The way to live a USEFUL LIFE begins by understand the UNCONDITIONAL love of God.
We all search for unconditional love in our lives.
We long to have somebody look past all of our mistakes, shortcomings, and inadequacies and simply accept us as they are.
They key is realizing that this kind of love already exists, it's been around since the dawn of time - it comes from God.
Yes, the same God who created you and this world loves each one of us with a never-ending unwavering commitment; so much so that He sent Jesus Christ His only son to die for our sins.
1. The Unconditional Love of God.
“God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).
RIGHT THERE is the GOSPEL in one sentence! That means: God loves everyone, everywhere, all the time.
Before you heard about Jesus - He loves you.
Before you even cared anything about God - He loves you.
Before you gave no thought at all to pleasing God - He loves you.
When God was the last thing on your mind - He loves you.
If you are living a life completely opposite to his plan and purpose for you - He loves you.
“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).
"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 1:19-20).
Ex: To FORGIVE is to release the wrongdoer from liability by absorbing the debt one-self.
Ex: To FORGIVE is to aim for reconciliation and restoration of the relationship that was broken by the wrongdoing.
That is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:13, For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
John 4:10, “If you knew the gift of God … you would have asked him and he would have given you living water”
Romans 10:9 NIV, If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
2. Unconditional love released the POWER of UNCONDITIONAL FORGIVENESS
Luke 23:34 ESV, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Romans 3:23 ESV, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
We all have to have food, water, all have to have forgiveness.
3. Unconditional Love, Forgiveness releases: UNCONDITIONAL GRATITUDE
Romans 3:23 ESV, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
“Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost’” (Luke 19:1-10).
Gratitude: Motivates us to do what's right and to refrain from doing what's wrong.
Gratitude: Why we live in such a way that would honor God.
Someone questions your USEFUL LIFE and GOOD WORKS the correct answer is "I'm doing this because I'm grateful." "I'm doing this to be like Christ."
Our hemorrhaging world is crying out for this UNCONDITIONAL/RADICAL love.