God's Love; Beyond Belief (Mark 1:9-15)
Gary McManus, 07/19/2015Part of the God's Love; Beyond Belief series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
July 19, 2015 Mark 1:9-15 (p. 990 / 1001)
God’s Love; Beyond Belief
Mark’s Gospel—first Gospel book;
first Jesus book. And Mark wastes no time!
Verse 15 (chapter 1)
“The kingdom of God has come near.”
That is the common version.
“At hand” and “has come” are also possible.
The difference between HERE and NEAR
IS minimal. And Jesus brings the Kingdom
in Himself and His work; REPENT.
Hold that thought.
God’s love
“To learn to live in the love of God is the challenge
of a lifetime: ‘This is the ineffable and infinite mercy
of God which the slender capacity of man’s heart
cannot comprehend and much less utter—the
unfathomable depth and burning zeal of God’s love
toward us.’” -- Martin Luther,
leader of the Protestant Reformation
Consider Ephesians 3:14-21
God’s love surpasses our knowledge: “Christ’s love
is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray
that you will be able to know that love.”
Do we know God’s love?
Can we believe in God’s love?
Is God’s love acceptance?
God’s love is about MORE than acceptance.
God’s love is about TRANSFORMATION.
God’s acceptance is this--come near to the Lord
for God will not turn you away. . .but in coming
to the Lord, you will be transformed.
It cannot be otherwise.
No one can come near to God and remain unchanged.
See Isaiah (ch 6, esp vs5-6) and the book of Revelation.
But the New Testament proclaims it:
”What matters is a changed life.”
[Galatians 5:6, Galatians 6:15]
For the Lord God, things have not been okay.
And, even worse, things were NOT going to get better.
So. . .God decided that he Himself would come here
and He would come as Jesus . . .Jesus Christ.
God knew the only way to fix things was for Himself
to come.
The world has a chance of being redeemed if God
Himself will come to redeem the world through Jesus Christ.
“All are welcome.” Are they? Should all be welcome?
What about Pharisees? Yes, they also
. .BUT, Pharisees HAVE to CHANGE.
Jesus loved the Pharisees but not because
they were “okay.”
Another unbelievable aspect of God’s love;
Jesus calls us to love others with God’s love.
. . . but not because they are loveable!
Paul said that God didn’t come to help us finish
fixing things up. (Romans 5:8)
God came in Jesus to fix things when we
didn’t WANT things fixed.
Finally, one more problem in the church
Many Christians think that Jesus has fixed them
—as if redemption were an adjustment.
The Apostle Paul said. . .”what matters is a changed life.”
WE let God’s love change us. . .transform us.
Finally, Duke basketball (Yeah!)
Amen
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