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Advent 2020: Love - 1 John 4:7-12 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Good morning.
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If you will turn with me to 1 John chapter 4.
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!
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I'll be reading from 1 John 4, 7 through 12.
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!
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I know this is not a typical Advent passage,
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but I know this is not a typical Advent passage,
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but I'm sure you'll see that it does apply.
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I'm going to be focusing on verse 9 and 10,
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but I'd like to read it in its context
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because it really all goes together.
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So 1 John 4, beginning with verse 7.
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Beloved, let us love one another,
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for love is from God.
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And whoever loves has been born of God
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and knows God.
1:07
Anyone who does not love
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does not know God
1:12
because God is love.
1:16
In this, the love of God was made manifest among us,
1:19
that God sent his only son into the world
1:24
so that we might live through him.
1:28
In this is love.
1:30
Not that we have loved God,
1:33
but that he loved us
1:35
and sent his son
1:36
to be the propitiation
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for our sins.
1:42
Beloved,
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if God so loved us,
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we ought also to love one another.
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No one has ever seen God.
1:51
If we will love one another,
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God abides in us
1:55
and his love
1:56
is perfected
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in us.
2:01
Father, thank you
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for your word
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that it is meat
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to our souls,
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that it is life,
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that it is light.
2:09
And we pray today
2:11
that you,
2:12
by your spirit,
2:13
would take this word,
2:17
write it on our hearts,
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and make us people
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that truly glorify you
2:22
in love for one another.
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In Jesus' name.
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While like hope
2:31
and peace
2:32
and joy,
2:35
love
2:35
is at the very heart
2:38
of the Advent season
2:42
and the gospel.
2:44
This passage in 1 John
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makes an important connection
2:47
between our love
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for one another
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and God's Advent love
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for us
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as observed
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in the gift
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of life
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and the sending
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of his son,
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Jesus,
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into the world.
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Now, I know
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the words gift
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and Advent
3:09
are not mentioned
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in this text,
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but as I hope
3:15
you will see,
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the gift of Advent
3:17
is exactly
3:18
what is being described here.
3:20
The connection
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between Advent love
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and God's gift
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has a special significance
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for us
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with regard
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to our traditions
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at Christmastime.
3:34
Although the idea
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of giving gifts
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during the winter holidays
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predates
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the Christian celebration
3:42
of the birth of Christ,
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giving fits in well
3:44
with the narrative.
3:47
On the one hand,
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some very appropriate gifts
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were given
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to the newborn Messiah
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and his family.
3:53
We are told that
3:54
Magi from the East
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came to worship
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the newborn king
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and they presented him
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with gifts of gold
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and myrrh
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and frankincense.
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But even more importantly,
4:08
we understand
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that that newborn baby,
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that innocent child,
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was and is
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the most important gift
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that has ever been given
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in the history
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of the world.
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Now,
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gift giving
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is at
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its peak level
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during the season.
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How many of you
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are expecting gifts
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in a few days?
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How many of you
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are giving gifts
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in a few days?
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I didn't see
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very many hats.
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What?
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Yeah.
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I know.
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I guess the excitement
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comes from the younger ones.
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It's been calculated
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that Americans
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will spend
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over a trillion dollars
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in seasonal purchases
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this year.
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only slightly less
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than last year
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because of COVID.
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And the majority
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of that giving,
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an average of about
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$500 per person,
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will be for gifts.
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Giving gifts
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is big business.
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Giving is big business.
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Organizations
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and companies
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want to know
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how to glean
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more of your generosity.
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And as a result,
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hundreds of studies
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in the last 20 years
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on the psychology
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of giving
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have been conducted.
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And those studies
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have focused on things
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like biological connections
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to giving,
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the results of giving,
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interpersonal,
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intrapersonal factors,
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and social and cultural
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drivers to giving.
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I won't bore you
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with all the details,
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but here's some highlights.
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There's evidence
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that links giving
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to better overall health,
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to the delay
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of severe health problems
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and mortality
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in older volunteers,
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to a greater sense
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of well-being,
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to better relationships,
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and even to better chances
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of finding a mate.
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I hope that isn't the only thing
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some of you
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will take away
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from this sermon.
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Some studies have found
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that giving,
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even more than receiving,
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produces similar
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neural impulses
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that bring pleasure
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in the same way
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that food and drugs
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and, well,
6:38
you can imagine.
6:41
Researchers have surmised
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that in spite of
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a human propensity
6:48
for self-interest,
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giving appears
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to be hardwired
6:54
into the human brain.
6:59
Now, much of our giving
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simply shows
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affection or gratitude,
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but not all of it
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is altruistic.
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We often give
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to gain
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or keep someone's affection.
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Sometimes our giving
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is motivated
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by a sense of guilt
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or obligation.
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Other types of giving
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like bribery
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and grooming
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are simply evil.
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But the kind of giving
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that flows
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from Advent love
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transcends
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all human giving.
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Its source
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is God Himself.
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It's the heritage
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of those
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who belong to Him.
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In 1 John 4,
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7 through 12,
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it's the apostle's intent
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to encourage
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increased love
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among believers.
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And when he writes,
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Beloved,
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love one another
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in verse 7,
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we might assume
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that we know
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what he's talking about
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because we know
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so much about love already.
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Right?
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But it's possible
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that we really don't.
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In fact,
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it appears that the reason
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God inspired
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these verses
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is to help clarify
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for us
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what Christian love
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in the church
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is supposed to look like.
8:12
Verses 9 and 10
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reveal the heart
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of Advent love.
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It's from the Father's
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act of giving
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that we understand love.
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simply,
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these verses
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teach us
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that the gift
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of Advent love
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reveals the reason
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why
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and the measure
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how
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we should love
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one another.
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What I believe
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we'll see this morning
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is that there's
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a vital connection
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between love
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and giving
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and that the Christian
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life
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of sacrificial giving
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for the benefit
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of others
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is the intent
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of Advent love.
