Good morning.
If you will turn with me to 1 John chapter 4.
!
I'll be reading from 1 John 4, 7 through 12.
!
I know this is not a typical Advent passage,
but I know this is not a typical Advent passage,
but I'm sure you'll see that it does apply.
I'm going to be focusing on verse 9 and 10,
but I'd like to read it in its context
because it really all goes together.
So 1 John 4, beginning with verse 7.
Beloved, let us love one another,
for love is from God.
And whoever loves has been born of God
and knows God.
Anyone who does not love
does not know God
because God is love.
In this, the love of God was made manifest among us,
that God sent his only son into the world
so that we might live through him.
In this is love.
Not that we have loved God,
but that he loved us
and sent his son
to be the propitiation
for our sins.
Beloved,
if God so loved us,
we ought also to love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
If we will love one another,
God abides in us
and his love
is perfected
in us.
Father, thank you
for your word
that it is meat
to our souls,
that it is life,
that it is light.
And we pray today
that you,
by your spirit,
would take this word,
write it on our hearts,
and make us people
that truly glorify you
in love for one another.
In Jesus' name.
While like hope
and peace
and joy,
love
is at the very heart
of the Advent season
and the gospel.
This passage in 1 John
makes an important connection
between our love
for one another
and God's Advent love
for us
as observed
in the gift
of life
and the sending
of his son,
Jesus,
into the world.
Now, I know
the words gift
and Advent
are not mentioned
in this text,
but as I hope
you will see,
the gift of Advent
is exactly
what is being described here.
The connection
between Advent love
and God's gift
has a special significance
for us
with regard
to our traditions
at Christmastime.
Although the idea
of giving gifts
during the winter holidays
predates
the Christian celebration
of the birth of Christ,
giving fits in well
with the narrative.
On the one hand,
some very appropriate gifts
were given
to the newborn Messiah
and his family.
We are told that
Magi from the East
came to worship
the newborn king
and they presented him
with gifts of gold
and myrrh
and frankincense.
But even more importantly,
we understand
that that newborn baby,
that innocent child,
was and is
the most important gift
that has ever been given
in the history
of the world.
Now,
gift giving
is at
its peak level
during the season.
How many of you
are expecting gifts
in a few days?
How many of you
are giving gifts
in a few days?
I didn't see
very many hats.
What?
Yeah.
I know.
I guess the excitement
comes from the younger ones.
It's been calculated
that Americans
will spend
over a trillion dollars
in seasonal purchases
this year.
only slightly less
than last year
because of COVID.
And the majority
of that giving,
an average of about
$500 per person,
will be for gifts.
Giving gifts
is big business.
Giving is big business.
Organizations
and companies
want to know
how to glean
more of your generosity.
And as a result,
hundreds of studies
in the last 20 years
on the psychology
of giving
have been conducted.
And those studies
have focused on things
like biological connections
to giving,
the results of giving,
interpersonal,
intrapersonal factors,
and social and cultural
drivers to giving.
I won't bore you
with all the details,
but here's some highlights.
There's evidence
that links giving
to better overall health,
to the delay
of severe health problems
and mortality
in older volunteers,
to a greater sense
of well-being,
to better relationships,
and even to better chances
of finding a mate.
I hope that isn't the only thing
some of you
will take away
from this sermon.
Some studies have found
that giving,
even more than receiving,
produces similar
neural impulses
that bring pleasure
in the same way
that food and drugs
and, well,
you can imagine.
Researchers have surmised
that in spite of
a human propensity
for self-interest,
giving appears
to be hardwired
into the human brain.
Now, much of our giving
simply shows
affection or gratitude,
but not all of it
is altruistic.
We often give
to gain
or keep someone's affection.
Sometimes our giving
is motivated
by a sense of guilt
or obligation.
Other types of giving
like bribery
and grooming
are simply evil.
But the kind of giving
that flows
from Advent love
transcends
all human giving.
Its source
is God Himself.
It's the heritage
of those
who belong to Him.
In 1 John 4,
7 through 12,
it's the apostle's intent
to encourage
increased love
among believers.
And when he writes,
Beloved,
love one another
in verse 7,
we might assume
that we know
what he's talking about
because we know
so much about love already.
Right?
But it's possible
that we really don't.
In fact,
it appears that the reason
God inspired
these verses
is to help clarify
for us
what Christian love
in the church
is supposed to look like.
Verses 9 and 10
reveal the heart
of Advent love.
