WEBVTT

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 Well, we often call this time of year the season of giving, right?

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 In fact, between your family gatherings, corporate parties, school gift exchanges,

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 charitable contributions, chances are you give more to other people this time of year

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 in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas than probably the rest of the year combined.

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 That's not because you don't care about people the rest of the year.

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 It's just this is the season of giving, right?

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 There's all kinds of things that we do, all kinds of gifts that we buy.

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 But we all know that the quantity of gifts we give doesn't necessarily reflect a genuinely giving heart, right?

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 Let's be honest for just a moment, okay?

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 Some of us have some gifts under the tree that if it weren't for a particular obligation, wouldn't be there, right?

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 There's a difference between going out and really thinking hard, as I know all of you men have done,

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 and putting all of this time and effort into purchasing something for your wife that would express the tremendous love that you have for her.

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 I know all of you have done that.

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 You haven't waited until now.

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 You've got it done.

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 It's under the tree, right?

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 There's a difference between doing that and going out and purchasing a gift for that distant relative,

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 maybe a third cousin that just happens to be showing up to the family gathering this year.

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 You know what I mean?

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 If it wasn't for the fact that they're showing up this year, they show up once a decade,

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 and if it wasn't for the fact that they're showing up, you wouldn't have bought them a gift.

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 But because they're there, you can't not get them something.

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 And so you've gone out, and your wife has sent you out, and you've picked up something for that distant relative.

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 There's a difference in the giving between those two things, right?

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 One is really a gift of obligation, and the other one is really a gift of love.

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 It's one thing to go to the store and really, as Julie and I have done for our girls,

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 to really think through gifts that would express our love for our daughters.

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 It's a different thing, right, Joseph, to be sent out, to have to get a gift for that boy

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 that she just insists on bringing to Christmas dinner this year, right?

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 There's a difference in giving in those two scenarios, isn't there?

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 And as we really think about the giving season, we think about gifts,

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 of course, we do those things ultimately because we do care in some way.

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 Otherwise, we wouldn't do it.

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 Generally, we wouldn't do it.

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 But there's a difference in the way that we give sometimes.

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 We all do quite a bit of giving at this Christmas season.

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 But the true spirit of giving is not founded on an obligation.

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 It's founded on love, right?

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 This little verse here in John chapter 3 concisely reveals to us God's perfect gift

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 given to humanity as a result of his supreme love.

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 Remember, God's under no obligation to us.

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 There is nothing about us that requires or pushes God to do anything for us.

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 There's no obligation that would drive him to give us a gift.

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 But because of his immeasurable love, he is actually giving us everything in his only son, Jesus Christ.

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 And without a doubt, John 3.16 is the most famous verse in all of the Bible.

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 But there is a danger that accompanies our familiarity with it.

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 Though we all know it, and most of us could quote it even from heart, as many of you probably did just a moment ago,

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 we may find that our hearts are somewhat dull to the magnitude of the truth conveyed in this little verse.

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 So what my goal is this morning, and what I think should be our goal in this season of giving,

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 is to think about what is the greatest gift that was actually ever given.

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 A gift not given out of an obligation to man, but out of God's divine and supreme love for man.

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 And so my purpose this morning is really not to do an exposition of John chapter 3 as much as I want to do that.

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 But we don't have time for that.

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 But it will be helpful for us to understand just a little bit of background as to why this verse exists,

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 why it is that Jesus has said this, or at least John has made the commentary on what was taking place with Jesus here in chapter 3.

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 John wrote at the end of chapter 2 that at this point in Jesus' life and ministry, he had been in Jerusalem.

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 And while he was there, we see first the righteous anger of the Lord as he turns over tables and he drives out the money changers out of the temple there.

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 But then immediately following that, at the very end of the chapter,

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 John says that Jesus had done a few signs and wonders and miracles, miraculous things in Jerusalem,

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 so that many people had begun to believe in his name, is what John says.

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 But the problem was, as John goes on to say, and what Jesus understood to be true,

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 is that though they were excited about Jesus, they were intrigued by him, they were interested in him,

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 none of them, or at least most of them, weren't actually committed to Jesus in faith.

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 And so Jesus, John says, doesn't commit himself fully to those people because he knew what was true of their hearts.

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 And what was in their hearts was really just some type of intrigue about the things that Jesus was doing.

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 It wasn't that at this point, most of them were not committed to Jesus in faith and who he was and what he was doing.

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 One such person was one of the leaders of the Jews, a prominent teacher of the Jews named Nicodemus.

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 And as we get into chapter three, we find that Nicodemus, in the secrecy of the night,

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 goes and finds Jesus in order to find out as much about him as he can.

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 He wants to try to figure out exactly who Jesus is and what really is the purpose in him coming.

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 In fact, at the end of the day, it's not very often that someone comes to town healing sick people with his touch,

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 opening blinded eyes with his words.

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 It's not very often that someone comes to town teaching with an unparalleled authority.

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 In fact, it's only happened once in history.

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 And Jesus was the one who did it.

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 And he comes to town and Nicodemus can't get this guy off his mind.

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 He's not exactly sure who he is.

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 He says, Jesus, we know that you must be at least from God

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 because only someone from God could do the things that you're doing and could teach in the way that you're teaching.

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 And he's inquisitive.

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 He's trying to figure out who is Jesus and why did he come?

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 And in the course of that conversation, Jesus reveals to Nicodemus

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 that all of his efforts in morality and religion were insufficient

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 to actually grant him entry into the kingdom of God.

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 He couldn't gain eternal life through all of the things he was doing.

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 He had committed his entire life at this point to religious works, good works,

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 all the things he could possibly amass in order to please God.

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 And in the course of this conversation, Jesus basically blows all of those efforts up.

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 And he says, none of that is actually good enough.

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 For a person to find entry into the kingdom of God, Jesus said,

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 he must experience a spiritual rebirth.

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 Verse seven, Jesus plainly says, you must be born again.

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 And of course, Nicodemus was hardened to this statement.

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 He was confused by the statement.

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 And so he asked for clarity.

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 A few verses later, he says, how can these things be?

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 And what results from that question eventually gets to verse 16,

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 which is this wonderfully simple explanation of the gospel.

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 And in summary, this was Jesus's response.

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 Eternal salvation, eternal life, the kingdom of God, forgiveness of sins

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 is only found through faith in Jesus.

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 And it's a gift issued from the immeasurable, indescribable love of God.

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 So then as we think about this verse in relation to Christmas,

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 we find out that John 3.16 actually tells us why anyone should care about the birth of Jesus.

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 Have you thought about that?

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 There's not many births that we celebrate in this life, is there?

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 We celebrate one another.

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 We rejoice and we each have a designated day.

