The Light of Jesus is the Love of God.
LISTEN:
NOTES:
Christmas Eve 2023 The Light of Jesus is the Love of God.
John 1:1-5, John 3:16
December 24th, 2023
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The Light of Jesus is the Love God.
God loves me.
The Love of God always goes first.
John 1:1-14 (NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Genesis 1:1-5 (NIV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
This “first” action of God is the defining action of God.
God precedes empty & dark.
God is present in empty and dark.
God fills empty and dark with light & life.
The order of healing human relationships is repentance precedes forgiveness.
God’s pattern of healing takes a different path. God’s love always goes first.
God’s loving presence initiates His redemption plan and Adam’s receiving response activated that redemption plan.
The 2 questions of redemption that everyone has had to answer since Adam…
1) Am I aware that I am naked, empty and hiding from God?
2) Will I trust God enough to come out of hiding?
John describes Jesus as…
Life and Light. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
Overcoming Light 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Light for Everyone. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
Tangible, touchable and in close residence. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
Full of Grace and Truth We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 3:16 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Love was God’s motivation in giving. The Life of Jesus is the Love of God.
God doesn’t operate out of a negativity bias, He operates out of a love bias. God loves me.
God’s giving comes before our believing. God’s love always goes first.
John 3:17 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
God is for us not against us.
God’s love offers a choice. Life and death are real choices.
John 3:18 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
To believe is a choice. Life and death, Light and darkness are found in our choices.
John 3:19 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Life & Light has come. We have the next move.
The Life of Christ is the Love of God.
God loves me.
God’s love always goes first.