1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:06,500 So good to be here this morning at a beautiful song service and 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:08,600 certainly the table has been set. 3 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:14,100 So to speak for our study, this morning on is God's love 4 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:18,600 conditional. It's been a wonderful weekend. 5 00:00:19,100 --> 00:00:23,100 But really, with all the festivities and all the special 6 00:00:23,100 --> 00:00:28,000 moments we've shared, what we're doing today is even more 7 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:34,700 beautiful, because it goes to God and everything that the 8 00:00:34,700 --> 00:00:38,400 father Son and the Holy Spirit have done to bring us to this 9 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:40,700 point in time. It's great to be in Bakersfield. 10 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:43,500 A lot of wonderful memories here. 11 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:48,500 Great to be with family but you were all as members of the body 12 00:00:48,500 --> 00:00:52,400 of Christ, our family and so it's great to be here and I'm 13 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:56,300 excited about our time to honor Jesus this morning. 14 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,900 The late dr. Karl Barth a 20th century. 15 00:01:00,900 --> 00:01:06,000 Protestant Theologian was so highly respected among religious 16 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:11,300 Scholars that despite their Many religious differences, even Pope 17 00:01:11,300 --> 00:01:14,800 Pius. The 12th spoke of Barth as the 18 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:21,200 greatest Theologian since Thomas Aquinas of the 13th century and 19 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:27,200 certainly the most influential of the 20th century Barth Buck 20 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,600 the liberal Protestant theology that he trained under in Europe. 21 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:36,700 Then when much of Germany was mesmerised or intimidated by 22 00:01:36,700 --> 00:01:42,900 Adolf Hitler, Barth refused to sign an oath of allegiance to 23 00:01:42,900 --> 00:01:47,000 the Nazi leader. He was in turn forced to resign 24 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,200 from The Faculty of the University of Bonn. 25 00:01:50,100 --> 00:01:54,200 Martha is also noted for writing the barmen Declaration where he 26 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:58,200 marshaled a host of scriptures to chastise Hitler and the Nazi 27 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,000 party for their move to subjugate all. 28 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:06,100 Professing German Christians to the fuhrer, he sent a personal 29 00:02:06,100 --> 00:02:10,699 copy to Hitler. My favorite story though about 30 00:02:10,699 --> 00:02:15,300 Barth took place during a series of lectures in Princeton New 31 00:02:15,300 --> 00:02:19,600 Jersey, Someone at the end of that speech, they opened it up 32 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:21,700 to four question and answer. Period. 33 00:02:21,700 --> 00:02:26,500 And someone asked him, dr. Barth what is the greatest 34 00:02:26,500 --> 00:02:31,000 thought that has ever passed through your mind? 35 00:02:32,300 --> 00:02:37,000 He paused for a several moments as he was obviously, giving 36 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:41,200 serious thought to how he would respond. 37 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,600 And of course, the audience was waiting for something very 38 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:49,000 profound something, to really at least attempt to sink their 39 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:53,300 teeth into. Then he raised his hand with 40 00:02:53,300 --> 00:02:58,100 childlike Simplicity and said, Jesus loves me. 41 00:02:59,100 --> 00:03:05,500 This I know for the Bible tells me so bars. 42 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:11,300 Brilliant Simplicity in capsule eights, the core of the Gospel 43 00:03:11,300 --> 00:03:14,500 message. We've sung about it already. 44 00:03:15,500 --> 00:03:18,300 The gospel means, of course, good news. 45 00:03:18,300 --> 00:03:23,000 And what better news is there than as the Apostle John writes 46 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:32,100 in first John chapter 4 twice God is and this morning all 47 00:03:32,100 --> 00:03:36,500 professing Christians, unite on this truth but a related 48 00:03:36,500 --> 00:03:39,300 question, brings considerable controversy. 49 00:03:40,300 --> 00:03:46,000 Is God's love. Unconditional does God love 50 00:03:46,100 --> 00:03:50,500 unconditionally this morning. That's the topic that we like to 51 00:03:50,500 --> 00:03:55,200 explore and I ask you this morning to reserve judgment on 52 00:03:55,300 --> 00:04:00,700 this question until we have had time to look at the relevant 53 00:04:00,700 --> 00:04:05,700 scriptures. Let's Place, love, God is love 54 00:04:05,700 --> 00:04:09,000 back in its original context. I'm reading from first, John 55 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:15,100 chapter 4 starting with verse 7. Beloved let us love one. 56 00:04:15,100 --> 00:04:18,899 Another for love is of God. And every one that loveth is 57 00:04:18,899 --> 00:04:24,900 born of God and knoweth, God, he that loveth not knoweth, not God 58 00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:29,500 for God is love in. This was manifested the love of 59 00:04:29,500 --> 00:04:33,900 God toward us because that God sent his only begotten son into 60 00:04:33,900 --> 00:04:37,000 the world that we might live through him. 61 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,200 Herein is love not that, we loved God, but that he loved us 62 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,600 and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. 