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 How many people outside of your family, your friend, your circle of network,

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 do you ever celebrate their birth?

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 No one.

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 Why is it that we should care about Jesus's birth?

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 Well, John 3.16 tells us why.

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 It contains the true meaning and purpose of Christmas

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 and why Christians are so committed to celebrating it.

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 So in our study this morning, we're going to look at this verse just quickly.

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 And I wanted to show you three things.

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 I want to show you what is God's perfect gift,

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 what motivated him to give it,

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 and how you can receive it.

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 God's perfect gift,

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 what motivated him to give it,

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 and how you can receive it.

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 If you like to keep notes, maybe you write this down.

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 This is how I have my notes structured today.

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 The first thing I wrote down was the gift of God.

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 The gift of God.

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 And I want you to go back to verse 16,

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 except we're going to come back to the first phrase in just a minute.

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 I want you to look at that middle phrase.

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 John writes that he gave his only son.

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 He gave his only son.

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 So the perfect gift of God

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 didn't come in a fancy box with a decorative bow.

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 As we just read a moment ago,

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 it was wrapped in swaddling clothes

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 and lying in a manger in Bethlehem.

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 Because the greatest gift that's ever been given to the world

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 and in the world was not a thing,

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 it was a person.

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 God himself wrapped in human flesh.

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 This is why Isaiah said in Isaiah 7, 14

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 that Harper read a few moments ago

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 or quoted a few moments ago,

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 this is why the angel said he will be called Emmanuel,

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 which means God is with us.

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 God himself has become a man.

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 God is with us.

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 Therefore, he will have this title of Emmanuel.

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 Christmas isn't about the birth of a man

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 who came into existence 2,000 years ago in Palestine.

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 That's not what Christmas is about.

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 Christmas is about the incarnation of the one true God

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 who has always existed and who has always been.

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 The creator of the universe entered his creation

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 and subjected himself to the weakness and frailty

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 of fallen man.

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 This is what the whole Bible's about.

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 Philippians chapter 2 says it.

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 Paul describes it this way

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 and maybe one of the most comprehensive looks

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 at the deity and incarnation of Jesus.

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 This is what Paul wrote.

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 Though he was in the form of God,

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 form there meaning in his very essence,

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 that's who he was,

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 the unchangeable quality of who Jesus is.

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 Though he was in the form of God,

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 Jesus did not count equality with God

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 a thing to be grasped.

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 In other words,

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 the glory that comes with being God,

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 he was not willing to hold on to that

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 in order that man and all men

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 would be condemned to hell.

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 He did not think equality with God,

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 the glory of being God

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 as something to be grasped,

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 to hold on to.

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 But Paul says,

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 he emptied himself

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 by taking on the form of a servant

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 being born in the likeness of men.

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 Form, same word.

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 In the first half of the verse,

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 Paul says Jesus in his very essence

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 and who he is,

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 the unchangeable quality of his character

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 and of his personhood is God.

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 And then him being God

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 takes on the form of a man,

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 the very essence of who he is,

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 who that unchangeable quality now

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 of who Jesus is,

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 is both fully God

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 and fully man.

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 So what we celebrate

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 in the birth of Christ

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 is not the beginnings of a man,

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 but is the incarnation of a being

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 who created you

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 and who created everything that you see

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 and who has always existed.

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 The king of all

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 willingly became

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 the lowliest of all.

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 The one who is continually surrounded

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 by the praises of angels

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 leaves the glories of heaven

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 to suffer at the hands of men.

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 The creator

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 subjects himself

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 to his own creation

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 in order that he might

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 save it.

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 And what is this

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 according to John 3, 16?

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 A gift.

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 It's a gift.

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 A perfect gift.

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 Thou who was rich

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 beyond all splendor,

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 all for love's sake

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 became as poor.

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 Thrones for a manger

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 did surrender.

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 Sapphire paved courts

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 for stable floor.

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 Thou who was rich

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 beyond all splendor,

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 all for love's sake

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 became as poor.

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 You know,

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 often when we think about

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 the Christmas story,

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 the scope of our thoughts

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 is generally limited

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 to this small portion

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 of scripture

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 in Matthew 1 and 2

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 and Luke 1 and 2

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 that tells specifically

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 the nativity story.

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 But I want to remind you

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 again this morning

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 that God's gift

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 of eternal life

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 through Jesus Christ

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 is the main point

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 not of Matthew 1 and 2

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 and Luke 1 and 2

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 but of the entire Bible.

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 Everything in God's word

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 speaks to this moment,

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 to this person,

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 to this gift.

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 Think about it.

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 As you understand the Bible

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 and how it's put together,

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 it begins with creation

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 and the curse of suffering

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 and death

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 that resulted from man's sin.

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 And then the Bible ends

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 with God restoring all things

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 to His intended purpose.

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 And everything between

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 that first creation

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 and the final creation,

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 everything in between

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 in God's word

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 is all about this Savior,

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 this appointed deliverer from God

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 that would come

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 and save His people

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 from their sins.

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 The Savior

00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:23.120
 is the gift

00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:23.959
 referred to

00:15:23.959 --> 00:15:25.740
 in John 3, 16.

00:15:27.199 --> 00:15:28.179
 It would take me

00:15:28.179 --> 00:15:28.979
 the rest of my life

00:15:28.979 --> 00:15:30.139
 to explain all of that to you

00:15:30.139 --> 00:15:31.139
 as we go through the scriptures.

00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:32.719
 Let me just generally

00:15:32.719 --> 00:15:33.579
 give you two things

00:15:33.579 --> 00:15:34.219
 to think about

00:15:34.219 --> 00:15:35.179
 as we think about

00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:36.379
 the story of the whole Bible

00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:37.519
 and how it relates

00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:38.799
 to Jesus as a gift.

00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:40.719
 The opening pages

00:15:40.719 --> 00:15:41.319
 of the Bible

00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:42.799
 tell us that God created

00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:44.299
 man and woman

00:15:44.299 --> 00:15:45.979
 in His image

00:15:45.979 --> 00:15:47.659
 to glorify Him.

00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.759
 Our kids have learned this.

00:15:50.199 --> 00:15:50.719
 How and why

00:15:50.719 --> 00:15:51.959
 did God create us, kids?

00:15:52.819 --> 00:15:54.240
 God created us.

00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:54.779
 Smell?

00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:00.139
 They know it, right?

00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:01.099
 When we learned that

00:16:01.099 --> 00:16:01.939
 in our kids' class,

00:16:02.059 --> 00:16:03.059
 the thing that they did

00:16:03.059 --> 00:16:03.759
 to try to understand

00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:04.299
 what this means

00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:04.719
 is they went

00:16:04.719 --> 00:16:05.079
 and they stood

00:16:05.079 --> 00:16:05.559
 at the mirror

00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:07.939
 where Miss Faye is sitting.

