TITLE: Start with Love’s Message
SCRIPTURE:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
MESSAGE
When preaching the Gospel, some Christians often place significant emphasis on the concept of sin, stressing the importance of repentance, particularly among the Jewish community who lived under the Law. For the Jews, turning away from wrongdoing and returning to God was a vital part of their faith.
However, the Gentiles, who were not bound by the Law, lacked this framework for repentance, as the Law was not their condemnation. As the Bible states in Romans 5:13, “For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.”
Yet, as Romans 3:23 reveals, both Jews and Gentiles are included in the declaration that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” The question arises: if the Gentiles were not subject to the Law, where did their sin originate?
In the book of Genesis, we discover that Adam and Eve initially enjoyed the presence of a holy God and lived in His glory. However, this changed when Adam sinned against God, and they were cut off from that divine glory.
Romans 5:19 explains, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Through Adam’s disobedience, humanity fell short of God’s glory. But through Christ, that glory is restored, as Colossians 1:27 attests: “…Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Hallelujah!
Therefore, the starting point for presenting the Gospel should not solely focus on sin. Instead, it should commence with the message of love, as this was Jesus’ motivation, as evident in our opening scripture. In this Gospel of Christ, love and life—the very life and nature of God—are central, made attainable to all who believe through His death, burial, and resurrection.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
We come before you with hearts full of gratitude for the boundless love that is being revealed and embraced by people across the globe as they hear and accept the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, along with the precious gift of righteousness. Today, may they encounter your unwavering and eternal love, basking in the radiance of your grace, all in the name of Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
John 3:16 AMPC*For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
2 Corinthians 5:19-21* To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
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