63 00:04:47,500 --> 00:04:51,200 Beloved, if God. So, loved us, we ought also to 64 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:55,900 love one another. No man has seen God at any time. 65 00:04:56,500 --> 00:05:01,100 If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is 66 00:05:01,100 --> 00:05:04,800 perfected in US. Hereby know we that we dwell in 67 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,900 him, and he in us because he had given us of his spirit. 68 00:05:08,100 --> 00:05:11,700 And we have seen and do testify that the father sent the son to 69 00:05:11,700 --> 00:05:15,000 be the savior of the world whosoever shall confess. 70 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,200 That Jesus is the son of God, God dwelleth in him. 71 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:22,900 And he in God, we have known and believed the love that God hath 72 00:05:22,900 --> 00:05:26,800 to us. Is God is love. 73 00:05:27,900 --> 00:05:34,500 And he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. 74 00:05:36,100 --> 00:05:41,100 God is love but does God love us? 75 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:46,400 Unconditionally and what is unconditional love? 76 00:05:47,300 --> 00:05:51,000 We first need to understand what love is. 77 00:05:52,700 --> 00:05:56,100 Well, I so appreciate bar simple summary of Christianity. 78 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:01,800 It is possible when we over simple mock simplify matters 79 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:08,100 that we can produce misunderstandings, Since God is 80 00:06:08,100 --> 00:06:13,200 love and eighty percent of people in the United States 81 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:18,700 claim to be Christians. Then surely America understands. 82 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:25,900 Love knows all about love. No, not even close. 83 00:06:26,300 --> 00:06:28,300 You may remember about 10 years ago. 84 00:06:28,300 --> 00:06:31,600 After seeing Florida Gator quarterback. 85 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:39,800 Tim Tebow wearing eye black with John 3:16 written on it that 86 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:47,100 there were 94 million people. That did a Google search on John 87 00:06:47,100 --> 00:06:50,800 3:16. Why do you think they did that? 88 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:59,400 Because they had no idea what it was, it was and is the most 89 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,200 famous New Testament scripture for God. 90 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,300 So loved the world that he gave his only begotten, son, that 91 00:07:06,300 --> 00:07:11,100 whosoever believes in Him. Should not perish, but have 92 00:07:11,100 --> 00:07:15,200 everlasting life. A young man wrote to his 93 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:19,900 girlfriend sweetheart. If this world was as hot as the 94 00:07:19,900 --> 00:07:25,100 Sahara Desert, I would crawl on my knees for the burning sand to 95 00:07:25,100 --> 00:07:28,100 come to you. If the world would be like the, 96 00:07:28,100 --> 00:07:33,900 an Atlantic Ocean, I would swim through shark-infested Waters to 97 00:07:33,900 --> 00:07:38,100 come to you. I would fight the most fiercest 98 00:07:38,100 --> 00:07:43,600 Dragon to be by your side. And I'll see you on Thursday if 99 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:47,500 it doesn't rain. Do we understand? 100 00:07:47,500 --> 00:07:51,700 Love psychiatrists em, Scott Peck to find love in his book. 101 00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:56,700 The Road Less Traveled as the will to extend oneself for the 102 00:07:56,700 --> 00:08:00,300 purpose of nurturing. One's own, or another's 103 00:08:00,300 --> 00:08:03,200 spiritual growth. International Standard Bible 104 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:06,300 encyclopedia has for love. Love. 105 00:08:06,300 --> 00:08:10,600 Whether used of God or man is in Earnest and anxious desire for 106 00:08:11,500 --> 00:08:16,900 And an active and beneficent interest in the well-being of 107 00:08:16,900 --> 00:08:22,800 the one love. More simply put love is active 108 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:27,900 concern for the welfare of another. 109 00:08:28,700 --> 00:08:31,700 This, of course is different far. 110 00:08:31,700 --> 00:08:35,799 Different than the prevalent notion that love is merely a 111 00:08:35,799 --> 00:08:41,600 warm positive emotion. Towards somebody that makes me 112 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:46,800 feel good. When genuine love is present, it 113 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:53,700 demands, positive behavior. It affects how we act and 114 00:08:53,700 --> 00:09:01,800 interact toward others and it is not dependent on whether or not 115 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:06,000 that individual has generated positive emotions. 116 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:14,200 In this respect, love by definition is unconditional. 