00:16:08.199 --> 00:16:08.719
 And they looked

00:16:08.719 --> 00:16:09.559
 at themselves in the mirror

00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:09.799
 and I said,

00:16:09.839 --> 00:16:10.459
 what do you see?

00:16:11.179 --> 00:16:12.159
 And they said,

00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:12.419
 me.

00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.439
 You see a reflection

00:16:14.439 --> 00:16:15.159
 of themselves.

00:16:16.359 --> 00:16:17.139
 And the Bible says

00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:18.039
 that God created

00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:18.759
 Adam and Eve,

00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:19.500
 man and woman,

00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:20.940
 in His own image

00:16:20.940 --> 00:16:21.820
 to glorify Him.

00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:23.019
 It meant that He didn't

00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:24.320
 create them as little gods.

00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:25.179
 That's not what He meant.

00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:27.259
 It means that He created them

00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:28.360
 in perfect innocence

00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:30.120
 to be a perfect reflection

00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:30.879
 of Him,

00:16:31.059 --> 00:16:32.500
 to reflect who He is

00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:33.740
 and to reflect

00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:35.559
 His perfect character.

00:16:36.299 --> 00:16:37.080
 But Adam and Eve

00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:38.139
 fell from that.

00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:40.039
 God's adversary,

00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:40.639
 Satan,

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.740
 deceived them.

00:16:42.379 --> 00:16:43.559
 They disobeyed God,

00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:45.279
 they sinned against God,

00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:46.840
 and they fell short

00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:47.580
 of the glory

00:16:47.580 --> 00:16:48.860
 for which they were created.

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:51.019
 And since God

00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:52.860
 is perfectly holy

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:53.540
 and just,

00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:54.460
 their sin

00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:55.540
 had to be punished.

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:57.420
 If He just let it go,

00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.340
 He wouldn't be God.

00:16:58.660 --> 00:16:59.240
 And He certainly

00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:00.220
 wouldn't be just.

00:17:01.060 --> 00:17:02.160
 But He had to punish

00:17:02.160 --> 00:17:02.700
 their sin.

00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:03.860
 But in the midst

00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:04.660
 of this punishment,

00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:05.660
 in the midst

00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:06.440
 of the announcement

00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:07.319
 of this curse

00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.319
 of their sin,

00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.779
 He gave them a promise.

00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:10.779
 And the promise

00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.720
 is that He would

00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:13.079
 provide a Savior

00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:14.919
 to rescue man

00:17:14.919 --> 00:17:16.659
 from eternal death.

00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:17.960
 In the midst

00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:19.059
 of the consequences,

00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:20.619
 God's grace

00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:22.259
 was shining through

00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:24.159
 in this promise.

00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:25.579
 In Genesis 3.15,

00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:27.599
 God tells man and woman

00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.379
 after their sin,

00:17:28.679 --> 00:17:30.019
 I will put enmity

00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.919
 between you,

00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:31.879
 speaking to Satan,

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:32.439
 the serpent,

00:17:32.639 --> 00:17:33.519
 I will put enmity

00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.720
 between you and the woman

00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:36.759
 and between your offspring

00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.799
 and her offspring.

00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.859
 He shall bruise your head

00:17:39.859 --> 00:17:41.639
 and you shall bruise His heel.

00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:43.060
 From the very beginning

00:17:43.060 --> 00:17:43.700
 of the Bible,

00:17:43.820 --> 00:17:44.800
 we see the problem.

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:45.740
 This whole book,

00:17:45.820 --> 00:17:46.600
 what it's about,

00:17:46.860 --> 00:17:48.420
 is about God creating us

00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:49.140
 for His glory.

00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:50.540
 Us falling short

00:17:50.540 --> 00:17:51.240
 of that glory

00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:52.560
 and in desperate need

00:17:52.560 --> 00:17:54.000
 of God's mercy and grace.

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.220
 And in the midst of that,

00:17:55.340 --> 00:17:56.080
 right at the beginning,

00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:57.060
 God says,

00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:58.480
 I'm gonna give you a promise.

00:17:58.820 --> 00:18:00.340
 I'm gonna send a deliverer,

00:18:00.560 --> 00:18:01.280
 a Savior

00:18:01.280 --> 00:18:02.820
 that will save you

00:18:02.820 --> 00:18:03.759
 from your sins.

00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:05.040
 And everything following

00:18:05.040 --> 00:18:06.840
 that in the entire Scripture

00:18:06.840 --> 00:18:07.980
 is about that.

00:18:08.120 --> 00:18:09.620
 It all points to that.

00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:11.500
 Then we get a little further

00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:12.359
 in the Old Testament.

00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.359
 And as you continue to read,

00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:15.500
 you'll find that there are

00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:18.160
 all of these illuminating pictures

00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:19.680
 and illustrations

00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:22.279
 that point to God's promise

00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:22.980
 of redemption.

00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:24.660
 All kinds of things.

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:26.579
 We see a picture of Israel

00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:28.859
 being God redeeming His people.

00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:31.400
 We see the sacrificial system

00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.099
 in particular.

00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:34.519
 Year by year,

00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:35.759
 the Israelites,

00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:36.920
 the people of God,

00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:38.079
 were required to come

00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:40.179
 in order to reflect

00:18:40.179 --> 00:18:42.199
 their need for salvation.

00:18:42.379 --> 00:18:43.019
 They would bring

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:44.740
 and supply for themselves

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.480
 a lamb.

00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:47.399
 A lamb that was one year old.

00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:48.699
 It had to be perfect,

00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:49.939
 without blemish,

00:18:50.419 --> 00:18:51.039
 spotless.

00:18:52.139 --> 00:18:52.879
 And they would bring it

00:18:52.879 --> 00:18:53.879
 to the temple of God

00:18:53.879 --> 00:18:55.519
 or to the tabernacle of God

00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.500
 and they would sacrifice

00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:57.480
 that lamb

00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:58.619
 as a reflection

00:18:58.619 --> 00:19:00.019
 of their own sinfulness

00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:01.419
 and of their own need

00:19:01.419 --> 00:19:02.359
 for God's mercy.

00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:03.559
 But the problem was

00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:05.179
 that lamb was never enough.

00:19:05.879 --> 00:19:06.480
 Every year,

00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.400
 they had to do it again.

00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:09.759
 No matter how hard

00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.360
 they searched,

00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:12.079
 no matter how perfect

00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:13.259
 of a lamb they could find,

00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:14.640
 there was never one

00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:15.660
 that really atoned

00:19:15.660 --> 00:19:16.319
 for their sin.