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Now,
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the first part
8:59
of John's description
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of love
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in verse 9
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focuses on the reason
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the Father sent the Son.
9:08
In short,
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we should love one another
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because Advent love
9:12
has given us
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a new life
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that is characterized
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by love.
9:20
Look at verse 9 again.
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In this,
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the love of God
9:24
was made manifest
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among us
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that God
9:27
sent His
9:28
only Son
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into the world
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so that we might
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live
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through Him.
9:36
Verse 9
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is a
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first part
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of a two-part
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argument
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that supports
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the exhortation
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to love
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in the previous
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two verses.
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That exhortation
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by John
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is simply
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that the Christians
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should love each other
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because
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we are intimately
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related to God
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who is the source
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of love
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and love itself.
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That amazing
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statement
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at the end
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of verse 8,
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God is love,
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is one of those
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one of the most
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profound
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statements
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in Scripture.
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A modern
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theologian
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might seek
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to explain it
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by defining
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the word,
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looking at
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its etymology
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and so on,
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or by providing
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some kind
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of philosophical
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defense
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supporting the
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statement.
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That's not
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what the apostle
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does here.
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He simply
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assumes that
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it's true
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and proceeds
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to show
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how this
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wonderful love
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has been
10:34
manifested
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among us.
10:38
God is love
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and what follows
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is how
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God has
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shown us
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this love
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and that
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is Advent.
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He begins
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with Advent.
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God
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sending his
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son
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into the
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world.
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Now,
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the way
10:56
the apostle
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refers to
10:58
the manifestation
10:59
of this love
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is significant.
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Literally,
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he writes
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that his only
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son,
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that his only
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son sent
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God
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into the
11:11
world.
11:12
That's how
11:12
it reads in
11:13
the Greek.
11:13
It begins
11:14
with his
11:16
only son.
11:17
Now,
11:18
by using this
11:19
word order
11:20
for emphasis,
11:21
he draws
11:23
our attention
11:24
to the
11:24
uniqueness
11:24
of Jesus.
11:26
Jesus.
11:29
The person
11:30
that God
11:30
sent into
11:31
the world
11:31
was none
11:32
other than
11:33
the unique
11:34
son of
11:35
God,
11:36
the only
11:37
begotten
11:38
son of
11:39
God.
11:41
According to
11:42
John's
11:42
gospel,
11:44
this person,
11:46
our Lord
11:46
Jesus,
11:47
has been the
11:47
object of
11:48
the Father's
11:49
love,
11:50
sharing his
11:51
glory from
11:51
eternity.
11:52
see that
11:54
in his
11:54
high priestly
11:55
prayer in
11:56
John 17.
11:57
This beloved
11:58
son,
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John tells
11:59
us,
12:00
a Father
12:00
sent into
12:01
the world,
12:01
into our
12:02
world,
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a world
12:05
for the
12:06
most part
12:06
has rejected
12:09
God's rule
12:10
and his
12:11
will,
12:12
a world
12:12
that is
12:13
hostile
12:13
and harsh,
12:15
a world
12:15
that out
12:16
of envy
12:16
would inflict
12:17
on him
12:17
the worst
12:18
kind of
12:18
death.
12:19
and even
12:22
his entrance
12:23
into the
12:24
world was
12:25
far from
12:26
worthy of
12:26
his status
12:27
and desert.
12:29
He was
12:29
born in
12:30
a cave
12:30
where
12:33
animals were
12:34
kept.
12:35
He had a
12:36
feeding trough
12:37
for his
12:38
bed.
12:40
He had to
12:40
flee from
12:41
a murderous
12:42
king and
12:42
he lived
12:43
in exile
12:44
and obscurity
12:45
for many
12:45
years.
12:46
others.
12:48
But John
12:49
tells us
12:49
that his
12:50
being sent
12:51
to us
12:52
was God's
12:54
manifestation
12:55
of love
12:57
for us.
13:02
The last
13:03
part of
13:04
verse 9
13:05
continues by
13:06
stating the
13:06
specific reason
13:08
why the
13:09
Father sent
13:09
the Son
13:09
into the
13:10
world.
13:11
He sent
13:12
his Son
13:13
entirely
13:14
for your
13:15
benefit.
13:16
He writes
13:18
God sent
13:19
his only
13:20
Son into
13:20
the world
13:21
so that
13:22
we might
13:23
live
13:23
through
13:24
him.
13:28
Notice
13:29
that word
13:29
there
13:29
might
13:30
that
13:30
verb
13:31
might
13:31
live.
13:33
God
13:34
sent
13:34
his
13:34
Son
13:35
to give
13:38
you
13:38
the
13:39
gift
13:40
of
13:40
life.
13:42
Now
13:42
perhaps you
13:43
notice how
13:43
similar this
13:44
verse is to
13:45
John 3
13:47
16
13:47
more
13:49
famous
13:50
verse
13:50
for God
13:52
so loved
13:53
the world
13:53
that he
13:54
gave his
13:54
only Son
13:55
that whoever
13:56
believes in
13:56
him should
13:57
not perish
13:57
but have
13:58
eternal
13:59
life.
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both of
14:03
these verses
14:03
are from
14:04
the same
14:04
writer
14:04
approximately
14:05
the same
14:06
time
14:07
and they
14:08
both
14:08
communicate
14:10
the same
14:10
truth.
14:12
The
14:13
Father's
14:13
love
14:14
is somehow
14:15
revealed in
14:16
the sending
14:16
of his
14:17
Son
14:17
so that
14:20
you
14:20
might
14:21
live.
14:22
life.
14:24
In the
14:24
gospel
14:25
John
14:25
adds
14:26
the
14:26
word
14:26
eternal
14:27
to
14:27
describe
14:27
life.