117 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:19,900 You see, Bible love does not depend on the worthiness of the 118 00:09:19,900 --> 00:09:23,900 recipients and aren't you thankful for that? 119 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:32,100 In fact the people of God are commanded in Matthew 5:44, To 120 00:09:32,100 --> 00:09:37,500 love our enemies, to bless those who curse us to do good to 121 00:09:37,500 --> 00:09:42,600 those, who hate us. And to pray, for those who 122 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:48,700 spitefully use us and persecute us, notice what Jesus adds in 123 00:09:48,700 --> 00:09:52,500 verse 46. He says, for if you love those 124 00:09:52,500 --> 00:09:58,200 who love you, What reward have you in other words, he is saying 125 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:03,100 big deal. Do not even the tax collectors, 126 00:10:03,100 --> 00:10:08,000 do the same, the Apostle Paul summarize this demonstration of 127 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:12,500 love and Romans 5:10 when it wrote for if when we were 128 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:14,700 enemies. Every last one of us have been 129 00:10:14,700 --> 00:10:18,000 there. If we're Christians forever, 130 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,300 when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the 131 00:10:21,300 --> 00:10:25,800 death of his son, much more having been Reconciled. 132 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,600 We shall be saved by his life. Going back. 133 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:33,400 A few verses. The same truth is articulated in 134 00:10:33,700 --> 00:10:36,500 Romans 5 verse 64. When we were still without 135 00:10:36,500 --> 00:10:41,100 Strength In Due Time, Christ died for the ungodly for 136 00:10:41,100 --> 00:10:44,400 scarcely for a righteous man. Will one die yet, Perhaps for a 137 00:10:44,408 --> 00:10:47,900 good man, someone would even Dare To Die. 138 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:53,200 But God, demonstrated his love toward us in that while we were 139 00:10:53,200 --> 00:11:02,500 still sinners Christ died for us, God is love o'the. 140 00:11:02,500 --> 00:11:05,200 How thankful we should all be for that. 141 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,900 Certainly the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have shown 142 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:16,000 Unconditional Love by giving so much of themselves for us to 143 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:20,700 provide the Plan of Salvation. The Apostle Peter further 144 00:11:20,700 --> 00:11:23,800 confirms God's patience and unconditional love and second 145 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:27,800 Peter 3 verse 9 when he says the Lord is not slack concerning his 146 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:31,700 promise as some men count slackness but is long-suffering 147 00:11:31,700 --> 00:11:36,400 toward us not willing that any should perish but that all 148 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:41,700 should come to repentance. and those of us, who have loved 149 00:11:41,700 --> 00:11:45,200 ones, who have never become Christians or who have become 150 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:49,800 Christians, but for whatever reason have wandered out into 151 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:56,700 the world, Well, we're counting on the truth of the scripture, 152 00:11:57,300 --> 00:12:01,600 not willing that any should perish, but that all should come 153 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:07,200 to repentance Jesus attitude toward his enemies as he endured 154 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:12,600 such cruelty on the cross sets the bar so high. 155 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:21,600 Remember what he cried out, and Luke 23:34 father Forgive them. 156 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:29,600 For they know not what they do so we too should demonstrate 157 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:34,300 this kind of unconditional love towards others. 158 00:12:35,700 --> 00:12:40,600 A mother's love for her baby. Does not demand that's it. 159 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:45,300 Now. No crying no slobbering. 160 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:50,900 And no more dirty diapers. What this love doesn't do that. 161 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:55,200 Our love for our children is not demanded. 162 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:59,400 On them is not dependent rather on them. 163 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:04,100 Always smiling. Always eating their broccoli 164 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:08,500 hitting home runs or always getting straight A's. 165 00:13:09,300 --> 00:13:13,700 We love our sons and our daughters and we love them. 166 00:13:13,700 --> 00:13:20,400 No matter what we show ongoing active concern for their 167 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:26,400 welfare, despite their weaknesses, their flaws, and 168 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:30,400 their failures. And we do that because We know 169 00:13:31,100 --> 00:13:33,500 that's what we've gotten from God. 170 00:13:34,700 --> 00:13:38,400 I like what 1st Corinthians 13 verse 8 says in this context. 171 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:46,000 Love never fails. Never the Bible word. 172 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,700 Love is not like the fickle romantic love that people talk 173 00:13:49,700 --> 00:13:54,000 about falling into or falling out of so much today. 174 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:58,300 True love the love. The Bible talks about is 175 00:13:58,300 --> 00:14:00,300 enduring. It can't be defeated. 