00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:17.360
 It wasn't possible.

00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:18.900
 Of course,

00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:20.380
 God set this in place

00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:22.440
 in order to show them something.

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.860
 That nothing in and of themselves

00:19:24.860 --> 00:19:26.559
 was capable

00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:28.620
 of forgiving their sin.

00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:30.880
 They continually repeated

00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:32.500
 the process year by year,

00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:34.400
 which served as a reminder

00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:36.940
 that their only real hope

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.680
 was God's mercy.

00:19:39.560 --> 00:19:40.600
 And God's mercy

00:19:40.600 --> 00:19:41.340
 would have to come

00:19:41.340 --> 00:19:42.060
 through the fulfillment

00:19:42.060 --> 00:19:43.340
 of His promise,

00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.820
 not any work

00:19:44.820 --> 00:19:45.420
 that they would do

00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:46.040
 on their own.

00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:50.280
 The gift of God's Son

00:19:50.280 --> 00:19:51.400
 in John 3.16

00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:53.320
 is the fulfillment

00:19:53.320 --> 00:19:54.940
 of that promise.

00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:58.160
 Because the people

00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:59.900
 could not supply a lamb

00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:01.400
 that was worthy

00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:02.740
 to forgive their sins,

00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:05.460
 God provided one

00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:06.620
 for them.

00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:10.240
 He sent His only Son,

00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:14.120
 the only perfect sacrifice

00:20:14.120 --> 00:20:16.640
 capable of paying

00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:18.120
 the price for man's sin

00:20:18.120 --> 00:20:19.799
 once and for all.

00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:23.500
 Galatians chapter 4

00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.160
 tells us that

00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:24.759
 when the fullness

00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:25.900
 of time had come,

00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:29.180
 God sent forth His Son,

00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:31.339
 born of a woman,

00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:33.339
 born under the law

00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:35.319
 to redeem those

00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:36.379
 who were under the law

00:20:36.379 --> 00:20:38.779
 so that we might receive

00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:40.759
 adoption as sons.

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.759
 If you study much

00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:45.259
 about in the Gospels

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.240
 about John the Baptist,

00:20:46.399 --> 00:20:46.919
 you'll remember

00:20:46.919 --> 00:20:48.039
 in John chapter 1

00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:50.319
 as Jesus comes through

00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:52.359
 that portion of Galilee,

00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.879
 verse 29,

00:20:54.139 --> 00:20:54.419
 it says,

00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.359
 John saw Jesus

00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:56.220
 coming toward him

00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:57.019
 and what was it

00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:57.779
 that John said?

00:20:58.399 --> 00:20:59.279
 Behold what?

00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:00.980
 The Lamb of God

00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:02.879
 who takes away

00:21:02.879 --> 00:21:04.819
 the sin of the world.

00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:07.539
 You say,

00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:07.700
 well,

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.700
 all that lamb talk

00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:09.480
 is just coincidence.

00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.079
 No.

00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:11.420
 No.

00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:13.359
 The promise

00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:14.740
 of Genesis 3.15

00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:16.440
 was always the plan

00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:17.339
 of God to fulfill

00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.420
 in a perfect lamb

00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:19.379
 except that perfect lamb

00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:20.019
 wasn't an animal,

00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:20.819
 it was a person,

00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.579
 His only Son.

00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.819
 But even still,

00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:25.960
 how could Jesus

00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:27.720
 save us from our sins?

00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:30.660
 His death on the cross

00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:31.799
 was a substitution.

00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:35.259
 He took our place.

00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:36.779
 He bore the wrath of God

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:38.620
 against our sin.

00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.620
 But His death

00:21:39.620 --> 00:21:40.640
 was only sufficient

00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:42.519
 because He had no sin

00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.160
 of His own

00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:44.740
 with which He had to pay.

00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:47.160
 Consider that.

00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:48.920
 This is why the Bible

00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:49.779
 makes so clear

00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:51.240
 that Jesus was not just

00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:52.339
 a man from God,

00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:54.680
 but Jesus is the man of God.

00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:57.220
 He is God in the flesh.

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:58.360
 No other man

00:21:58.360 --> 00:21:59.480
 could have possibly

00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.519
 been sinless.

00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:03.819
 Even by our very nature,

00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:05.519
 when we're conceived

00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.539
 from conception,

00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:08.279
 we have this nature of sin,

00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:09.460
 this depravity

00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.680
 that is deep within us

00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:12.400
 that must be redeemed.

00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:14.079
 But Jesus didn't have that

00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:15.980
 because Jesus wasn't born of man,

00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:17.039
 He was born of God.

00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:19.360
 He's the perfect Son of God

00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:20.460
 without sin.

00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:20.799
 Therefore,

00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:22.120
 only His death

00:22:22.120 --> 00:22:23.339
 was sufficient enough

00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:25.460
 to atone for our sin.

00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:27.640
 no other sacrifice

00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:28.400
 would work.

00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:30.500
 And that was the plan of God.

00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:33.180
 2 Corinthians 5.21,

00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:34.299
 we quote this often.

00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:36.600
 For our sake,

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:39.180
 He made Him to be sin

00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:40.740
 who knew no sin

00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:42.640
 so that in Him

00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:44.140
 we might become

00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:45.299
 the righteousness of God.

00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:47.480
 In the sacrifice

00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:48.680
 of the perfect Lamb,

00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:51.279
 a transaction takes place,

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:51.840
 a switch.

00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:54.059
 we,

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:55.079
 in our sin,

00:22:55.899 --> 00:22:56.679
 deserve nothing

00:22:56.679 --> 00:22:57.699
 but God's wrath.

00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.699
 Jesus,

00:22:59.699 --> 00:23:01.139
 the perfect one,

00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:03.339
 takes our place,

00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:05.559
 absorbs the wrath of God

00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.559
 against our sin,

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:08.339
 takes it upon Himself

00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:09.819
 in order that we,

00:23:09.959 --> 00:23:11.059
 the sinful ones,

00:23:11.459 --> 00:23:12.639
 may have His righteousness

00:23:12.639 --> 00:23:13.659
 applied to us.

00:23:14.659 --> 00:23:16.199
 Why do we celebrate Christmas?

00:23:16.599 --> 00:23:17.539
 Because of that.

00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:20.240
 Why do we care

00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:22.119
 about the birth of Jesus?

00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.839
 Because of His death.

00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:27.779
 Why does John 3.16

00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:29.240
 say that God's Son

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.819
 was a gift?

00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.339
 Because how else

00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:32.299
 could you describe Him?

00:23:34.379 --> 00:23:35.480
 Thou who art God

00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.639
 beyond all praising,

00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:39.079
 all for love's sake

00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:40.519
 became as man.