14:30
Now
14:30
when we
14:31
think of
14:31
eternal
14:32
we typically
14:33
think of
14:34
length of
14:34
time.
14:36
It's
14:36
normal
14:36
it's
14:37
natural
14:37
and it's
14:37
part of
14:38
it.
14:39
After
14:39
the
14:40
disobedience
14:41
of man
14:42
in the
14:42
garden
14:43
of Eden
14:43
the tree
14:44
of life
14:44
was guarded
14:45
specifically
14:47
so that
14:47
humanity
14:48
would not
14:48
eat of
14:49
it
14:49
and
14:49
live
14:50
forever.
14:51
Genesis
14:52
3.
14:55
And at
14:56
the other
14:57
end of
14:57
the scriptures
14:58
in the
14:58
new
14:59
Jerusalem
14:59
the tree
15:00
of life
15:01
reemerges
15:02
providing
15:03
healing
15:03
fruit
15:04
all year
15:05
round
15:06
enabling
15:07
God's
15:08
servants
15:08
to
15:08
reign
15:09
forever.
15:13
Revelation
15:13
22
15:14
1-5
15:15
The word
15:16
eternal is
15:17
helpful here
15:18
to describe
15:18
life but
15:19
it still
15:19
can be
15:20
misunderstood
15:21
if all
15:22
we mean
15:22
by it
15:23
is length
15:23
of time.
15:26
It's
15:27
also a
15:28
specific
15:28
kind
15:29
of life.
15:32
Jesus
15:32
himself
15:33
defines
15:34
eternal
15:35
life this
15:36
way in
15:36
his last
15:37
prayer.
15:38
He says
15:38
and this
15:39
is eternal
15:40
life
15:41
that they
15:42
may know
15:43
you the
15:44
only true
15:44
God
15:45
and Jesus
15:46
Christ
15:46
whom you
15:47
have sent.
15:48
God
15:50
I think
15:50
there's a
15:50
connection
15:51
here between
15:51
knowing God
15:52
and what
15:52
we've read
15:53
in 1 John
15:53
4.
15:55
John
15:55
further
15:56
refers to
15:56
this life
15:57
in chapter
15:58
3 of
15:58
his
15:59
epistle
15:59
where he
16:01
speaks of
16:01
it as
16:02
having
16:02
already
16:03
begun
16:03
and as
16:04
having
16:05
effect
16:06
on the
16:07
way we
16:08
live
16:08
right now.
16:09
he writes
16:10
in 1 John
16:11
3
16:11
14
16:12
we know
16:13
that we
16:14
have
16:15
passed
16:16
from
16:17
death
16:18
into
16:19
life
16:20
because
16:22
we
16:23
love
16:24
the
16:25
brothers
16:25
or
16:27
something
16:28
about the
16:28
gift of
16:29
life
16:29
that's
16:30
connected
16:30
to
16:31
love
16:32
life
16:33
for the
16:34
Christian
16:34
is much
16:35
more than
16:36
mere
16:36
existence
16:37
existence
16:39
John
16:40
refers
16:40
to
16:40
mere
16:41
existence
16:41
here
16:41
in
16:42
1 John
16:42
3
16:42
14
16:43
and he
16:44
calls
16:44
it
16:45
death
16:45
it
16:48
doesn't
16:48
matter
16:49
how
16:49
good
16:49
your
16:50
life
16:50
is
16:50
here
16:50
on
16:50
earth
16:51
if
16:51
it
16:51
isn't
16:51
the
16:52
gift
16:52
of
16:52
eternal
16:52
life
16:53
that
16:54
the
16:54
father
16:54
sent
16:55
the
16:55
son
16:55
to
16:55
give
16:56
it's
16:56
not
16:56
life
16:57
at
16:57
all
16:57
eternal
17:01
life
17:02
is a
17:02
different
17:02
kind
17:03
of
17:03
life
17:04
it's
17:05
a
17:05
life
17:05
born
17:06
from
17:06
the
17:06
divine
17:07
nature
17:07
of
17:07
God
17:08
and
17:11
it's
17:11
your
17:11
heritage
17:12
as a
17:13
child
17:13
of
17:13
God
17:13
it's
17:15
who
17:15
you
17:15
are
17:15
the
17:19
evidence
17:19
that
17:20
one
17:20
has
17:20
eternal
17:21
life
17:21
is
17:22
that
17:22
he
17:22
or
17:23
she
17:24
loves
17:25
the
17:26
children
17:26
of
17:27
God
17:28
life
17:30
then
17:30
is
17:32
the
17:32
gift
17:33
of
17:33
advent
17:33
love
17:34
love
17:36
and
17:36
advent
17:37
love
17:37
is
17:37
our
17:37
measure
17:38
of
17:38
why
17:39
we
17:39
should
17:40
love
17:41
one
17:41
another
17:41
so
17:42
to
17:43
summarize
17:43
the
17:43
first
17:44
point
17:44
verse
17:45
nine
17:46
we
17:46
should
17:47
love
17:47
one
17:47
another
17:47
because
17:48
advent
17:49
love
17:49
has
17:50
given
17:50
us
17:50
a
17:50
new
17:51
life
17:51
that
17:52
is
17:52
characterized
17:52
by
17:54
love
17:54
but
17:56
advent
17:57
love
17:57
is
17:57
not
17:58
only
17:58
seen
17:58
in
17:59
the
18:00
birth
18:00
of
18:01
Christ
18:01
the
18:03
incarnation
18:03
involves
18:04
his
18:05
whole
18:05
life
18:06
he
18:07
is
18:07
Emmanuel
18:08
he
18:10
wasn't
18:11
just
18:11
born
18:11
to
18:11
us
18:12
he
18:13
lived
18:13
for
18:14
us
18:14
and
18:14
he
18:14
died
18:16
for
18:16
us
18:17
the
18:18
next
18:18
verse
18:18
verse
18:18
10
18:19
teaches
18:19
us
18:20
that
18:20
we
18:20
should
18:20
love
18:21
one
18:21
another
18:21
because
18:22
advent
18:22
love
18:22
has
18:23
demonstrated
18:23
what
18:24
God's
18:25
love
18:25
really
18:25
is
18:26
and
18:30
how
18:30
we
18:30
benefited
18:31
from
18:31
it
18:31
