The God of Mercy

This Is Love
Written By Tommy Smith

Sermon Notes

“But that he loved us…”

Discovering a God of Compassion and Mercy

KEY PASSAGE

1 John 4:10-11 ESV… In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

NOT THAT WE LOVED GOD BUT HE LOVED US

  • Before God had mercy on us we were running from Him; unfaithful to Him; enemies of Him; and hostile toward Him!

  • God loves us because he is the very definition of love… 1 John 4:8

HE IS THE FATHER WHO LAVISHLY RESTORES

  • The prodigal son was hoping his father would receive him as a servant… Luke 15:17-19

  • The father received his son back in a lavish fashion… Luke 15:20-24

  • God lavishly restores us as children… 1 John 3:1

  • He showers us with every spiritual blessing possible… Ephesians 1:3-10

HE IS THE HUSBAND WHO MERCIFULLY REDEEMS

  • Like Hosea’s adulterous wife; we are born as spiritual adulterers… James 4:4

  • Hosea mercifully redeems his wayward wife… Hosea 3:1-2

  • The church is a people who are redeemed to be the bride of Christ… Eph. 5:25-27

  • God is always the hero in our redemption story!

HE IS THE GOD WHO SPARES NO EXPENSE

  • God loved us and sent his Son as a propitiation… 1 John 4:10-11

  • Propitiation means that God's wrath was appeased.

  • Very rarely do people go “all in”… but God did!

  • Paul prays we may be able to comprehend the love of Christ… Eph. 3:17-19

GREATER APPRECIATION SHOULD ALWAYS LEAD TO GREATER COMPASSION

  • It’s easy to look at the people of this world and develop a hard heart.

  • Just looked at people as sheep without a shepherd… Mt. 9:35-38

  • As forgiven people, let’s not be merciless people… Mt. 18:23-35

  • We must endure patiently with people… 2 Tim. 2:24-26

CHALLENGE

Who might you look at with more compassionate eyes this Easter season?

Tommy Smith
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