00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:43.259
 Stooping so low,

00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:45.359
 but sinners raising.

00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:47.579
 heavenward by thine

00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:48.479
 eternal plan.

00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:50.639
 Thou who art God

00:23:50.639 --> 00:23:52.479
 beyond all praising,

00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:54.459
 all for love's sake

00:23:54.459 --> 00:23:56.319
 became as man.

00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:58.559
 So first we see

00:23:58.559 --> 00:23:59.339
 the gift of God.

00:24:00.159 --> 00:24:00.579
 Secondly,

00:24:00.719 --> 00:24:02.379
 we see the call of God.

00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.579
 The call of God.

00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.779
 Look again at verse 16,

00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:05.379
 except this time

00:24:05.379 --> 00:24:05.859
 I want you to see

00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:06.839
 the last phrase.

00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.799
 Whoever believes in Him

00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:10.159
 should not perish,

00:24:10.159 --> 00:24:12.139
 but have eternal life.

00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.699
 Whoever believes in Him

00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:15.380
 should not perish,

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:17.720
 but have eternal life.

00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:19.380
 So it's clear here.

00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:21.200
 The purpose of God's gift,

00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:22.200
 the Son of God,

00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:23.059
 Jesus Christ,

00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:24.279
 was that we might

00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:25.440
 have eternal life.

00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:26.720
 But the word order

00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:27.340
 in this verse

00:24:27.340 --> 00:24:28.019
 is important.

00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:29.920
 He doesn't lead

00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:31.059
 with eternal life.

00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:33.580
 Because the eternal life

00:24:33.580 --> 00:24:34.380
 that God offers

00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:35.720
 is an alternative.

00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:37.539
 It's an alternative

00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:39.640
 to the spiritual death

00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:41.080
 to which we are all

00:24:41.080 --> 00:24:42.039
 condemned.

00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:43.659
 Do you notice that?

00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.859
 Whoever believes in Him,

00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:47.259
 He doesn't just say

00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:48.139
 whoever believes in Him

00:24:48.139 --> 00:24:49.159
 will have eternal life.

00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:50.059
 He actually says

00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:51.059
 whoever believes in Him

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:52.460
 first will be rescued

00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:53.899
 from eternal death,

00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:54.819
 from perishing,

00:24:55.159 --> 00:24:57.039
 meaning that we are all

00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:58.940
 automatically by nature

00:24:58.940 --> 00:25:00.680
 destined for death,

00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:01.819
 eternal hell,

00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:02.980
 eternal separation

00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:03.899
 from God.

00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:05.319
 But the gift of God

00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:06.000
 was such

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.440
 that whoever believes

00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:08.579
 in Jesus Christ

00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:10.339
 will not have to perish,

00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:12.500
 but will have eternal life.

00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:14.740
 We're spiritually dead

00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:15.359
 in our sins.

00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.339
 Ephesians chapter 2

00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:16.819
 and verse 1

00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.519
 tells us that.

00:25:17.659 --> 00:25:19.199
 We desperately need

00:25:19.199 --> 00:25:20.799
 divine rescue.

00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:23.319
 And the birth of Jesus,

00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:24.980
 this nativity story

00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:26.339
 is part one

00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:29.779
 of God's divine rescue mission.

00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:32.279
 He gave His Son

00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:33.639
 to rescue us

00:25:33.639 --> 00:25:35.519
 from spiritual death

00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.980
 and eternal hell.

00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:39.200
 Look at verse 17,

00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.220
 just after it.

00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:42.620
 For God did not send

00:25:42.620 --> 00:25:43.779
 His Son into the world

00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:45.000
 to condemn the world,

00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:46.360
 not yet at least.

00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:48.259
 He will return.

00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:49.680
 And when He returns,

00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:51.059
 it will be to judge.

00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:52.819
 So be ready for that judgment.

00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:54.160
 But in this coming,

00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:55.779
 that wasn't the reason.

00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:57.900
 He did not send His Son

00:25:57.900 --> 00:25:59.140
 to condemn the world,

00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:00.240
 but that the world

00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.700
 through Him

00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:03.640
 might be saved.

00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:06.660
 This is why in Matthew chapter 1,

00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.840
 we read a moment ago,

00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:09.400
 the angel says to Joseph,

00:26:09.780 --> 00:26:11.000
 she will bear a son.

00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:13.280
 You shall call His name Jesus,

00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:14.480
 which is the New Testament

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.740
 version of Joshua,

00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:18.100
 which means God will save,

00:26:18.520 --> 00:26:20.759
 for He will save His people

00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:22.900
 from their sins.

00:26:25.800 --> 00:26:27.700
 This brings a particular urgency

00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:29.360
 to the issue of God's gift.

00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:31.180
 Urgency.

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:31.299
 Urgency.

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:34.000
 Sometimes we get in our mind,

00:26:34.060 --> 00:26:35.039
 if we're not super familiar

00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:35.680
 with the Bible,

00:26:35.820 --> 00:26:37.320
 and maybe we've only been told

00:26:37.320 --> 00:26:38.039
 the good parts

00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:40.019
 and the flowery parts,

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:42.299
 we get this idea in our mind

00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:43.660
 that all of us are destined

00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.700
 for eternal life,

00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:46.080
 unless you're somebody like Hitler.

00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.680
 We're all destined

00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:48.340
 for eternal life,

00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:49.320
 but if you follow Jesus,

00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:50.560
 you'll just have a better quality

00:26:50.560 --> 00:26:51.240
 of eternal life.

00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.120
 That's not at all

00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.880
 what the Bible teaches.

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:53.940
 That's not at all

00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:55.240
 what John 3.16 teaches.

00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:57.680
 No, what we're destined

00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.820
 for is eternal hell.

00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.160
 All of us.

00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:01.620
 All of us.

00:27:02.540 --> 00:27:04.000
 Unless we're rescued,

00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:06.340
 none of us are destined

00:27:06.340 --> 00:27:07.440
 for eternal life.

00:27:09.120 --> 00:27:10.880
 So what God calls us to

00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:12.480
 is faith.

00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.800
 And He says,

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:16.720
 if you will believe in My Son,

00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:18.420
 if you will believe

00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:19.759
 and follow My Son,

00:27:20.820 --> 00:27:22.759
 He will take your death,

00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:25.379
 and you will receive His life.

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.779
 We come to Jesus

00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:30.900
 because we'll spend eternity

00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:32.000
 separated from God

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.700
 if we don't.

00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:36.539
 And this incredible gift of God

00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:38.160
 is not universally applied.

00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.960
 Those who will not believe

00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:43.079
 and follow Jesus

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:46.119
 are eternally condemned.