this
18:34
is
18:34
the
18:34
measure
18:34
of
18:35
love
18:35
let's
18:36
look
18:36
at
18:36
verse
18:37
10
18:37
again
18:37
and
18:39
this
18:39
is
18:40
love
18:41
not
18:43
that
18:43
we
18:44
have
18:44
loved
18:44
God
18:44
but
18:46
that
18:46
he
18:46
loved
18:46
us
18:47
and
18:48
sent
18:48
his
18:49
son
18:49
to
18:49
be
18:50
the
18:50
propitiation
18:51
for
18:53
our
18:53
sins
18:53
so
18:55
verse
18:55
10
18:56
continues
18:56
John's
18:57
argument
18:57
by
18:58
elaborating
18:59
on the
18:59
demonstration
19:00
of
19:00
God's
19:01
love
19:01
toward
19:01
us
19:02
while
19:04
in
19:04
verse
19:04
9
19:05
he
19:05
highlights
19:05
the
19:06
purpose
19:06
of
19:06
God
19:07
sending
19:07
his
19:07
son
19:07
into
19:08
the
19:08
world
19:08
and
19:08
verse
19:09
10
19:09
he
19:10
reveals
19:11
the
19:15
method
19:16
his
19:17
plan
19:18
was
19:20
to
19:20
accomplish
19:21
in
19:25
this
19:26
is
19:27
love
19:28
that's
19:29
how
19:29
he
19:29
begins
19:30
the
19:31
sense
19:31
of
19:31
that
19:32
simple
19:32
phrase
19:33
is
19:33
that
19:33
John
19:33
is
19:33
now
19:34
going
19:34
to
19:34
show
19:34
us
19:34
love
19:35
in
19:36
its
19:36
highest
19:36
form
19:37
in
19:38
this
19:38
is
19:40
love
19:40
this
19:41
is
19:42
what
19:43
love
19:44
is
19:45
the
19:47
definition
19:47
begins
19:48
in
19:48
the
19:48
form
19:49
of
19:49
contrast
19:49
not
19:51
that
19:52
we
19:52
love
19:52
God
19:53
if
19:55
you
19:55
want
19:55
to
19:55
understand
19:56
what
19:56
love
19:56
is
19:57
don't
19:57
look
19:58
to
19:58
yourself
19:58
don't
20:02
do
20:03
that
20:03
don't
20:06
look
20:06
to
20:07
the
20:08
entertainment
20:08
world
20:09
around
20:09
you
20:10
don't
20:11
look
20:12
to
20:12
Whitney
20:13
Houston
20:13
don't
20:16
look
20:16
to
20:16
your
20:16
feelings
20:17
towards
20:18
one
20:19
another
20:20
but
20:20
most
20:20
of
20:20
all
20:20
don't
20:21
look
20:21
to
20:22
your
20:22
love
20:23
for
20:23
God
20:24
because
20:26
your
20:26
love
20:26
does
20:27
not
20:28
demonstrate
20:30
what
20:30
we're
20:30
talking
20:31
about
20:31
here
20:31
whether
20:34
it's
20:35
love
20:35
for
20:35
God
20:35
universally
20:36
all
20:37
of
20:37
mankind
20:38
or
20:39
individually
20:40
and even
20:40
the most
20:41
zealous
20:42
religious
20:42
sacrifice
20:43
and devotion
20:44
that has
20:44
been
20:44
seen
20:45
human
20:46
love
20:46
is not
20:47
the measure
20:48
of love
20:49
it's
20:51
always
20:52
inadequate
20:52
and
20:54
therefore
20:54
misleading
20:55
the verse
20:57
continues
20:57
but that
20:58
he
20:58
loved
20:59
us
20:59
so a
21:01
correct
21:02
definition
21:03
of love
21:03
begins
21:04
with the
21:04
source
21:04
of love
21:05
himself
21:05
that
21:07
contrast
21:07
is
21:07
instructive
21:08
and think
21:11
of it
21:11
this way
21:11
it's
21:12
to
21:12
defiant
21:13
arrogant
21:14
powerless
21:15
poor
21:15
and needy
21:16
people
21:16
who really
21:17
don't
21:17
love
21:18
God
21:18
that
21:19
he
21:19
demonstrated
21:20
his
21:20
love
21:20
to
21:21
love
21:27
by itself
21:27
is amazing
21:28
love
21:29
to someone
21:29
who's
21:30
worthy
21:30
of love
21:31
is
21:32
one of
21:33
the best
21:33
feelings
21:34
you can
21:34
imagine
21:35
but love
21:37
to the
21:38
unworthy
21:38
love
21:40
to the
21:40
unlovely
21:41
this
21:45
shows
21:45
love
21:46
in its
21:46
highest
21:46
splendor
21:47
the last
21:50
part of
21:50
the verse
21:51
describes
21:51
that
21:51
splendor
21:52
he
21:53
loved
21:54
us
21:54
and he
21:55
sent
21:55
his
21:55
son
21:56
to be
21:57
the
21:57
propitiation
21:58
for
21:59
our
21:59
sins
22:00
it's
22:02
what
22:03
God
22:03
has
22:03
done
22:03
in
22:05
order
22:05
to
22:05
make
22:05
it
22:05
possible
22:06
for
22:06
us
22:07
to
22:07
have
22:07
life
22:08
that
22:09
defines
22:09
what
22:10
love
22:10
really
22:11
is
22:11
he
22:14
sent
22:15
his
22:15
son
22:15
to be
22:15
the
22:16
propitiation
22:16
for
22:17
our
22:17
sins
22:17
I
22:20
know
22:20
in
22:20
this
22:20
church
22:21
you're
22:22
familiar
22:22
with
22:23
that
22:23
word
22:23
that's
22:24
a
22:24
good
22:24
thing
22:25
let's
22:28
look at
22:28
it
22:28
just a
22:29
little
22:29
bit
22:29
more
22:30
here
22:30
we
22:32
should
22:33
all
22:33
be
22:33
familiar
22:33
with
22:34
this
22:34
word
22:34
because
22:35
it's
22:35
really
22:35
the
22:36
heart
22:37
of
22:37
the
22:37
gospel
22:37
the
22:39
word
22:40
translated
22:40
propitiation
22:41
here
22:42
comes
22:42
from
22:42
the
22:43
Greek
22:43
word
22:43
!