176 00:14:00,300 --> 00:14:05,000 It can't be destroyed. Our love for our spouse does not 177 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:11,500 dissipate It does not disappear. When they become sick. 178 00:14:12,900 --> 00:14:16,600 When they lose their job, when they lose their temper. 179 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,000 When they wrecked the car, we still love them. 180 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:27,100 We keep showing active concern for their welfare. 181 00:14:28,100 --> 00:14:32,700 Our love for one, another does not depend on perfect Church, 182 00:14:32,700 --> 00:14:38,500 attendance, Perfect Pitch, attentive listening or 183 00:14:38,700 --> 00:14:41,700 consistent. Kindness that by far, is our 184 00:14:41,700 --> 00:14:44,100 preference. That's what we hope for. 185 00:14:44,100 --> 00:14:48,600 That's what we look for, but our love for One another does not 186 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:53,800 depend on those things, we continue to promote their best 187 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:58,000 interest. Are we thankful for the image of 188 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:02,100 the father who welcomes home? The Prodigal Son? 189 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:07,800 After he spent time in the Hog Pen of sin. 190 00:15:08,300 --> 00:15:11,400 I'm talking about the love of God, this morning. 191 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:15,600 This is the love that we need. That's the love that every one 192 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:20,900 of us needs. While we talk about the phrase 193 00:15:20,900 --> 00:15:25,800 unconditional love. That phrase itself cannot be 194 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:32,600 found in the scriptures but that idea is strongly supported from 195 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:37,400 what we read about in the Bible again though it's it is possible 196 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:42,200 to misunderstand and misapply the love of God, by removing it 197 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:46,600 from the overall Biblical context of God's nature. 198 00:15:47,300 --> 00:15:53,100 Certainly the greatest aspect of God's nature of his character. 199 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:56,100 Is his love and that's why we sing about it. 200 00:15:56,100 --> 00:15:59,100 That's what we talked about it. That's what we preach about it. 201 00:16:00,100 --> 00:16:04,000 because it is so meaningful because we need it, so 202 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,700 desperately the biblical tea that many people have though in 203 00:16:08,700 --> 00:16:15,400 evaluating what a loving God, Can do and cannot do what a 204 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:21,100 loving God does. And does not do can be per, can 205 00:16:21,100 --> 00:16:27,500 be traced perhaps to being unaware or forgetful of the 206 00:16:27,500 --> 00:16:35,500 other aspects of God's nature? Yes, God is love, but there is 207 00:16:35,500 --> 00:16:40,600 more to God. Then just love all we bask in 208 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:44,000 the beauty of God's love is Mercy and Grace. 209 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:47,100 As we've sung about this morning, we must also remember 210 00:16:47,100 --> 00:16:52,300 that the god of the Bible is Holy think about Isaiah 6. 211 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:58,100 Holy holy holy that's God, he's holy. 212 00:16:58,100 --> 00:17:04,599 And he is just Jehovah. God, he does not ignore 213 00:17:05,099 --> 00:17:08,800 Rebellion. He loves us while we're in 214 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:10,800 Rebellion, but he does not ignore it. 215 00:17:11,099 --> 00:17:14,300 And if we do, not leave eventually leave and abandon 216 00:17:14,300 --> 00:17:19,200 that Rebellion. we'll pay the ultimate cost, Romans 11, verse 217 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:23,900 22 teaches, therefore, consider the goodness and the severity of 218 00:17:23,900 --> 00:17:28,300 God, on those who fell severity but toward you goodness, if you 219 00:17:28,300 --> 00:17:35,900 continue in his goodness, Otherwise you also will be cut 220 00:17:35,900 --> 00:17:39,000 off. In other words, God's love does 221 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:43,400 not eliminate his Holiness and God's mercy does not eradicate 222 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:47,700 his Justice and God's. Grace does not exterminate his 223 00:17:47,700 --> 00:17:51,400 severity. God's patience does not 224 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:58,200 evaporate the law of sowing and reaping despite the amazing love 225 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:03,400 we witness through God, allowing the Incarnation The humiliation 226 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:05,700 and crucifixion of his son. Jesus. 227 00:18:05,900 --> 00:18:11,400 We must also be aware that the suffering that Jesus endured in 228 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:17,500 itself was a warning about the tremendous price that must be 229 00:18:17,500 --> 00:18:22,100 paid. For the heinousness of sin, the 230 00:18:22,100 --> 00:18:25,900 Apostle Paul writes in Romans 6, verse 23, the wages of sin. 231 00:18:27,100 --> 00:18:31,000 His death. But the gift of God is eternal 232 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:32,400 life in Christ. Jesus. 