It's from the Father's
act of giving
that we understand love.
simply,
these verses
teach us
that the gift
of Advent love
reveals the reason
why
and the measure
how
we should love
one another.
What I believe
we'll see this morning
is that there's
a vital connection
between love
and giving
and that the Christian
life
of sacrificial giving
for the benefit
of others
is the intent
of Advent love.
Now,
the first part
of John's description
of love
in verse 9
focuses on the reason
the Father sent the Son.
In short,
we should love one another
because Advent love
has given us
a new life
that is characterized
by love.
Look at verse 9 again.
In this,
the love of God
was made manifest
among us
that God
sent His
only Son
into the world
so that we might
live
through Him.
Verse 9
is a
first part
of a two-part
argument
that supports
the exhortation
to love
in the previous
two verses.
That exhortation
by John
is simply
that the Christians
should love each other
because
we are intimately
related to God
who is the source
of love
and love itself.
That amazing
statement
at the end
of verse 8,
God is love,
is one of those
one of the most
profound
statements
in Scripture.
A modern
theologian
might seek
to explain it
by defining
the word,
looking at
its etymology
and so on,
or by providing
some kind
of philosophical
defense
supporting the
statement.
That's not
what the apostle
does here.
He simply
assumes that
it's true
and proceeds
to show
how this
wonderful love
has been
manifested
among us.
God is love
and what follows
is how
God has
shown us
this love
and that
is Advent.
He begins
with Advent.
God
sending his
son
into the
world.
Now,
the way
the apostle
refers to
the manifestation
of this love
is significant.
Literally,
he writes
that his only
son,
that his only
son sent
God
into the
world.
That's how
it reads in
the Greek.
It begins
with his
only son.
Now,
by using this
word order
for emphasis,
he draws
our attention
to the
uniqueness
of Jesus.
Jesus.
The person
that God
sent into
the world
was none
other than
the unique
son of
God,
the only
begotten
son of
God.
According to
John's
gospel,
this person,
our Lord
Jesus,
has been the
object of
the Father's
love,
sharing his
glory from
eternity.
see that
in his
high priestly
prayer in
John 17.
This beloved
son,
John tells
us,
a Father
sent into
the world,
into our
world,
a world
for the
most part
has rejected
God's rule
and his
will,
a world
that is
hostile
and harsh,
a world
that out
of envy
would inflict
on him
the worst
kind of
death.
and even
his entrance
into the
world was
far from
worthy of
his status
and desert.
He was
born in
a cave
where
animals were
kept.
He had a
feeding trough
for his
bed.
He had to
flee from
a murderous
king and
he lived
in exile
and obscurity
for many
years.
others.
But John
tells us
that his
being sent
to us
was God's
manifestation
of love
for us.
The last
part of
verse 9
continues by
stating the
specific reason
why the
Father sent
the Son
into the
world.
He sent
his Son
entirely
for your
benefit.
He writes
God sent
his only
Son into
the world
so that
we might
live
through
him.
Notice
that word
there
might
that
verb
might
live.
God
sent
his
Son
to give
you
the
gift
of
life.
Now
perhaps you
notice how
similar this
verse is to
John 3
16
more
famous
verse
for God
so loved
the world
that he
gave his
only Son
that whoever
believes in
him should
not perish
but have
eternal
life.
both of
these verses
are from
the same
writer
approximately
the same
time
and they
both
communicate
the same
truth.
The
Father's
love
is somehow
revealed in
the sending
of his
Son
so that
you
might
live.
life.
In the
gospel
John
adds
the
word
eternal
to
describe
life.
Now
when we
think of
eternal
we typically
think of
length of
time.
It's
normal
it's
natural
and it's
part of
it.
After
the
disobedience
of man
in the
garden
of Eden
the tree
of life
was guarded
specifically
so that
humanity
would not
eat of
it
and
live
forever.
Genesis
3.
And at
the other
end of
the scriptures
in the
new
Jerusalem
the tree
of life
reemerges
providing
healing
fruit
all year
round
enabling
God's
servants
to
reign
forever.
Revelation
22
1-5
The word
eternal is
helpful here
to describe
life but
it still
can be
misunderstood
if all
we mean
by it
is length
of time.
It's
also a
specific
kind
of life.
Jesus
himself
defines
eternal
life this
way in
his last
prayer.
He says
and this
is eternal
life
that they
may know
you the
only true
God
and Jesus
Christ
whom you
have sent.
God
I think
there's a
connection
here between
knowing God
and what
we've read
in 1 John
4.
