This is one of the great texts of the Bible, much like John 3:16. This morning, let's take the verse apart for a moment. Not to destroy it, but to better understand it today.
1. But God
2. Commendeth his love toward us
3. In that while we were yet sinners
4. Christ died for us
I. The Lord Who Was Concerned: "But God ..."
(EPH 2:4) "BUT GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY, FOR HIS GREAT LOVE WHEREWITH HE LOVED US,"
A. We were unlovely BUT GOD loved us anyway.
1. I am thankful that God didn't wait on us to make ourselves presentable.
2. That would never have happened.
3. But God loved us anyway.
B. We were ungodly BUT GOD desired to put us in the family of God.
C. We were unspiritual BUT GOD sent His Holy Spirit that we might be born again and know the things of God.
D. We were unthankful BUT GOD wanted to give us everlasting life, a home in heaven, direction on earth, peace of heart and mind, and strength for living!
1. This is so much like God and so unlike mankind.
2. If someone doesn't respond to us in a proper and thankful manner, we get indignant.
3. "Well, if that's the way you are going to be, forget it!"
4. But God is concerned for us even when we are unconcerned about Him.
I. The Lord Who Was Concerned: "But God ..."
II. The Love That Was Commended: "But God commendeth his love toward us ..."
(1 JOHN 3:16) "HEREBY PERCEIVE WE THE LOVE OF GOD, BECAUSE HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US: AND WE OUGHT TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR THE BRETHREN."
(JOHN 15:13) "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS."
A. It was the love of a Creator for His creation.
1. We are His creation.
2. We are not something that He will just cast aside.
B. It was the love of a Potter for His pottery.
1. Jeremiah tells us how that the potter reworked and reshaped the clay.
2. Instead of discarding us, He continue to work with us to make us into something usable.
C. It was the love of a Shepherd for His lost sheep.
1. The Word of God describes our relationship with Him as one of a sheep to its Shepherd.
2. He came to seek and to save the lost sheep.
3. Everything He did, He did to protect and provide for us...He laid down His life for the sheep.
(JOHN 10:11) "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD: THE GOOD SHEPHERD GIVETH HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP."
THE SONG WRITER PUT IT LIKE THIS: "I AM SO GLAD THAT OUR FATHER IN HEAV'N, TELLS OF HIS LOVE IN THE BOOK HE HAS GIV'N; WONDERFUL THINGS IN THE BIBLE I SEE -- THIS IS THE DEAREST THAT JESUS LOVES ME."
ANOTHER WRITES: "I STAND AMAZED IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS THE NAZARENE, AND WONDER HOW HE COULD LOVE ME, A SINNER, CONDEMNED, UNCLEAN. HOW MARVELOUS! HOW WONDERFUL! AND MY SONG SHALL EVER BE: HOW MARVELOUS! HOW WONDERFUL! IS MY SAVIOR'S LOVE FOR ME!"
I. The Lord Who Was Concerned: "But God ..."
II. The Love That Was Commended: "But God commendeth his love toward us ..."
III. The Lost (People) Who Were Cherished: "But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners ..."
(MAT 9:13B) "... FOR I AM NOT COME TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS TO REPENTANCE."
(1 TIM 1:15) "THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS; OF WHOM I AM CHIEF."
A. These are sinners who were dead in trespasses and sins.
1. We would have a hard time loving dead people who walked around like they were alive.
2. Zombies are right out of the old scary movies. (Night of the Living Dead)
3. We were IN our sins.
(ISA 64:6) "BUT WE ARE ALL AS AN UNCLEAN THING, AND ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSES ARE AS FILTHY RAGS; AND WE ALL DO FADE AS A LEAF; AND OUR INIQUITIES, LIKE THE WIND, HAVE TAKEN US AWAY."
a. Our sins clothed us like garments and made us to smell like a pile of garbage to God.
b. Still, He loved us!
B. These are sinners who were doomed to hell
1. We were already condemned.
(JOHN 3:18) "HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED: BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD."
2. We all deserve hell.
3. Not so much for what we do, but for who we are.
I. The Lord Who Was Concerned: "But God ..."
II. The Love That Was Commended: "But God commendeth his love toward us ..."
III. The Lost (People) Who Were Cherished: "But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners ..."
IV. The Life That Was Contributed For Us: "But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."
A. It was a unique life
1. John 3:16 "... his only begotten Son..."
2. Jesus was the only man born of a human mother without a human father
3. He did miracles no other man did
4. No man ever spoke like Him
B. It was an undefiled life
1. He never sinned even once
2. He was perfectly pure in thought, word, and deed
3. He was a spotless sacrifice for the sin of the world
C. It was an unselfish life
1. He spent His life on earth ministering to others
2. He lived without a house or even a bed
3. He gave His life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world on the cross of Calvary
D. It was an unconquered life
1. He defeated all manner of diseases.
2. He defeated evil spirits.
3. He defeated the Devil.
4. He defeated death, hell, and the grave, because after three days and nights in the heart of the earth, He rose again BODILY from the grave, proving that He was and is the very Son of God!
All that Jesus did, He did for you and for me. We didn't ask Him to do it...He did it because He loved us and knew our need. Amazing love indeed. Have you received Him as your Savior? How could you reject One who loves as He loves?
(ROM 5:8) "BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US."