22:45
some
22:46
lexicons
22:47
translated
22:48
generally
22:48
as
22:49
the
22:49
means
22:50
of
22:50
forgiveness
22:50
that's
22:52
true
22:52
but
22:53
it's
22:54
more
22:54
specific
22:54
than
22:54
that
22:55
in
22:55
the
22:55
Greek
22:55
world
22:56
at
22:56
the
22:56
time
22:56
of
22:56
the
22:56
New
22:57
Testament
22:57
the
22:58
word
22:58
was
22:59
used
22:59
to
23:00
signify
23:00
an
23:00
offering
23:01
a
23:01
gift
23:02
that
23:02
was
23:02
given
23:03
to
23:03
appease
23:04
the
23:04
gods
23:05
one
23:07
would
23:07
present
23:08
a
23:08
gift
23:08
to
23:08
gain
23:09
favor
23:09
to
23:09
pacify
23:10
anger
23:10
or
23:13
to
23:14
gain
23:14
some
23:14
kind
23:15
of
23:16
merit
23:17
a
23:20
better
23:20
definition
23:20
of
23:21
propitiation
23:21
than would
23:22
include
23:22
the
23:23
putting
23:23
away
23:23
of
23:24
wrath
23:24
the
23:25
wrath
23:26
of
23:26
God
23:26
as
23:27
the
23:28
means
23:28
of
23:28
forgiveness
23:29
but
23:30
in
23:31
amazing
23:32
contrast
23:32
to
23:33
the
23:33
pagan
23:33
practice
23:34
of
23:36
seeking
23:37
to
23:37
gain
23:37
the
23:37
favor
23:38
or
23:38
appease
23:38
the
23:39
wrath
23:39
of
23:39
a
23:39
capricious
23:40
arbitrary
23:41
bad
23:41
tempered
23:42
conceited
23:43
deity
23:43
our
23:45
good
23:45
holy
23:46
and
23:46
loving
23:46
God
23:47
sends
23:47
his
23:47
only
23:48
son
23:48
into
23:48
the
23:49
world
23:49
to
23:50
provide
23:51
the
23:51
necessary
23:51
propitiation
23:52
for the
23:53
benefit
23:54
of
23:54
sinful
23:55
rebellious
23:55
self-centered
23:56
men
23:56
and
23:57
women
23:57
if that
23:59
doesn't
24:00
blow
24:00
your
24:00
mind
24:00
wake
24:01
up
24:02
this
24:07
was
24:07
done
24:08
not
24:09
to
24:10
change
24:10
God's
24:10
mind
24:11
but
24:13
to
24:14
satisfy
24:14
his
24:14
justice
24:15
as
24:16
J.I.
24:16
Packer
24:16
so
24:17
succinctly
24:17
describes
24:18
I want
24:18
to give
24:19
you
24:19
his
24:19
quote
24:20
because
24:20
it's
24:20
right
24:21
on the
24:21
mark
24:22
he
24:23
says
24:23
in
24:23
paganism
24:24
man
24:25
propitiates
24:26
his
24:26
gods
24:27
and
24:28
religion
24:28
becomes
24:29
a form
24:30
of
24:30
commercialism
24:31
and
24:31
indeed
24:31
of
24:31
bribery
24:32
in
24:34
Christianity
24:34
however
24:35
God
24:35
propitiates
24:36
his
24:36
wrath
24:36
by
24:37
his
24:37
own
24:37
action
24:38
he
24:39
sent
24:40
forth
24:40
Jesus
24:40
Christ
24:41
says
24:41
Paul
24:42
to
24:42
be
24:42
a
24:42
propitiation
24:43
he
24:43
sent
24:43
his
24:44
son
24:44
says
24:44
John
24:45
to
24:45
be
24:46
the
24:46
propitiation
24:47
for
24:47
our
24:48
sins
24:48
it
24:49
was
24:49
not
24:50
man
24:50
to
24:51
whom
24:51
God
24:51
was
24:51
hostile
24:52
who
24:53
took
24:53
the
24:53
initiative
24:53
to
24:54
make
24:54
God
24:54
friendly
24:55
nor
24:55
was
24:56
it
24:56
Jesus
24:56
Christ
24:57
the
24:57
eternal
24:58
son
24:58
who
24:58
took
24:59
the
24:59
initiative
24:59
to
25:00
turn
25:00
his
25:00
father's
25:01
wrath
25:01
away
25:02
from
25:02
us
25:02
in
25:04
love
25:05
but
25:06
it
25:07
was
25:07
God
25:07
himself
25:08
who
25:09
took
25:10
the
25:10
initiative
25:10
in
25:11
quenching
25:11
his
25:12
own
25:12
wrath
25:13
against
25:13
those
25:14
who
25:14
despite
25:15
their
25:15
ill
25:16
desert
25:17
he
25:17
loved
25:18
and
25:18
had
25:19
chosen
25:19
to
25:20
save
25:20
beloved
25:25
love
25:27
this
25:28
love
25:28
this
25:29
is
25:29
advent
25:30
love
25:31
we
25:34
understand
25:34
that
25:34
God
25:35
had
25:35
to
25:35
do
25:35
it
25:35
this
25:36
way
25:36
it
25:36
was
25:36
the
25:36
only
25:37
way
25:37
because
25:38
God
25:39
is
25:39
good
25:39
he
25:39
is
25:40
righteous
25:40
and
25:41
just
25:41
as
25:42
well
25:42
as
25:42
loving
25:43
because
25:43
he
25:44
is
25:44
good
25:44
he
25:44
hates
25:45
sin
25:45
because
25:45
he
25:46
is
25:46
good
25:46
he
25:46
must
25:47
judge
25:48
sin
25:48
because
25:49
he
25:49
is
25:49
good
25:49
he
25:50
cannot
25:50
just
25:50
overlook
25:51
it
25:51
look
25:52
it
25:52
and
25:52
allow
25:52
us
25:53
to
25:53
live
25:53
in
25:53
it
25:53
forever
25:54
!
