THE GREATEST LOVE: A New Life and a New Destiny - 3-7-21

 THE GREATEST LOVE: A New Life and a New Destiny - 3-7-21

INTRODUCTION

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.”

‭‭ John‬ ‭15:9-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I.  LOVE HAS MADE US ALIVE

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

‭‭ Ephesians‬ ‭2:1-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Bridge to Life illustration

A.  Our problem

1.  Sin

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

2.  Death

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ  Jesus our Lord.”  Romans‬ ‭6:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B. God’s Remedy

1.  Jesus

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still  sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NIV

‬‬"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to  bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the  Spirit.”  1 Peter‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

C.  Our Response

1.  Believe and confess 

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart  that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your  heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you  profess your faith and are saved.”  Romans‬ ‭10:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

2.  Repent and baptism

"Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of  Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of  the Holy Spirit.”  Acts‬ ‭2:38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

D.  Results in

1.  Eternal life

2.  No judgment

3.  Death to life

““Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me  has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to  life.”  John‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

II.  LOVE HAS CHANGED OUR FUTURE

“The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.”

‭‭ Mark‬ ‭15:16-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A.  An encounter with Jesus will change you forever

B.  An encounter with Jesus may change your legacy

1.  Rufus

2.  Rufus’ mother like Paul’s own mother 

III.  LOVE MAKES US PICK UP OUR CROSSES

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever  wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and  follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses  their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

‭‭ Mark‬ ‭8:34-35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A.  Deny yourself

B.  Pick up your cross

C.  Follow Jesus

CONCLUSION

The greatest love was shown on a cross.  "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."  John 15:13.  We are made alive through God’s love.  Our destiny is changed by God’s love.  To follow Jesus we must deny ourselves and take up our cross.  His love compels us to pick up our own cross.

CHALLENGE

"Keep Kenwood Connected" has been a reminder to stay connected with your church family since January.  In February, we added "Connecting Others to Jesus" as a way to have a conversation with someone about Jesus.  This month we add "Share the Greatest Love."  The challenge this week is to speak to people with love in your voice.  Concentrate on loving with your words.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, I would be honored to speak with you in the upper parking lot following the service about what God is doing in your life.