00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:48.239
 Jesus said as much

00:27:48.239 --> 00:27:49.279
 in verse 18.

00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.000
 Look at it.

00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:50.639
 Verse 18.

00:27:50.639 --> 00:27:52.419
 Whoever believes in Him

00:27:52.419 --> 00:27:53.559
 is not condemned,

00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:56.479
 but whoever does not believe

00:27:56.479 --> 00:27:58.939
 is condemned already

00:27:58.939 --> 00:28:01.779
 because he has not believed

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:04.859
 in the name of the only Son of God.

00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:08.639
 God's gift of eternal life

00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:09.579
 through His Son

00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:11.439
 can only be received

00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:12.700
 by faith.

00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:16.039
 Salvation is not something

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:17.220
 that you can earn

00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:21.080
 by spending your money,

00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:23.860
 giving away your goods,

00:28:23.860 --> 00:28:25.740
 or committing yourself

00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:27.380
 to morality or good works.

00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:31.019
 God calls us to receive His gift

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:32.440
 only one way,

00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:34.900
 by believing in His Son.

00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:37.880
 And this divine rescue

00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:38.940
 only comes,

00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.360
 only comes

00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:42.199
 to whosoever

00:28:42.199 --> 00:28:44.399
 will follow Jesus in faith.

00:28:46.919 --> 00:28:47.839
 Romans 10.

00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:50.759
 If you confess with your mouth

00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:53.259
 that Jesus is Lord

00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:55.679
 and believe in your heart

00:28:55.679 --> 00:28:57.939
 that God raised Him from the dead,

00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:59.559
 you will be saved.

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:02.179
 For with the heart, Paul says,

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:04.759
 one believes and is justified,

00:29:04.919 --> 00:29:05.699
 and with the mouth

00:29:05.699 --> 00:29:07.559
 one confesses and is saved.

00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:09.579
 For the scriptures say,

00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:11.460
 everyone who believes in Him

00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.980
 will not be put to shame.

00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:14.919
 For there's no distinction

00:29:14.919 --> 00:29:15.980
 between Jew and Greek.

00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:17.699
 The same Lord is Lord of all,

00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:18.980
 bestowing His riches

00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:20.779
 on all who call on Him.

00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:23.859
 For everyone who calls

00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:25.279
 on the name of the Lord

00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:27.039
 will be saved.

00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:28.699
 Which tells us,

00:29:29.639 --> 00:29:30.819
 Jesus stands ready

00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:32.319
 and willing

00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:34.939
 to rescue you from your sin.

00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:37.620
 The question is,

00:29:38.100 --> 00:29:39.940
 will you answer God's call?

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.740
 Because too many people

00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:43.920
 are trying to circumvent

00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:44.779
 the call of God.

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:45.980
 They're trying to do it

00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.580
 their own way.

00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:47.440
 Does it work?

00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:49.820
 Won't work.

00:29:51.100 --> 00:29:53.059
 There's an urgency to this.

00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:55.559
 Believe or die.

00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:55.620
 Believe or die.

00:29:55.619 --> 00:29:59.399
 City of Light

00:29:59.399 --> 00:30:01.319
 is a group

00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:02.119
 that I like to listen to

00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:03.619
 out of Australia.

00:30:03.979 --> 00:30:04.659
 They just released

00:30:04.659 --> 00:30:05.799
 a new song last week.

00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.879
 Here's how the third verse goes.

00:30:09.159 --> 00:30:11.479
 So I find my rest in Jesus.

00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.939
 He who came

00:30:13.939 --> 00:30:15.439
 to rescue me.

00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:18.779
 Jesus saved me

00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:20.159
 from the darkness.

00:30:21.099 --> 00:30:22.399
 I will rise

00:30:22.399 --> 00:30:23.699
 to life with Him.

00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:27.019
 Have you found

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:28.019
 your rest in Jesus?

00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:31.660
 Has He saved you?

00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.259
 You personally?

00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:35.400
 Has He saved you

00:30:35.400 --> 00:30:36.299
 from the darkness?

00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:37.920
 Do you know?

00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:41.279
 When you die,

00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.360
 will you rise

00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:44.759
 to life with Him?

00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:47.160
 Or will you perish?

00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:50.000
 Thirdly, we see

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.779
 the love of God.

00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:52.120
 The love of God.

00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:52.860
 Now we get back

00:30:52.859 --> 00:30:53.719
 to the first phrase.

00:30:54.159 --> 00:30:54.819
 Verse 16.

00:30:56.219 --> 00:30:56.679
 For God

00:30:56.679 --> 00:30:57.699
 so loved

00:30:57.699 --> 00:30:58.740
 the world.

00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:00.099
 For God

00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:00.819
 so loved the world.

00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.779
 This was the motivation

00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:03.459
 and the gift.

00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.079
 And I said

00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:05.500
 at the beginning

00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:06.179
 that true giving

00:31:06.179 --> 00:31:07.199
 is not founded

00:31:07.199 --> 00:31:08.059
 on an obligation.

00:31:08.639 --> 00:31:09.719
 It's founded on love.

00:31:11.479 --> 00:31:12.279
 God is under

00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:13.839
 no obligation to us.

00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:14.979
 No one's twisting

00:31:14.979 --> 00:31:15.679
 His arm

00:31:15.679 --> 00:31:17.019
 to force Him

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:18.459
 to provide eternal life.

00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:20.480
 the great plan

00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.180
 of salvation

00:31:21.180 --> 00:31:22.860
 is God's plan.

00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:25.779
 He alone

00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:26.620
 devised it.

00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:27.860
 He alone

00:31:27.860 --> 00:31:28.940
 executed it.

00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:30.200
 He alone

00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:31.380
 offers it.

00:31:32.100 --> 00:31:32.880
 And the thing

00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.880
 that motivated Him

00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:35.259
 to give His Son

00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.079
 for our sins

00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:38.360
 is His divine love.

00:31:41.840 --> 00:31:42.319
 And you may be

00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:42.559
 saying,

00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:43.539
 well, why does He love me?

00:31:44.100 --> 00:31:45.039
 That's a great question.

00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:48.420
 That's one I can't answer.

00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:51.259
 Because He doesn't love us

00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.079
 because we're lovable.

00:31:53.859 --> 00:31:54.839
 He loves us

00:31:54.839 --> 00:31:55.899
 because He loves us.

00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.879
 Because in His very essence,

00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:02.279
 what He is

00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:04.359
 is love.

00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:08.119
 God

00:32:08.119 --> 00:32:09.500
 Now that doesn't diminish

00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:10.799
 the reality

00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:12.099
 of His holiness

00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:13.819
 and His justice.

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:17.219
 God must judge sin.

