God is Love!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The sermon is preceded by a choral anthem.
SERMON:
False Narrative: God loves us when we're good
vs.
Jesus Narrative: God offers unconditional love to all people
God welcomes sinners. See Matthew 9:9-13.
God loves sinners. See John 3:16-17
The story in Luke 15:11-32, of the prodigal son and the loving Father, shows us the unconditional love of the Father, and the sinfulness of humanity.
God looks at us with compassion even when we have done the very worst to God we could possibly do.
God LOVES sinners... but NOT their sin.
The character of the elder brother in Luke 15:25-32, represents the part of us that is not comfortable with God's unconditional love for others and even for ourselves.
Your SIN is REAL. The penalty is death (Romans 6:23). But God's Son, Jesus, took the blame. He nailed our sins to the cross. He is "the judge judged in our place."
Legalism Limits - Love Compels