A Love you can experience

Transcription

1 SESSION 3 A Love you can experience 28 SESSION 3

2 What do you mean when you say, I love you? Bible Studies for Life 29

3 The POINT Even at our worst, God loves us. The bible meets life We may not admit it, but we ve seen those outrageous talk shows. A well-known host grips a microphone three inches from the face of a disheveled Juliet. She weeps as she confesses the excruciating pain caused by her boyfriend. Mr. Romeo sits one chair over with a smug grin. The audience heckles and hisses when he so much as breathes. The host proceeds with probing questions: So, this young man has been dating three other girls while also dating you? One of those girls is your older sister? One is your best friend? Even now, he refuses to cut off these competing romantic interests? To all these questions, the girl nods her head in ashamed agreement. The host asks what we all wonder: So why are you still seeing him? With a bowed head, she utters, He says he loves me. Clearly, this pitiful girl is confused. Her view of love is distorted, and sadly, many people today share in her misunderstanding. What does love look like? Romans 5 reviews the good news of God s undeniable love. God says that He loves you and He has proven it with action. 30 SESSION 3

4 What does the Bible say? Romans 5:6-11,18-21 (HCSB) 6 For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! 9 Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have now received this reconciliation through Him. 18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification for everyone. 19 For just as through one man s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Key Words just good (v. 7) Just in verse 7 identifies one who does what is right in a legalistic manner. Good conveys the same commitment to that which is right, but with a benevolent or gracious spirit. love (v. 8) God s merciful, unmerited, and redemptive love for sinners. reconciliation (v. 11) Bringing together two parties at odds with each other. Sin prevents a relationship with God. Jesus made reconciliation possible through His substitutionary death on the cross. BIBLE STUDIES for LIFE 31

5 THE POINT Even at our worst, God loves us. Romans 5:6-8 Jesus entered into time and space to put heaven s love on display. Romans 5:6-8 declares that God loves every single person. What evidence do we have to support this wild notion that God loves us? 1. Love realized in the present. God s Holy Spirit in our lives gives internal proof for God s love. The Spirit s ongoing ministry whispers God s love in the ear day by day. God s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Rom. 5:5). 2. Love rooted in the past. The love of God is more than sentiment. Objective, historical evidence of God s love presents itself in the cross of Christ. Jesus put Himself in harm s way and endured the incredible pain of the crucifixion. This reveals the ocean-sized, other-worldly nature of His love. We hear stories of soldiers who fall on grenades to secure the lives of their comrades. As we listen, our eyes well up with tears. We tune into news reports showing firemen rushing into flaming, soonfalling towers; we are speechless. Costly sacrifice is riveting. How does Jesus sacrifice compare with the heroic acts of normal people? Question #2 The apostle Paul makes it clear that these kinds of heroic acts sometimes happen on earth, but when they do, the person usually dies for the sake of someone he or she respects. But God demonstrates His kind of love in this: Jesus died for His assassins. He died for the disrespectful. Who does this? Only God. On March 21, 1981, a would-be assassin fired six bullets at President Ronald Reagan. A mound of men suddenly surrounded the president the instant his life was threatened. Each man was ready to die for his leader. What is stunning about our predicament is Jesus died for us when we had nothing good to offer. We were not exceptional leaders, but cruel rebels. Even so, He rushed to the scene and saved us. His motivation was love. 32 SESSION 3

6 How do you feel when you reconnect with someone? Question #3 Romans 5:9-11 Being estranged from a loved one is agonizing. Reconciliation is restoration of friendly relationships where previously resentment and estrangement reigned. A dad erupts in anger one day in the kitchen and a cold war ensues with his daughter. A brother disagrees with the handling of the family estate and refuses to join the party at Christmas. A marriage, once marked by passion and romance, cools to a dull domestic partnership. Our world is well supplied with separated people. A massive, invisible wall also separates us from God. The death of Jesus destroyed the wall our sin had built. When Jesus died, the sun s light was snuffed out like a candle, an inky darkness fell over the land, and the curtain in the temple was torn in two (Luke 23:44-45). Consider the significance of the split drape. The temple in Jerusalem was the hub of Jewish religion. With no magic eraser to blot out the past, the best they could do was to demonstrate their desire for a do over. The offering of blood was the sobering way to do this. Animal blood was shed constantly at the temple. On one day each year, known as the Day of Atonement, the high priest would venture past the curtain into the holy of holies. This inner sanctum was the territory no man could tread. And then the death of Jesus destroyed the entire system. The curtain was ripped from top to bottom, as if God held humongous scissors that sliced the ribbon announcing a grand opening. Through the blood of Jesus, all people are invited in! We are on friendly terms. We are reconciled. Bible Studies for Life 33

7 THE POINT Even at our worst, God loves us. How do we attempt to clean up our act before coming to Christ? Question #4 How do I know God loves Me? A time God has shown me His love: 34 SESSION 3