00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:21.719
 His perfect love

00:32:21.719 --> 00:32:22.959
 doesn't overwhelm

00:32:22.959 --> 00:32:23.859
 the other attributes

00:32:23.859 --> 00:32:24.519
 that He has.

00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:25.639
 He is perfectly loving

00:32:25.639 --> 00:32:26.759
 and He's perfectly gracious.

00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:28.500
 He's also perfectly just

00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:29.539
 and He's perfectly

00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:32.319
 righteous against sin.

00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:35.379
 So how does this work?

00:32:37.379 --> 00:32:39.159
 Remember 2 Corinthians 5.21

00:32:39.159 --> 00:32:40.839
 He made Him

00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.500
 to be sin

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:43.199
 who knew no sin

00:32:43.199 --> 00:32:45.119
 so that in Him

00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:46.740
 we might be made

00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:48.000
 the righteousness of God.

00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:51.319
 When we come to Christ,

00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.879
 it's not that God's love

00:32:52.879 --> 00:32:54.399
 turns a blind eye

00:32:54.399 --> 00:32:55.399
 to what we've done.

00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:58.299
 It's that no,

00:32:58.479 --> 00:32:59.519
 we're recognizing

00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:00.419
 that God is actually

00:33:00.419 --> 00:33:01.139
 taking the sin

00:33:01.139 --> 00:33:02.079
 that I have committed

00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:03.240
 and He has punished

00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:04.679
 His own son for it.

00:33:06.199 --> 00:33:07.240
 And in return,

00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:07.819
 He's taken

00:33:07.819 --> 00:33:09.339
 the perfect righteousness

00:33:09.339 --> 00:33:10.339
 of His only son

00:33:10.339 --> 00:33:11.179
 and He's actually

00:33:11.179 --> 00:33:12.359
 applied it to my life,

00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.139
 the one who doesn't

00:33:13.139 --> 00:33:14.059
 deserve it.

00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:15.339
 Why?

00:33:16.939 --> 00:33:17.419
 Love.

00:33:17.419 --> 00:33:17.539
 Love.

00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:19.059
 Love.

00:33:19.859 --> 00:33:20.779
 For God

00:33:20.779 --> 00:33:22.379
 so loved.

00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:24.500
 Romans 5.

00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.539
 While we were still weak,

00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:28.319
 at the right time,

00:33:28.639 --> 00:33:29.639
 Christ died

00:33:29.639 --> 00:33:30.740
 for the ungodly.

00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:32.220
 Listen,

00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.180
 Christ died

00:33:33.180 --> 00:33:33.900
 for the ungodly.

00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.259
 Christ didn't die

00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:35.700
 for the ones

00:33:35.700 --> 00:33:36.500
 that are doing pretty good

00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.339
 and trying pretty hard.

00:33:38.400 --> 00:33:39.039
 He died

00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:39.900
 for the ungodly.

00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:42.039
 Paul goes on to say,

00:33:42.140 --> 00:33:43.579
 one will scarcely die

00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.740
 for a righteous person,

00:33:44.859 --> 00:33:45.579
 though perhaps

00:33:45.579 --> 00:33:46.440
 for a good person

00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:47.140
 one would even

00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:48.240
 dare to die.

00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:49.519
 But God shows

00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:50.980
 His love

00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:52.220
 for us

00:33:52.220 --> 00:33:53.799
 in that while

00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:54.579
 we were still

00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:55.539
 sinners,

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:57.059
 Christ died for us.

00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:57.960
 Do you see this?

00:33:58.400 --> 00:33:59.180
 Do you see this?

00:33:59.180 --> 00:33:59.620
 Listen,

00:33:59.860 --> 00:34:00.720
 in our sin,

00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:02.000
 we don't want God.

00:34:02.600 --> 00:34:03.100
 We may want

00:34:03.100 --> 00:34:04.000
 the benefits of God,

00:34:04.120 --> 00:34:05.080
 we don't want God.

00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.720
 Our hearts are hard.

00:34:07.360 --> 00:34:08.240
 They're depraved.

00:34:09.220 --> 00:34:09.880
 Yet God,

00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:11.220
 even despite the fact

00:34:11.220 --> 00:34:12.639
 that we don't want Him

00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:14.119
 since His own Son

00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:14.880
 anyways,

00:34:15.180 --> 00:34:16.800
 that while we are sinners,

00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:18.059
 Christ dies for us,

00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:19.280
 not because we're lovable

00:34:19.280 --> 00:34:20.400
 or because we're doing

00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:20.940
 a good job

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.860
 and He just couldn't take it,

00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:22.320
 He just wanted

00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:22.940
 to help us out

00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:23.380
 a little bit.

00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:23.780
 No,

00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:24.680
 that's not what happened.

00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:25.440
 It was out of

00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:26.559
 His divine love

00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.639
 that He bent down

00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.579
 and He came to earth

00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:29.400
 so that He could die

00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:30.579
 for filthy sinners

00:34:30.579 --> 00:34:31.539
 like you and me.

00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:32.480
 Why?

00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:34.379
 Because of His love.

00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:38.079
 John 3.16 plainly says

00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:39.460
 that the object

00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:40.420
 of this love

00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:41.920
 is the world.

00:34:43.279 --> 00:34:44.339
 It's the world.

00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:47.440
 Remember,

00:34:47.579 --> 00:34:48.339
 this comes at the end

00:34:48.339 --> 00:34:49.279
 of a conversation

00:34:49.279 --> 00:34:50.559
 with a prominent Jew

00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:52.619
 who would have only spoken

00:34:52.619 --> 00:34:53.500
 of God's love

00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:54.960
 as it related to Israel.

00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:57.619
 There was no fault

00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:58.380
 in their mind

00:34:58.380 --> 00:34:59.780
 for God loving

00:34:59.780 --> 00:35:00.519
 anyone else.

00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:03.679
 But Jesus expands this.

00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:05.019
 He says,

00:35:05.099 --> 00:35:05.579
 God's love

00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:06.920
 isn't just for the Jews.

00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:08.559
 God's love

00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:09.480
 is for the world.

00:35:11.740 --> 00:35:13.440
 That's what makes possible

00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:14.920
 God's call

00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:16.440
 for whosoever

00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:18.139
 at the end of the verse

00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:19.840
 because His love,

00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:21.679
 the object of His affection

00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:23.300
 is the whole world.

00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:26.679
 In other words,

00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:28.900
 you won't be excluded

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:30.280
 from God's saving love

00:35:30.280 --> 00:35:30.880
 on the basis

00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:32.079
 of your nationality

00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:34.420
 or on the basis

00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:36.619
 of what you've done

00:35:36.619 --> 00:35:37.440
 up to this point

00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:39.539
 or how terrible

00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:40.059
 of a sin

00:35:40.059 --> 00:35:40.579
 you've committed.

