Message Behind the Manger Christmas Presence - 4

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Message Behind the Manger Christmas Presence - 4 December 27/28, 2014 Pastor Henry Lopez A. The God who Loves 1. God the SUPREME Being, the GREATEST of any and all things great, loves you. “The Lord passed before him (Moses) and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.’” Exodus 34:6-7 (ESV) 2. God says I am a: a. MERCIFUL God b. GRACIOUS God c. God who is SLOW to anger d. God who ABOUNDS in love and faithfulness e. God who FORGIVES iniquity, transgression, and sin f.

God who will by NO MEANS clear the guilty.

B. The Gift of His Love “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17 (ESV) “He (Jesus) is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:3 (ESV) “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV) “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:3-6 (ESV) “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

God’s affection for us was through Christ’s AFFLICTION for us. C. You are the Recipient of His Love. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 (ESV) “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV) “All wrongdoing is sin…” 1 John 5:17 (NIV) “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” James 4:17 (ESV) 1. Sin is not doing what you know you to what God asks.

SHOULD as

2. Sin is also doing what you know you relates to what God asks.

it relates

SHOULDN’T

as it

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.” Colossians 1:21 (NIV) “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV) D. Embracing and Extending His Love “’And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 (ESV)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 (ESV) 1. The God of mercy asks that we embrace and extend His mercy. Who do you need to do this towards

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2. The God of grace asks that we embrace and extend His grace. Who do you need to do this towards

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3. God who is slow to anger ask that you embrace and extend His patience. Who do you need to do this towards

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4. God who abounds in love and faithfulness asks that you embrace and extend His passion and commitment. Who do you need to do this towards

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5. The God who forgives asks that you embrace and extend forgiveness. Who do you need to do this towards

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6. The God of justice asks that we love your enemies for that is what He has done for us. Who do you need to do this towards

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