25:55
good
25:56
he
25:56
is
25:57
love
25:58
as
25:58
well
25:59
and
25:59
because
26:00
he
26:00
is
26:00
good
26:00
he
26:00
acted
26:01
mercifully
26:02
and
26:02
graciously
26:03
and
26:03
lovingly
26:04
to
26:04
make
26:04
a
26:05
way
26:05
to
26:05
satisfy
26:06
his
26:07
own
26:07
justice
26:08
and
26:08
forgive
26:08
us
26:09
I like
26:12
how
26:12
John
26:12
Piper
26:13
put it
26:13
the
26:14
wisdom
26:15
of
26:15
God
26:15
devised
26:16
a way
26:16
for
26:16
the
26:17
love
26:17
of
26:17
God
26:17
to
26:17
deliver
26:18
sinners
26:18
from
26:19
the
26:19
wrath
26:19
of
26:19
God
26:20
while
26:20
not
26:20
compromising
26:21
the
26:22
righteousness
26:22
of
26:23
God
26:23
now
26:29
I
26:29
know
26:30
that
26:30
some
26:30
people
26:30
have
26:30
suggested
26:31
there's
26:31
really
26:32
no
26:32
connection
26:33
between
26:34
Advent
26:34
and
26:36
the
26:36
death
26:36
of
26:37
Christ
26:37
and
26:40
every
26:40
year
26:41
they
26:41
get a
26:41
little
26:41
bit
26:41
louder
26:42
and
26:42
they
26:42
want
26:42
to
26:43
push
26:43
those
26:43
apart
26:44
so
26:45
called
26:46
progressive
26:47
Christians
26:47
say
26:48
that the
26:48
incarnation
26:48
is not
26:49
about
26:49
death
26:50
it's
26:50
about
26:50
life
26:51
it's
26:52
not
26:52
about
26:53
death
26:53
it's
26:54
about
26:54
liberation
26:55
and
26:55
justice
26:56
not
26:57
propitiation
26:58
I've
27:00
come to
27:00
expect
27:01
such
27:01
teaching
27:02
from
27:02
those
27:03
from
27:03
more
27:03
liberal
27:04
mainline
27:05
denominations
27:06
who have
27:06
forsaken
27:06
the
27:07
authority
27:07
of
27:07
scripture
27:08
but
27:09
what
27:09
has
27:10
surprised
27:10
me
27:11
a little
27:11
bit
27:11
is
27:11
the
27:12
similar
27:12
perspective
27:13
coming
27:13
from
27:13
self
27:14
proclaimed
27:14
devout
27:15
Bible
27:15
believing
27:16
Christians
27:16
not
27:19
far
27:19
from
27:19
here
27:20
a
27:22
neighborhood
27:23
homeowners
27:23
association
27:24
gave
27:26
notice
27:26
to
27:26
a
27:26
home
27:27
owner
27:27
to
27:27
remove
27:28
the
27:28
cross
27:28
from
27:28
their
27:28
Christmas
27:29
decorations
27:29
under
27:30
the threat
27:30
of
27:30
a
27:30
hundred
27:31
dollar
27:31
a
27:31
day
27:31
fine
27:32
when
27:34
the
27:34
home
27:35
owner
27:35
questioned
27:35
!
