:36:29.359 --> 00:36:29.719
 by him,

00:36:29.759 --> 00:36:30.279
 we can love

00:36:30.279 --> 00:36:30.619
 people with

00:36:30.619 --> 00:36:31.039
 that same

00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:31.339
 love.

00:36:31.419 --> 00:36:32.000
 He empowers

00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:33.199
 us to do

00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:33.539
 so.

00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:34.879
 So,

00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:35.420
 if we

00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:36.059
 have been

00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:36.480
 genuinely,

00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:38.019
 truly saved

00:36:38.019 --> 00:36:39.400
 by Christ,

00:36:40.140 --> 00:36:40.519
 that will

00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:41.539
 transform us

00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:42.880
 in such a

00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:43.260
 way that we

00:36:43.260 --> 00:36:43.579
 will love

00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:44.200
 others in

00:36:44.200 --> 00:36:44.840
 return.

00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:46.780
 So,

00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:48.039
 kind of

00:36:48.039 --> 00:36:48.760
 ponder that.

00:36:49.900 --> 00:36:50.720
 God's love

00:36:50.720 --> 00:36:51.539
 transforms us

00:36:51.539 --> 00:36:51.780
 from the

00:36:51.780 --> 00:36:52.380
 inside out,

00:36:52.460 --> 00:36:52.860
 and it's a

00:36:52.860 --> 00:36:53.820
 natural outflow

00:36:53.820 --> 00:36:54.119
 and a

00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:54.720
 demonstration

00:36:54.720 --> 00:36:56.780
 of his

00:36:56.780 --> 00:36:57.340
 work in

00:36:57.340 --> 00:36:57.940
 our lives.

00:36:58.960 --> 00:36:59.420
 So,

00:36:59.539 --> 00:37:00.059
 in closing,

00:37:00.220 --> 00:37:00.599
 just wanted

00:37:00.599 --> 00:37:01.420
 to think

00:37:01.420 --> 00:37:01.800
 about,

00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:02.780
 as we

00:37:02.780 --> 00:37:03.539
 ponder the

00:37:03.539 --> 00:37:03.940
 love of

00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:04.300
 God,

00:37:04.880 --> 00:37:06.619
 I was

00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:07.720
 reminded of

00:37:07.720 --> 00:37:09.860
 a little

00:37:09.860 --> 00:37:10.960
 section in

00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:12.000
 one of

00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:12.340
 C.S.

00:37:12.340 --> 00:37:12.579
 Lewis'

00:37:12.760 --> 00:37:13.000
 book,

00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:13.740
 Chronicles of

00:37:13.740 --> 00:37:14.280
 Narnia and

00:37:14.280 --> 00:37:14.640
 the Last

00:37:14.640 --> 00:37:15.000
 Battle,

00:37:15.720 --> 00:37:16.280
 where Lucy

00:37:16.280 --> 00:37:16.660
 kind of

00:37:16.660 --> 00:37:17.500
 peers into

00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:18.800
 the stable

00:37:18.800 --> 00:37:19.220
 that's on

00:37:19.220 --> 00:37:20.079
 the hill,

00:37:20.180 --> 00:37:20.360
 and she

00:37:20.360 --> 00:37:21.019
 sees inside

00:37:21.019 --> 00:37:21.559
 the stable

00:37:21.559 --> 00:37:22.400
 another

00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:22.820
 stable.

00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:23.880
 And she's

00:37:23.880 --> 00:37:24.360
 reminded,

00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:26.019
 she comes

00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:26.420
 from our

00:37:26.420 --> 00:37:26.740
 world,

00:37:26.820 --> 00:37:27.059
 and she

00:37:27.059 --> 00:37:27.559
 goes into

00:37:27.559 --> 00:37:28.019
 the world

00:37:28.019 --> 00:37:28.559
 of Narnia,

00:37:28.660 --> 00:37:28.920
 but she

00:37:28.920 --> 00:37:29.360
 says,

00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:30.519
 in our

00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:30.920
 world,

00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:31.340
 too,

00:37:32.340 --> 00:37:32.860
 the stable

00:37:32.860 --> 00:37:33.440
 once had

00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:33.860
 something

00:37:33.860 --> 00:37:34.599
 inside it,

00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:35.320
 and it

00:37:35.320 --> 00:37:35.880
 was bigger

00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:36.400
 than our

00:37:36.400 --> 00:37:37.079
 whole world.

00:37:38.260 --> 00:37:38.860
 Ponder that.

00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:39.460
 The one

00:37:39.460 --> 00:37:40.480
 who created

00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:41.320
 the cosmos,

00:37:42.280 --> 00:37:43.519
 who possessed

00:37:43.519 --> 00:37:44.940
 all things,

00:37:45.039 --> 00:37:45.780
 created all

00:37:45.780 --> 00:37:46.380
 things,

00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:48.659
 laid in a

00:37:48.659 --> 00:37:49.360
 manger as

00:37:49.360 --> 00:37:50.000
 a baby,

00:37:50.179 --> 00:37:50.599
 humbling

00:37:50.599 --> 00:37:51.940
 himself to

00:37:51.940 --> 00:37:52.360
 come and

00:37:52.360 --> 00:37:53.720
 save this

00:37:53.720 --> 00:37:54.920
 defiant race,

00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:56.179
 people made

00:37:56.179 --> 00:37:56.740
 up of people

00:37:56.740 --> 00:37:57.240
 like you

00:37:57.240 --> 00:37:57.840
 and me,

00:37:58.460 --> 00:37:59.240
 who aren't

00:37:59.240 --> 00:37:59.960
 worthy of

00:37:59.960 --> 00:38:00.460
 such a

00:38:00.460 --> 00:38:00.760
 gift.

00:38:01.880 --> 00:38:02.199
 So,

00:38:02.340 --> 00:38:02.740
 let us

00:38:02.740 --> 00:38:03.460
 love him

00:38:03.460 --> 00:38:04.079
 and adore

00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:04.539
 him in

00:38:04.539 --> 00:38:05.059
 return.

00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:06.880
 So,

00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:07.400
 allow your

00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:08.000
 soul to

00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:08.440
 take that

00:38:08.440 --> 00:38:08.740
 in.

00:38:09.740 --> 00:38:10.119
 And let's

00:38:10.119 --> 00:38:10.760
 pray together,

00:38:10.840 --> 00:38:11.019
 and I'm

00:38:11.019 --> 00:38:11.500
 going to

00:38:11.500 --> 00:38:13.000
 use Ephesians

00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:13.840
 3 as

00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:15.280
 Paul prays

00:38:15.280 --> 00:38:15.699
 for that

00:38:15.699 --> 00:38:16.220
 church so

00:38:16.220 --> 00:38:16.519
 they would

00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:17.860
 understand the

00:38:17.860 --> 00:38:18.699
 immensity of

00:38:18.699 --> 00:38:19.840
 this type of

00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:21.420
 love we

00:38:21.420 --> 00:38:21.639
 have

00:38:21.639 --> 00:38:22.340
 experienced.

00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:27.440
 May we

00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:28.159
 have strength

00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:28.839
 to comprehend

00:38:28.839 --> 00:38:30.379
 with all

00:38:30.379 --> 00:38:30.960
 the saints

00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:31.639
 what is the

00:38:31.639 --> 00:38:33.039
 breadth and

00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:34.019
 length and

00:38:34.019 --> 00:38:34.779
 height and

00:38:34.779 --> 00:38:36.239
 depth, and

00:38:36.239 --> 00:38:36.980
 to know the

00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:37.379
 love of

00:38:37.379 --> 00:38:38.039
 Christ that

00:38:38.039 --> 00:38:38.819
 surpasses

00:38:38.819 --> 00:38:39.500
 knowledge,

00:38:40.799 --> 00:38:41.259
 that you

00:38:41.259 --> 00:38:41.839
 may be

00:38:41.839 --> 00:38:42.679
 filled with

00:38:42.679 --> 00:38:43.259
 all the

00:38:43.259 --> 00:38:44.059
 fullness of

00:38:44.059 --> 00:38:44.379
 God.

00:38:46.359 --> 00:38:46.920
 Yes,

00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:47.299
 Lord, I

00:38:47.299 --> 00:38:47.659
 pray you

00:38:47.659 --> 00:38:48.219
 would just

00:38:48.219 --> 00:38:48.799
 give us

00:38:48.799 --> 00:38:50.239
 the ability,

00:38:50.980 --> 00:38:52.199
 the capacity

00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:54.519
 to love

00:38:54.519 --> 00:38:55.480
 as you

00:38:55.480 --> 00:38:56.119
 have loved.

00:38:56.119 --> 00:38:58.119
 love of

00:38:58.119 --> 00:38:56.239
 God.

00:38:57.000 --> 00:38:57.619
 And we

00:38:57.619 --> 00:38:58.079
 thank you

00:38:58.079 --> 00:38:58.420
 that though

00:38:58.420 --> 00:38:58.719
 we were

00:38:58.719 --> 00:38:59.599
 not worthy,

00:38:59.779 --> 00:39:00.819
 not deserving

00:39:00.819 --> 00:39:01.719
 of this

00:39:01.719 --> 00:39:02.159
 love, you

00:39:02.159 --> 00:39:02.799
 have chosen

00:39:02.799 --> 00:39:04.679
 to lavish it

00:39:04.679 --> 00:39:06.719
 on us and

00:39:06.719 --> 00:39:07.239
 to bring us

00:39:07.239 --> 00:39:07.639
 into your

00:39:07.639 --> 00:39:08.099
 family.

00:39:09.319 --> 00:39:09.940
 So I

00:39:09.940 --> 00:39:10.559
 pray that

00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:12.460
 this Christmas

00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:12.980
 time would

00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:13.440
 just be

00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:14.639
 another reminder

00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:15.259
 as we need

00:39:15.259 --> 00:39:15.940
 to be reminding

00:39:15.940 --> 00:39:17.679
 ourselves every

00:39:17.679 --> 00:39:18.940
 day of the

00:39:18.940 --> 00:39:19.559
 great love

00:39:19.559 --> 00:39:19.960
 that you have

00:39:19.960 --> 00:39:20.599
 demonstrated.

00:39:21.980 --> 00:39:22.699
 So Lord,

00:39:22.779 --> 00:39:23.400
 allow us,

00:39:23.539 --> 00:39:24.159
 please help

00:39:24.159 --> 00:39:24.359
 us.

00:39:24.420 --> 00:39:24.759
 We just don't

00:39:24.760 --> 00:39:25.180
 want to

00:39:25.180 --> 00:39:26.320
 remain as

00:39:26.320 --> 00:39:26.720
 we are,

00:39:26.780 --> 00:39:27.020
 we want

00:39:27.020 --> 00:39:27.800
 to change,

00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:28.240
 we want

00:39:28.240 --> 00:39:28.660
 to love

00:39:28.660 --> 00:39:29.060
 you and

00:39:29.060 --> 00:39:30.720
 return and

00:39:30.720 --> 00:39:31.080
 then turn

00:39:31.080 --> 00:39:31.600
 around to

00:39:31.600 --> 00:39:32.020
 a dark

00:39:32.020 --> 00:39:33.820
 world to

00:39:33.820 --> 00:39:34.220
 show that

00:39:34.220 --> 00:39:34.840
 same kind

00:39:34.840 --> 00:39:35.240
 of love

00:39:35.240 --> 00:39:36.980
 towards both

00:39:36.980 --> 00:39:37.560
 in word

00:39:37.560 --> 00:39:38.100
 and in

00:39:38.100 --> 00:39:38.420
 deed.

00:39:39.860 --> 00:39:40.500
 See us,

00:39:40.600 --> 00:39:40.780
 Father,

00:39:40.860 --> 00:39:41.060
 and we

00:39:41.060 --> 00:39:41.560
 praise you

00:39:41.560 --> 00:39:42.640
 for the

00:39:42.640 --> 00:39:43.520
 amazing love

00:39:43.520 --> 00:39:44.080
 you have

00:39:44.080 --> 00:39:44.620
 shown us.

00:39:45.700 --> 00:39:46.580
 In Christ's

00:39:46.580 --> 00:39:46.780
 name,

00:39:47.160 --> 00:39:47.380
 Amen.