8 " The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us." C.S. LEWIS Romans 5:18-21 Paul painted a picture with intriguing contrast. Redeemed persons of the world stand out from lost ones. All people, apart from Jesus Christ, have a fixed destination: Through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone (Rom. 5:18). Paul s purpose was not to magnify the horrors of hell. His intent was to bring forth the beauty of God s grace gift. Look at what Paul wrote by way of contrast: through one righteous act there is life-giving justification for everyone (5:18). When Paul wrote that salvation brings life for everyone, he certainly wasn t implying that justification is automatic for all. All people must hear and respond to the gospel (Rom. 10:9). Charles Spurgeon is among the most famous preachers who ever lived. He recalled the Sunday in 1850 that a snowstorm caused him to go into a different church from his normal place of worship. He stumbled into a sleepy church, which contained just a few people. The weather kept even the minister at home. A layperson took the pulpit and read from God s Word. His pronunciation was sloppy and his delivery choppy. The man addressed Spurgeon personally from the pulpit, noting that Charles looked downright miserable. He told Spurgeon that he would always be miserable until he obeyed the Lord s call to salvation. He shouted at young Charles, Young man, look to Jesus Christ. Look! Look! Look! You have nothing to do but look and live! Moments later, Spurgeon recalls, the cloud was gone, the darkness had rolled away, and that moment I saw the sun. Eternal life had come to Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He would soon stand out from his surroundings in ways he had never imagined. What a contrast! In what ways does the gift of eternal life impact our today as well as our future? Question #5 Bible Studies for Life 35

9 shrieking fight between the kids. A bad day and I caved to the anger that erupted out of me. 38 HOMELIFE NOVEMBER 2011 Living counter to culture can look silly Is Your Marriage We love others best when we finding a spiritual mentor APRIL 2013 U.S.A. $3.95 a fresh take on faith & family to direct your life Please don t misunderstand me. I am for discipline, instruction, and the ever-molding process of these pliable little ones in my care. And sometimes you have to raise your voice to be heard over the noise. But not in the way I ve been doing it. Not long ago I made a resolution to stop. I told my husband for accountability. The very next day, I did it again. And I felt despair because words are a heartthermostat. I mentally replayed Ann Voskamp s paraphrase of Ephesians 4:29 Only speak words that make souls stronger. My kids experience God through me. God doesn t yell or shame us when we re disobedient. He doesn t shout or say to us, What were you thinking? or Why did you do that again? His discipline is strong, powerful, effective, and calm. Our disobedience doesn t change how God feels about us. We need that gracelove. And so do our kids. I m storming the hallway again when I remember. I pause and think to myself, Only speak words that make souls stronger. I breathe deeply and open the door. My 3-year-old, Abby, is screaming angry cries in her bed, body taut and pillow wet when I come in. I lie down beside her, smooth back bangs, wipe tears and nose. She looks back with wide eyes searching mine. I break the silence. Why did I send you to bed? Because I was screaming. Did Mommy tell you not to scream? Nod. Did you disobey Mommy? Nod. Silence. Abby, little girls need rest. Except me. No, including you. You need rest, too. We have a fun night ahead, but you need to nap first. She relaxes, smiles, nods, and rolls over. I check in later. Abby sleeps, her body resting on the soft, firm bed and her soul resting on the soft, strong words. Grace words. By His grace, may I remember it the next time, and the next, and the next. Ashley Haupt is a pastor s wife, mother of three, and daily recipient of grace. She writes about grace, gratitude, and finding God in the ordinary moments on her blog Little Pieces of Ordinary (ashleyhaupt.blogspot.com). information, to homelife@lifeway.com. We will pay $75 for each submission that is printed. We regret that mailed submissions cannot be accepted. THE POINT Even at our worst, God loves us. Live It Out Sadly, love has been distorted and is now misunderstood. But thankfully, through Jesus Christ, we can experience true love that is unmerited, redemptive, and perfect in every way. Embrace God s love. Spend time daily in God s Word and discover what it says about His love for you. Memorize Romans 8: When fears or the opinions of others weigh you down, remind yourself that nothing can separate you from God s love. Find a way to show love to an antagonist. Jesus died for both the just and the unjust. So be generous or otherwise show Christlike kindness to someone who s not your favorite person. Don t walk around with your eyes on the floor like the girl with no esteem on the talk show. Show the world what love can do. Is Love Spoken Here? n My Home Life God doesn t yell or shame us when we re disobedient. Anger sounded in the heavy thuds my feet made as I stormed down the hallway to break up yet another shrieking fight between the kids. A bad day and I caved to the anger that erupted out of me. Is Love Spoken Here? Words are a thermostat for the heart. BY ASHLEY HAUPT Anger sounded in the heavy thuds my feet made as I stormed down the hallway to break up yet another How is God working in your home life? your 600-word story, along with your contact April Fools Divorce- Proof? Family Second love God most. 10 keys to PLUS Jesus two-word command To continue reading Is Love Spoken Here? from HomeLife magazine, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles SESSION 3

10 My g roup's prayer requests My thoughts You will find a Christmas-related study on pages 134 to 145. Bible Studies for Life 37