27:35
the
27:36
violation
27:36
the
27:37
board
27:37
members
27:38
many
27:38
claiming
27:38
to be
27:39
Christian
27:39
board
27:41
members
27:41
of the
27:42
HOE
27:42
asked
27:42
for
27:43
scripture
27:43
to
27:43
connect
27:44
the
27:44
cross
27:44
to
27:44
Christmas
27:45
they
27:47
wrote
27:47
this is
27:49
what the
27:49
board
27:49
wrote
27:50
the
27:50
board
27:50
believes
27:51
that
27:51
the
27:51
Bible
27:51
is
27:51
very
27:52
clear
27:52
on
27:52
the
27:53
distinction
27:53
between
27:54
these
27:54
two
27:54
major
27:55
events
27:55
in
27:55
Christ's
27:55
life
27:56
on
27:56
earth
27:56
the
27:57
cross
27:57
is
27:58
appropriate
27:58
for
27:58
display
27:59
during
27:59
the
27:59
Easter
28:00
season
28:00
but
28:00
not
28:01
as
28:01
a
28:01
decoration
28:01
during
28:03
the
28:03
Christmas
28:03
season
28:04
well I
28:07
haven't
28:07
been able
28:07
to find
28:08
where the
28:08
Bible
28:08
says
28:08
anything
28:09
about
28:09
decorations
28:10
but
28:10
they
28:13
are
28:13
dead
28:14
wrong
28:14
about
28:14
the
28:15
connection
28:15
it's
28:18
right here
28:18
in
28:18
first
28:18
John
28:19
church
28:21
if you
28:22
want to
28:22
truly
28:23
understand
28:23
Advent
28:24
you
28:24
have
28:25
to
28:25
see
28:25
it
28:25
in
28:25
its
28:26
full
28:26
expression
28:27
God's
28:31
love
28:32
for you
28:34
God sent
28:36
his only
28:36
son into
28:37
the world
28:37
so that
28:38
you might
28:38
live
28:39
through
28:39
him
28:40
this
28:41
is
28:41
this
28:41
is
28:41
where
28:41
we
28:41
see
28:42
Advent
28:42
love
28:43
God
28:44
sent
28:44
his
28:44
only
28:44
son
28:45
to
28:45
be
28:46
the
28:46
propitiation
28:47
for
28:47
your
28:47
sins
28:48
this
28:49
is
28:49
what
28:49
defines
28:50
Advent
28:51
love
28:51
you
28:52
cannot
28:52
do
28:53
it
28:53
yourself
28:53
life
28:54
and
28:54
forgiveness
28:55
is
28:55
yours
28:56
because
28:56
God
28:57
loves
28:58
you
28:58
we're
29:00
going to
29:00
be singing
29:01
about it
29:01
in just
29:02
a moment
29:02
so come
29:04
though you
29:04
have
29:05
nothing
29:06
come
29:07
he
29:08
is the
29:09
offering
29:09
come
29:10
see what
29:11
your God
29:12
has done
29:13
verse 11
29:19
brings us
29:19
back to
29:19
the
29:20
beginning
29:20
beloved
29:21
if God
29:23
so
29:23
that word
29:25
means
29:25
in this
29:26
way
29:26
if God
29:27
so
29:28
loved
29:29
us
29:30
we also
29:32
ought to
29:33
love one
29:33
another
29:33
that's who
29:35
we are
29:36
I mentioned
29:40
earlier that
29:41
the gift
29:42
of Advent
29:42
love
29:43
reveals the
29:44
reason why
29:45
and the
29:45
measure how
29:46
we should
29:48
love one
29:48
another
29:49
first we
29:49
ought to
29:50
love one
29:50
another
29:50
because we
29:51
possess a
29:52
life that
29:53
is
29:53
that is
29:54
love
29:55
bought
29:55
and that
29:56
is
29:56
characterized
29:57
by love
29:58
and second
29:59
we should
30:00
love one
30:00
another
30:00
because
30:01
Advent
30:01
love
30:02
has
30:02
demonstrated
30:02
to us
30:03
what
30:03
God's
30:04
love
30:04
really
30:04
is
30:05
and we
30:06
benefited
30:07
from that
30:08
our
30:09
love for
30:09
one
30:09
another
30:10
ought
30:10
to
30:11
reflect
30:11
the
30:12
love
30:12
that we
30:13
have
30:14
received
30:14
now
30:16
there's
30:16
two
30:16
practical
30:17
factors
30:17
that can
30:18
be
30:18
gleaned
30:20
here
30:20
from
30:21
God's
30:21
love
30:21
for us
30:22
one
30:22
is
30:24
self
30:25
sacrifice
30:25
and the
30:28
other
30:28
is
30:30
action
30:30
done
30:31
for the
30:31
benefit
30:31
of
30:32
others
30:32
especially
30:35
those who
30:36
are
30:36
unworthy
30:37
love
30:38
love
30:38
one
30:41
of the
30:41
difficulties
30:42
in
30:42
preparing
30:42
a
30:43
message
30:43
like
30:43
this
30:43
is
30:44
that
30:44
you
30:44
become
30:44
very
30:44
aware
30:45
how
30:45
little
30:45
you
30:47
really
30:47
love
30:47
but
30:51
that's
30:51
the
30:52
reason
30:52
for this
30:53
exhortation
30:53
it's
30:55
like
30:56
God
30:56
saying
30:56
to
30:57
a
30:57
butterfly
30:57
fly
30:58
that's
31:00
what
31:00
he's
31:00
made
31:01
to
31:01
do
31:02
don't
31:03
stay
31:03
there
31:04
hook
31:04
to
31:04
the
31:04
cocoon
31:05
get
31:05
up
31:06
flap
31:06
those
31:06
wings
31:07
and
31:07
go
31:07
he's
31:08
saying
31:08
to
31:09
Christians
31:10
born
31:11
again
31:11
with a
31:12
new
31:12
life
31:12
that
31:13
loves
31:13
love
31:14
one
31:14
another
31:15
we
31:20
all
31:21
need
31:21
to
31:21
take
31:21
a
31:21
good
31:21
look
31:22
at
31:22
ourselves
31:22
and
31:24
truly
31:24
live
31:25
the
31:25
life
31:25
we
31:25
were
31:25
given
31:26
in
31:28
light
31:28
of
31:28
this
31:29
season
31:29
I
31:29
I
31:30
think
31:30
we
31:30
can
31:31
see
31:31
this
31:32
in
31:32
the
31:32
form
31:32
of
31:32
gift
31:33
giving
31:33
I'm
31:35
not
31:35
talking
31:35
about
31:35
cool
31:36
items
31:37
wrapped
31:37
in
31:37
colorful
31:38
paper
31:38
and
31:39
a
31:39
big
31:39
red
31:39
ribbon
31:39
I'm
31:41
talking
31:41
about
31:41
a
31:42
lifestyle
31:42
of
31:42
giving
31:43
that
31:43
reflects
31:43
what
31:44
we've
31:44
received
31:45
like
31:49
extending