00:35:42.780 --> 00:35:44.199
 God loves the world.

00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:46.519
 Jesus died

00:35:46.519 --> 00:35:47.139
 for the sins

00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:47.699
 of the world.

00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:49.380
 And since you're

00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:50.280
 a part of the world,

00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:52.199
 that qualifies you

00:35:52.199 --> 00:35:52.920
 for His grace.

00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:56.159
 But it's only

00:35:56.159 --> 00:35:57.059
 for whosoever.

00:35:57.880 --> 00:35:58.760
 There is a limit

00:35:58.760 --> 00:35:59.159
 to that.

00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:01.920
 He doesn't just

00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:02.420
 throw it out

00:36:02.420 --> 00:36:02.920
 willy-nilly.

00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:05.059
 It's for whoever

00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:06.500
 will hear His call

00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:08.780
 and follow Him

00:36:08.780 --> 00:36:09.360
 in faith.

00:36:10.720 --> 00:36:11.599
 1 John 4

00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:14.239
 in this is the love

00:36:14.239 --> 00:36:14.699
 of God

00:36:14.699 --> 00:36:16.159
 and it was made

00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:17.460
 manifest among us

00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:19.019
 that God sent

00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:19.759
 His only Son

00:36:19.759 --> 00:36:20.420
 into the world

00:36:20.420 --> 00:36:22.460
 so that we might

00:36:22.460 --> 00:36:23.219
 live through Him.

00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:25.960
 In this is love,

00:36:26.759 --> 00:36:27.880
 not that we have

00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:28.579
 loved God,

00:36:29.059 --> 00:36:30.880
 but that He loved us

00:36:30.880 --> 00:36:32.860
 and sent His Son

00:36:32.860 --> 00:36:34.599
 to be the propitiation

00:36:35.119 --> 00:36:36.199
 for our sins.

00:36:36.519 --> 00:36:37.440
 That word's important,

00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:37.860
 actually.

00:36:37.860 --> 00:36:40.740
 It means the appeasement

00:36:40.740 --> 00:36:41.660
 of God's wrath.

00:36:43.700 --> 00:36:44.920
 That when Jesus

00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:45.700
 took our place

00:36:45.700 --> 00:36:46.380
 on the cross,

00:36:46.740 --> 00:36:47.920
 it appeased

00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:49.019
 the Father's wrath

00:36:49.019 --> 00:36:51.120
 for all who will believe.

00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:52.820
 Not just for everyone,

00:36:53.680 --> 00:36:54.860
 for those who will believe

00:36:54.860 --> 00:36:56.079
 His own.

00:36:58.380 --> 00:36:58.980
 Jesus,

00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:01.320
 God's only Son,

00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:02.120
 in summary,

00:37:02.119 --> 00:37:05.079
 came to earth

00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:06.019
 to save sinners

00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:07.619
 from eternal death

00:37:07.619 --> 00:37:08.059
 and hell.

00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:11.480
 He who was rich

00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:12.639
 became poor.

00:37:14.159 --> 00:37:15.599
 He who is God

00:37:15.599 --> 00:37:16.799
 became a man.

00:37:17.859 --> 00:37:19.000
 And though He was

00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:20.059
 sinlessly perfect,

00:37:20.859 --> 00:37:22.619
 He laid down His life

00:37:22.619 --> 00:37:23.279
 for the guilty

00:37:23.279 --> 00:37:25.079
 like you and me.

00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:27.619
 He took our place,

00:37:28.139 --> 00:37:29.880
 He bore our shame,

00:37:29.880 --> 00:37:31.840
 He paid our debt.

00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:34.619
 And then He rose

00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:35.480
 from the dead

00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:37.099
 to prove

00:37:37.099 --> 00:37:38.200
 that His sacrifice

00:37:38.200 --> 00:37:39.380
 was sufficient

00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:41.579
 for all of our sins

00:37:41.579 --> 00:37:42.280
 to be forgiven.

00:37:44.099 --> 00:37:45.519
 And He did all of that

00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:47.660
 according to the riches

00:37:47.660 --> 00:37:50.320
 of His everlasting love.

00:37:52.099 --> 00:37:53.019
 He willingly,

00:37:53.880 --> 00:37:55.059
 He joyfully

00:37:55.059 --> 00:37:56.740
 went through hell

00:37:56.740 --> 00:37:58.660
 so that you and I

00:37:58.660 --> 00:37:59.780
 wouldn't have to.

00:37:59.880 --> 00:38:03.039
 but His gift

00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:04.019
 of eternal life

00:38:04.019 --> 00:38:05.860
 is not something

00:38:05.860 --> 00:38:06.940
 that can be earned

00:38:06.940 --> 00:38:08.039
 through what we do.

00:38:09.500 --> 00:38:11.480
 It can only be received

00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:12.920
 through faith

00:38:12.920 --> 00:38:13.920
 and who He is

00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:15.780
 and what He's done.

00:38:16.980 --> 00:38:18.340
 In John chapter 10,

00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:19.680
 Jesus said

00:38:19.680 --> 00:38:21.300
 that when the gospel

00:38:21.300 --> 00:38:21.920
 is preached,

00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:24.000
 His sheep

00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:25.360
 would hear His voice,

00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:27.720
 He would know them,

00:38:27.719 --> 00:38:29.819
 and they would follow Him.

00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:32.299
 So today,

00:38:32.619 --> 00:38:34.839
 if you hear His voice,

00:38:35.779 --> 00:38:37.319
 do not harden your heart.

00:38:39.939 --> 00:38:40.919
 This Christmas,

00:38:41.919 --> 00:38:43.279
 receive the gift

00:38:43.279 --> 00:38:45.500
 and follow Christ.

00:38:45.500 --> 00:38:50.360
 Thou who art love

00:38:50.360 --> 00:38:52.039
 beyond all telling,

00:38:53.480 --> 00:38:54.460
 Savior and King,

00:38:54.960 --> 00:38:56.099
 we worship Thee.

00:38:57.539 --> 00:38:58.139
 Emmanuel,

00:38:59.139 --> 00:39:00.139
 within us dwelling,

00:39:00.659 --> 00:39:02.480
 make us what Thou

00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:03.460
 wouldst have us be.

00:39:04.619 --> 00:39:06.019
 Thou who art love

00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:07.699
 beyond all telling,

00:39:07.699 --> 00:39:10.239
 Savior and King,

00:39:10.859 --> 00:39:11.779
 we worship Thee.

00:39:11.780 --> 00:39:12.240
 for betterNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNINGNING