Nazarene PM Service



Christmas and Love

A] John 3:16: (KJV). For God “SO” loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that

whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

Note; is there anything one can say about Christmas you don’t know? Hopefully not, good lesson

material within.

1] This verse is most likely the number one memorized verse of the Bible! It’s depth has no bounds, and it’s promises are profound. Since this verse is Evangelical, I want to probe the salvation aspect of it briefly first.

2] If there ever was a verse that portrays the Christmas message it is this one. From this verse comes the message of love loudly. The giving of, not only a gift to humanity of which Christmas is all about, but “The Gift”, the Greatest Gift of God’s only Son.

3] It is from this verse that we will see not only the Love of the Father toward us, but, how our love toward one another will be manifested as a result.

a] One of the key words = in our text verse is “so”, at two little characters in size it seems as an insignificant word. Actually per Strongs Conc; “so” means; in this manner, or after this manner, on this wise, on this fashion.

b] So it carries more significance, not just as a connector word, but a word of description, for God Sooooo loved the world (after this manner, on this fashion) that He gave, God saying “I want you”, we can see the point.

4] The other word in John 3:16 that has significance is that God “gave”

a] In Luke 1:35; read verse; that Holy One who shall be born will be called the Son of God. As a result of this act, The “giving” of His Son takes place.

b] It is here we find a valid and vital point, Jesus was born “into” the world, not a product “of the world” due in part to The Holy Spirit’s interaction.

c] In an article I read from J. Cahn on Isaiah 9:6, KJV; for unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is “given”.

1] Point is a Son is given. With his Jewish background he says; given means; existed before, came from somewhere else, given by someone else. He always was, and was given! A separate importation. This bit of information may seem like a no brain issue, unless we consider;

d] There is a parallel here.

1] As the Lord told Nicodemus in John 3:7; ye must be “Born again”. How? From above, it is a work from outside of you, it’s not an earthly thing.

Similarly, Jesus came into the world from the “outside”, Heaven to be exact, so too salvation must came from “outside” into me/us as well making us a new creation. No wonder Nicodemus was bewildered, this changes everything.

2] Paul uses a metaphoric analogy in Galatians 4:19; My little children of whom I travail (labored) in birth again until Christ be formed you.

3] In other words, this isn’t just about reading the words of Christ and doing my best to do and fulfil them, but allowing/inviting the Word Himself (Jesus is the Incarnate Word) to dwell in me. Obviously this takes a born again experience for this to take place. This makes the point of “is He in you” a very valid question.

5] Another huge point is that the Life of Jesus was “The Gift” of all time to us!

Some thoughts about gifts, The Gift!

a] It does no good to “just know” about “The Gift of Jesus” (or any other of His gifts for that matter). Hearing about good news is good, being a recipient of Good News is better. Preachers have to say this stuff right?

1] Translated; Jesus the Gift is to be received or rejected (hopefully not) but never neither.

2] John1:12; For as many as received Him, to them gave He the Power (authority) to become the sons of God.

b] The key aspect of Jesus’ life is summed in two words “Gift and Given”.

1] So too, the “key characteristic/s” of our life reveal that we have received the Gift.

c] And with that, Should not there be “signs” that we have received this Gift? You can be sure.

1] Exhibits of a great measure of gratitude, thankfulness, a joyful and blessed life are such accompaniments.

2] Living a life of gratefulness and grace makes for a great life as a living testimony.

6] Since this is Christmas time, the end of the year and so forth, what better time to examine the radiance of the Gift of God in our lives as we project “His image” through us to our loved ones and the world around us.

a] I’ve read where this time of the year is when peoples hearts are particularly sensitive to the Lord. A good time to get saved.

b] You may remember the old Classic; The Christmas Carol. The Scrooge; played by Alastair Sim the British guy was a good one. They say this wasn’t supposed to be a Christian movie where the guy actually gets saved, but it sure looks like it has the potential to be so.

c] The old miser was visited in a dream by three ghosts, one past, one present and one future. As we saw, it scared him to death.

d] But take note; what happened to him after he awakened next morning and found out he wasn’t dead, he was still alive! He had another chance, that’s it, he/we got another chance.

Let me see if I got this right; He/I deserve hell, but what do I get = Heaven!

Is God good or what? Right choices lead to right directions.

1] What did he do with his 2nd chance, he jumped up and down,

2] He laughed (hilariously) he shouted,

3] He acted like he lost his mind, he was so happy. Can you remember when you got saved? I do!

4] Talk about changes, he gave, as in his money away (he never done that before) maid got a raise, bought the biggest turkey and gave it to Crachet, his faithful employee. He bought gifts for Crachet and his family for Christmas, O the joy in giving, not hoarding. To be loosed from worthlessness, what a blessing. Praise God

5] What’s the point, radical salvation brings radical change. What ever you do, don’t stay the same, don’t act like nothing even happened. Like the steakhouse commercial on TV, “you can’t fake steak”, and you can’t fake love either.

d] So, as we all know; “love proves” or “can/must prove” that SALVATION is real in the life of a Christian.

e] I John 4:7-8, KJV; Read these verses often; Beloved let us love one another, Love is of “God”, and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God, Verse 8; he that loveth not, knoweth not “God”, for God is love.

1] A test, if the heart is full bitterness and hatred towards brothers, people, continually, it is an affirmation that salvation needs to come to that individual.

2] Before I got saved I hated people, they always stole, hurt, disappointed.

3] One of the first things I noticed right after getting saved was I started to love people, all people, freely gave, shared, love from the heart.

f] I John 3:14; We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren. HE THAT LOVES NOT HIS BROTHER ABIDES IN DEATH.

1] This is critical mass, rubber meets the road stuff. Can’t fake this.

2] Verse 15, Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer, has NO life abiding in him.

g] Ephesians 4:32; Be kind one to another, tenderhearted, “forgiving one another”

even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

h] Paul gives the Colossian Church the same admonition; Colossians 3:13; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man has a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.

1] Christmas time is a time for a spiritual tune-up.

2] When the Bible was put together there was no Chapter and verses as yet assigned. So I find it interesting that certain Chapter and verse numbers would appear at unusual places in the Bible, as is the case of Gospel of John, hopefully you would agree as well. Symbolism, Typology and Shadows, plus other valid study venues reveal patterns in Bible analysis and reveal some great truths.

3] John 3:16;

John wrote the Gospel of John and was called the Beloved Apostle (Disciple of Love, resultant he wrote more on love than any other Apostle)

3 = the Trinity, Father, Son, Holy Spirit

1 = perfect unity

6 = number of man, created 6th day etc. 666 etc.

Putting this together;

John the Apostle of Love declares in the verse on love that the “3” which equates to the Trinity were in Perfect Unity/Agreement indicated by the “1” to save mankind/humanity represented by the “6”. It all adds up to me!

I] Christ is the Gift that keeps on giving. God Bless.

“Footnote”

# If you feel this outline has enriched you in some way, please drop this Ministry a line to let us know on our Contact Page, Blessings, Pastor Tom

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