31:50
forgiveness
31:50
someone
31:52
who's
31:52
offended
31:52
you
31:52
like
31:54
reaching
31:55
out
31:55
to
31:55
someone
31:56
that
31:57
you
31:57
haven't
31:57
seen
31:57
or
31:58
heard
31:59
from
31:59
in a
31:59
while
32:00
reestablishing
32:01
a
32:02
relationship
32:02
breaking
32:08
an
32:09
estrangement
32:10
giving
32:13
the benefit
32:13
of the
32:14
doubt
32:14
to
32:14
someone
32:15
spending
32:17
time
32:17
with
32:18
someone
32:19
meeting
32:20
urgent
32:20
needs
32:21
being
32:23
hospitable
32:24
praying
32:26
for
32:26
others
32:27
visiting
32:28
the
32:28
sick
32:29
safely
32:30
connecting
32:34
with the
32:35
persecuted
32:36
church
32:36
giving
32:37
practical
32:38
care
32:39
disciple
32:40
and so
32:41
on
32:42
free
32:43
freely
32:45
costly
32:46
regularly
32:47
as
32:50
Amy
32:51
Carmichael
32:51
once said
32:52
you can
32:52
always
32:52
give
32:53
without
32:53
loving
32:53
but you
32:55
can never
32:55
love
32:55
without
32:56
giving
32:56
according
33:00
to the
33:00
bible
33:00
this is
33:02
who you
33:02
are
33:02
and may
33:06
this
33:06
guide
33:06
your
33:07
consideration
33:07
of your
33:08
future
33:08
and your
33:09
decision
33:09
making
33:10
and service
33:11
and mission
33:12
occupation
33:13
one final
33:16
thought
33:17
before i
33:18
close
33:19
almost every
33:22
year at
33:22
this time
33:23
since i've
33:25
become a
33:25
christian i've
33:26
seen or
33:27
heard the
33:27
saying put
33:29
christ back
33:30
into christmas
33:31
have you
33:31
heard
33:33
or seen
33:34
that
33:34
just about
33:35
every year
33:36
and that's
33:37
it's a good
33:38
reminder because
33:38
it's so easy
33:39
to get caught
33:40
up isn't
33:40
it
33:41
to forget
33:42
or to
33:43
have him
33:44
there but
33:45
to still
33:46
be focused
33:47
on the
33:48
commercialism
33:49
around us
33:49
i just saw
33:51
a bumper
33:52
sticker
33:52
while i was
33:53
at costco
33:54
that said
33:55
put christ
33:56
back in
33:56
christmas
33:57
it's a
33:58
natural
33:58
response
33:59
for christians
34:00
but i would
34:01
suggest something
34:02
further than
34:03
putting christ
34:04
back in
34:04
christmas
34:05
i suggest we
34:06
put the
34:06
father back
34:07
in christmas
34:09
because you
34:09
think of it
34:10
why do so
34:11
many people
34:11
feel okay
34:13
with the
34:13
christmas story
34:14
because it's
34:15
an innocent
34:15
child that's
34:16
that's born
34:17
there there's
34:18
no action
34:20
involved in
34:22
the child we
34:22
we already
34:23
know that christ
34:24
loves us in
34:25
fact in the
34:25
previous chapter
34:26
of first john
34:27
he does say
34:28
very specifically
34:29
in similar
34:29
words in
34:30
this is love
34:31
that christ
34:32
laid down
34:33
his life
34:33
for us
34:34
so therefore
34:34
we ought to
34:35
love one
34:35
another
34:35
he's already
34:36
covered that
34:37
but but when
34:38
we're considering
34:39
the christmas
34:40
story when
34:41
we're considering
34:42
advent the
34:44
point isn't
34:45
christ doing
34:47
anything or
34:48
loving us the
34:49
point is
34:50
father sent
34:52
the son
34:53
and so
34:55
really
34:55
we're going
34:57
to put christ
34:58
back into
34:58
christmas we
34:59
have to put
34:59
the father
35:00
back into
35:00
christmas and
35:01
while we're
35:01
at it we
35:02
might as
35:02
well put the
35:03
holy spirit
35:03
back into
35:04
christmas as
35:04
well
35:05
huh
35:06
i mean didn't
35:10
he bring it
35:11
to pass
35:12
isn't wasn't
35:15
he promised by
35:17
christ to be
35:18
with us
35:19
right here with
35:21
us right now
35:22
and doesn't
35:25
paul tell us
35:26
that the love
35:27
of god is
35:28
shed abroad in
35:29
our hearts by
35:30
the spirit of
35:30
god
35:31
romans chapter
35:32
five
35:33
so let me
35:37
conclude with
35:38
a prayer
35:39
and this prayer
35:41
is from an
35:42
italian itinerant
35:43
preacher about
35:44
13th century
35:45
whose name
35:47
was francis
35:48
and i i like
35:53
this prayer
35:54
because i think
35:54
it really
35:55
characterized what
35:56
we're talking
35:57
about a life
35:58
of giving
36:00
that's who
36:01
we are
36:01
and he's
36:03
praying that
36:03
it would
36:04
be true of
36:05
him
36:06
and i just
36:07
say let's
36:08
let's make it
36:09
our prayer
36:09
as well
36:10
says lord
36:13
make me an
36:14
instrument of
36:15
your peace
36:16
where there is
36:18
hatred
36:18
let me so
36:20
love
36:21
where there is
36:22
injury
36:23
pardon
36:24
where there is
36:26
doubt
36:26
faith
36:28
where there is
36:30
despair
36:30
hope
36:32
where there is
36:33
darkness
36:34
light
36:35
where there is
36:37
sadness
36:37
joy
36:39
oh divine
36:41
master
36:42
grant
36:43
that i might
36:44
not so much
36:45
seek to be
36:46
consoled
36:47
as to
36:48
console
36:49
to be
36:50
understood
36:51
as to
36:53
understand
36:54
to be
36:55
loved
36:56
as to
36:58
love
36:58
for it is
37:00
in giving
37:01
that we
37:01
receive
37:02
it is in
37:04
pardoning
37:05
that we
37:06
are pardoned
37:07
and it is
37:08
in dying
37:09
that we
37:10
are born
37:11
to eternal
37:13
life
37:14
ending
37:14
Thank you.