John
further
refers to
this life
in chapter
3 of
his
epistle
where he
speaks of
it as
having
already
begun
and as
having
effect
on the
way we
live
right now.
he writes
in 1 John
3
14
we know
that we
have
passed
from
death
into
life
because
we
love
the
brothers
or
something
about the
gift of
life
that's
connected
to
love
life
for the
Christian
is much
more than
mere
existence
John
refers
to
mere
existence
here
in
1 John
3
14
and he
calls
it
death
it
doesn't
matter
how
good
your
life
is
here
on
earth
if
it
isn't
the
gift
of
eternal
life
that
the
father
sent
the
son
to
give
it's
not
life
at
all
eternal
life
is a
different
kind
of
life
it's
a
life
born
from
the
divine
nature
of
God
and
it's
your
heritage
as a
child
of
God
it's
who
you
are
the
evidence
that
one
has
eternal
life
is
that
he
or
she
loves
the
children
of
God
life
then
is
the
gift
of
advent
love
and
advent
love
is
our
measure
of
why
we
should
love
one
another
so
to
summarize
the
first
point
verse
nine
we
should
love
one
another
because
advent
love
has
given
us
a
new
life
that
is
characterized
by
love
but
advent
love
is
not
only
seen
in
the
birth
of
Christ
the
incarnation
involves
his
whole
life
he
is
Emmanuel
he
wasn't
just
born
to
us
he
lived
for
us
and
he
died
for
us
the
next
verse
10
teaches
us
that
we
should
love
one
another
because
advent
love
has
demonstrated
what
God's
love
really
is
and
how
we
benefited
from
it
this
is
the
measure
of
love
let's
look
at
verse
10
again
and
this
is
love
not
that
we
have
loved
God
but
that
he
loved
us
and
sent
his
son
to
be
the
propitiation
for
our
sins
so
verse
10
continues
John's
argument
by
elaborating
on the
demonstration
of
God's
love
toward
us
while
in
verse
9
he
highlights
the
purpose
of
God
sending
his
son
into
the
world
and
verse
10
he
reveals
the
method
his
plan
was
to
accomplish
in
this
is
love
that's
how
he
begins
the
sense
of
that
simple
phrase
is
that
John
is
now
going
to
show
us
love
in
its
highest
form
in
this
is
love
this
is
what
love
is
the
definition
begins
in
the
form
of
contrast
not
that
we
love
God
if
you
want
to
understand
what
love
is
don't
look
to
yourself
don't
do
that
don't
look
to
the
entertainment
world
around
you
don't
look
to
Whitney
Houston
don't
look
to
your
feelings
towards
one
another
but
most
of
all
don't
look
to
your
love
for
God
because
your
love
does
not
demonstrate
what
we're
talking
about
here
whether
it's
love
for
God
universally
all
of
mankind
or
individually
and even
the most
zealous
religious
sacrifice
and devotion
that has
been
seen
human
love
is not
the measure
of love
it's
always
inadequate
and
therefore
misleading
the verse
continues
but that
he
loved
us
so a
correct
definition
of love
begins
with the
source
of love
himself
that
contrast
is
instructive
and think
of it
this way
it's
to
defiant
arrogant
powerless
poor
and needy
people
who really
don't
love
God
that
he
demonstrated
his
love
to
love
by itself
is amazing
love
to someone
who's
worthy
of love
is
one of
the best
feelings
you can
imagine
but love
to the
unworthy
love
to the
unlovely
this
shows
love
in its
highest
splendor
the last
part of
the verse
describes
that
splendor
he
loved
us
and he
sent
his
son
to be
the
propitiation
for
our
sins
it's
what
God
has
done
in
order
to
make
it
possible
for
us
to
have
life
that
defines
what
love
really
is
he
sent
his
son
to be
the
propitiation
for
our
sins
I
know
in
this
church
you're
familiar
with
that
word
that's
a
good
thing
let's
look at
it
just a
little
bit
more
here
we
should
all
be
familiar
with
this
word
because
it's
really
the
heart
of
the
gospel
the
word
translated
propitiation
here
comes
from
the
Greek
word
!
some
lexicons
translated
generally
as
the
means
of
forgiveness
that's
true
but
it's
more
specific
than
that
in
the
Greek
world
at
the
time
of
the
New
Testament
the
word
was
used
to
signify
an
offering
a
gift
that
was
given
to
appease
the
gods
one
would
present
a
gift
to
gain
favor
to
pacify
anger
or
to
gain
some
kind
of
merit
a
better
definition
of
propitiation
than would
include
the
putting
away
of
wrath
the
wrath
of
God
as
the
means
of
forgiveness
but
in
amazing
contrast
to
the
pagan
practice
of
seeking
to
gain
the
favor
or
appease
the
wrath
of
a
capricious
arbitrary
bad
tempered
conceited
deity
our
good
holy
and
loving
God
sends
his
only
son
into
the
world
to
provide
the
necessary
propitiation
for the
benefit
of
sinful
rebellious
self-centered
men
and
women
if that
doesn't
blow
your
mind
wake
up
this
was
done
not
to
change
God's
mind
but
to
satisfy
his
justice
as
J.I.
Packer
so
succinctly
describes
I want
to give
you
his
quote
because
it's
right
on the
mark
he
says
in
paganism
man
propitiates
his
gods
and
religion
becomes
a form
of
commercialism
and
indeed
of
bribery
in
Christianity
however
God
propitiates
his
wrath
by
his
own
action
he
sent
forth
Jesus
Christ
says
Paul
to
be
a
propitiation
he
sent
his
son
says
John
to
be
the
propitiation
for
our
sins
it
was
not
man
to
whom
God
was
hostile
who
took
the
initiative
to
make
God
friendly
nor
was
it
Jesus
Christ
the
eternal
son
who
took
the
initiative
to
turn
his
father's
wrath
away
from
us
in
love
but
it
was
God
himself
who
took
the
initiative
in
quenching
his
own
wrath
against
those
who
despite
their
ill
desert
he
loved
and
had
chosen
to
save
beloved
love
this
love
this
is
advent
love
we
understand
that
God
had
to
do
it
this
way
it
was
the
only
way
because
God
is
good
he
is
righteous
and
just
as
well
as
loving
because
he
is
good
he
hates
sin
because
he
is
good
he
must
judge
sin
because
he
is
good
he
cannot
just
overlook
it
look
it
and
allow
us
to
live
in
it
forever
!
good
he
is
love
as
well
and
because
he
is
good
he
acted
mercifully
and
graciously
and
lovingly
to
make
a
way
to
satisfy
his
own
justice
and
forgive
us
I like
how
John
Piper
put it
the
wisdom
of
God
devised
a way
for
the
love
of
God
to
deliver
sinners
from
the
wrath
of
God
while
not
compromising
the
righteousness
of
God
now
I
know
that
some
people
have
suggested
there's
really
no
connection
between
Advent
and
the
death
of
Christ
and
every
year
they
get a
little
bit
louder
and
they
want
to
push
those
apart
so
called
progressive
Christians
say
that the
incarnation
is not
about
death
it's
about
life
it's
not
about
death
it's
about
liberation
and
justice
not
propitiation
I've
come to
expect
such
teaching
from
those
from
more
liberal
mainline
denominations
who have
forsaken
the
authority
of
scripture
but
what
has
surprised
me
a little
bit
is
the
similar
perspective
coming
from
self
proclaimed
devout
Bible
believing
Christians
not
far
from
here
a
neighborhood
homeowners
association
gave
notice
to
a
home
owner
to
remove
the
cross
from
their
Christmas
decorations
under
the threat
of
a
hundred
dollar
a
day
fine
when
the
home
owner
questioned
!
the
violation
the
board
members
many
claiming
to be
Christian
board
members
of the
HOE
asked
for
scripture
to
connect
the
cross
to
Christmas
they
wrote
this is
what the
board
wrote
the
board
believes
that
the
Bible
is
very
clear
on
the
distinction
between
these
two
major
events
in
Christ's
life
on
earth
the
cross
is
appropriate
for
display
during
the
Easter
season
but
not
as
a
decoration
during
the
Christmas
season
well I
haven't
been able
to find
where the
Bible
says
anything
about
decorations
but
they
are
dead
wrong
about
the
connection
it's
right here
in
first
John
church
if you
want to
truly
understand
Advent
you
have
to
see
it
in
its
full
expression
God's
love
for you
God sent
his only
son into
the world
so that
you might
live
through
him
this
is
this
is
where
we
see
Advent
love
God
sent
his
only
son
to
be
the
propitiation
for
your
sins
this
is
what
defines
Advent
love
you
cannot
do
it
yourself
life
and
forgiveness
is
yours
because
God
loves
you
we're
going to
be singing
about it
in just
a moment
so come
though you
have
nothing
come
he
is the
offering
come
see what
your God
has done
verse 11
brings us
back to
the
beginning
beloved
if God
so
that word
means
in this
way
if God
so
loved
us
we also
ought to
love one
another
that's who
we are
I mentioned
earlier that
the gift
of Advent
love
reveals the
reason why
and the
measure how
we should
love one
another
first we
ought to
love one
another
because we
possess a
life that
is
that is
love
bought
and that
is
characterized
by love
and second
we should
love one
another
because
Advent
love
has
demonstrated
to us
what
God's
love
really
is
and we
benefited
from that
our
love for
one
another
ought
to
reflect
the
love
that we
have
received
now
there's
two
practical
factors
that can
be
gleaned
here
from
God's
love
for us
one
is
self
sacrifice
and the
other
is
action
done
for the
benefit
of
others
especially
those who
are
unworthy
love
one
of the
difficulties
in
preparing
a
message
like
this
is
that
you
become
very
aware
how
little
you
really
love
but
that's
the
reason
for this
exhortation
it's
like
God
saying
to
a
butterfly
fly
that's
what
he's
made
to
do
don't
stay
there
hook
to
the
cocoon
get
up
flap
those
wings
and
go
he's
saying
to
Christians
born
again
with a
new
life
that
loves
love
one
another
we
all
need
to
take
a
good
look
at
ourselves
and
truly
live
the
life
we
were
given
in
light
of
this
season
I
think
we
can
see
this
in
the
form
of
gift
giving
I'm
not
talking
about
cool
items
wrapped
in
colorful
paper
and
a
big
red
ribbon
I'm
talking
about
a
lifestyle
of
giving
that
reflects
what
we've
received
like
extending
forgiveness
someone
who's
offended
you
like
reaching
out
to
someone
that
you
haven't
seen
or
heard
from
in a
while
reestablishing
a
relationship
breaking
an
estrangement
giving
the benefit
of the
doubt
to
someone
spending
time
with
someone
meeting
urgent
needs
being
hospitable
praying
for
others
visiting
the
sick
safely
connecting
with the
persecuted
church
giving
practical
care
disciple
and so
on
free
freely
costly
regularly
as
Amy
Carmichael
once said
you can
always
give
without
loving
but you
can never
love
without
giving
according
to the
bible
this is
who you
are
and may
this
guide
your
consideration
of your
future
and your
decision
making
and service
and mission
occupation
one final
thought
before i
close
almost every
year at
this time
since i've
become a
christian i've
seen or
heard the
saying put
christ back
into christmas
have you
heard
or seen
that
just about
every year
and that's
it's a good
reminder because
it's so easy
to get caught
up isn't
it
to forget
or to
have him
there but
to still
be focused
on the
commercialism
around us
i just saw
a bumper
sticker
while i was
at costco
that said
put christ
back in
christmas
it's a
natural
response
for christians
but i would
suggest something
further than
putting christ
back in
christmas
i suggest we
put the
father back
in christmas
because you
think of it
why do so
many people
feel okay
with the
christmas story
because it's
an innocent
child that's
that's born
there there's
no action
involved in
the child we
we already
know that christ
loves us in
fact in the
previous chapter
of first john
he does say
very specifically
in similar
words in
this is love
that christ
laid down
his life
for us
so therefore
we ought to
love one
another
he's already
covered that
but but when
we're considering
the christmas
story when
we're considering
advent the
point isn't
christ doing
anything or
loving us the
point is
father sent
the son
and so
really
we're going
to put christ
back into
christmas we
have to put
the father
back into
christmas and
while we're
at it we
might as
well put the
holy spirit
back into
christmas as
well
huh
i mean didn't
he bring it
to pass
isn't wasn't
he promised by
christ to be
with us
right here with
us right now
and doesn't
paul tell us
that the love
of god is
shed abroad in
our hearts by
the spirit of
god
romans chapter
five
so let me
conclude with
a prayer
and this prayer
is from an
italian itinerant
preacher about
13th century
whose name
was francis
and i i like
this prayer
because i think
it really
characterized what
we're talking
about a life
of giving
that's who
we are
and he's
praying that
it would
be true of
him
and i just
say let's
let's make it
our prayer
as well
says lord
make me an
instrument of
your peace
where there is
hatred
let me so
love
where there is
injury
pardon
where there is
doubt
faith
where there is
despair
hope
where there is
darkness
light
where there is
sadness
joy
oh divine
master
grant
that i might
not so much
seek to be
consoled
as to
console
to be
understood
as to
understand
to be
loved
as to
love
for it is
in giving
that we
receive
it is in
pardoning
that we
are pardoned
and it is
in dying
that we
are born
to eternal
life
ending
Thank you.