233 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:39,700 Our lord God offers us this tremendous gift of eternal life. 234 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:44,000 In spite of our failure, to completely avoid sin. 235 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:54,400 So if we look to Jesus, If we live for Jesus in that way, love 236 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:57,400 Jesus. If we walk in the light as he is 237 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:02,700 in the light first, John 1 verse 7, then he will credit the sin 238 00:19:02,700 --> 00:19:07,300 payment he made on the cross to our personal account. 239 00:19:07,700 --> 00:19:12,600 If however, we snub the Son of God and we walk away from God's 240 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:15,200 love. How can we be surprised? 241 00:19:15,300 --> 00:19:18,100 And how can we complain about spending eternity? 242 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:23,500 Without God and his love. Consider the biblical Simplicity 243 00:19:23,500 --> 00:19:30,400 of Cs Lewis's summary. He says, either we say by our 244 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:39,600 lives that I will be done. Or God. will say to us on that 245 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:43,900 final day, the high will be done. 246 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:50,000 We're too often oblivious to the benefits of God's generosity 247 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:54,900 that are inherent simply in his very presence. 248 00:19:55,500 --> 00:19:59,800 While man forfeited, the grace associated with God's presence, 249 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:05,100 in such a special way in the garden, all mankind, still 250 00:20:05,100 --> 00:20:08,600 receives the Bounty of God's goodness through. 251 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:14,900 The influence of God on Earth. Jesus tells us in Matthew 252 00:20:14,900 --> 00:20:21,800 chapter 5, verse 45, that God makes his sun rise on the evil, 253 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:26,600 and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 254 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:30,300 And so those today who want nothing to do with God, those 255 00:20:30,300 --> 00:20:34,600 who Curse God, those who have nothing good to say about God. 256 00:20:36,100 --> 00:20:43,200 They still are influenced by the effects of God in this world and 257 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:46,700 so many people failed to take that into consideration. 258 00:20:47,100 --> 00:20:49,100 Another difficulty along these lines. 259 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:57,000 We tend to equate unconditional love with unconditional 260 00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:58,700 salvation. I know I've done that in the 261 00:20:58,700 --> 00:21:01,700 past. I've heard of other brothers 262 00:21:01,700 --> 00:21:04,700 that I highly respect of equating the two. 263 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:08,000 But listen, this morning, he didn't understand, unconditional 264 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:12,600 love, and unconditional salvation are not the same thing 265 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:16,500 again, but God demonstrates his own love toward us in that while 266 00:21:16,500 --> 00:21:18,600 we were still sinners Christ died for us. 267 00:21:18,900 --> 00:21:22,600 Jesus Christ. Did for every single human being 268 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:29,200 That Ever Walked on the planet, But not every single human being 269 00:21:29,900 --> 00:21:33,400 will be saved. If unconditional love can be 270 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:38,200 equated with unconditional salvation, then God does not 271 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,300 love everyone unconditionally because God does not save 272 00:21:41,300 --> 00:21:45,100 everyone. Unconditionally even scriptures 273 00:21:45,100 --> 00:21:50,300 that teach God is love seemed to hint that God's love remaining 274 00:21:50,300 --> 00:21:54,500 constant throughout. Eternity depends on are 275 00:21:54,500 --> 00:21:58,500 receiving and abiding in that love. 276 00:21:58,500 --> 00:22:02,400 First John 4 verse 8 he who does not love. 277 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:06,400 Does not know God. For God is love first. 278 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:13,600 John 4:16 God is love and he who abides in love abides in God and 279 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:16,200 God in him. See the qualifications there? 280 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:23,500 As long as we live God's love for us is unconditional in the 281 00:22:23,500 --> 00:22:27,800 sense, that no matter what we do, no matter what we've done, 282 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:33,000 no matter where we've been his arms are extended, and they're 283 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:37,100 welcoming us back. It will only come to him or 284 00:22:37,100 --> 00:22:40,700 returned to him from the far country. 285 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:45,300 At the same time, please understand that salvation is 286 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,200 conditional. We do not determine the terms of 287 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:53,100 Salvation. God does that consider some of 288 00:22:53,100 --> 00:22:56,900 the scriptures that detail requirements for salvation? 289 00:22:57,100 --> 00:23:04,800 Matthew 18, verse 3 assuredly, I say to you unless, Unless you 290 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,600 were converted and become as Little Children, You Will by no 291 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:09,200 means enter the kingdom of heaven. 292 00:23:10,700 --> 00:23:14,300 Luke 14:26. If anyone comes to me and does 293 00:23:14,300 --> 00:23:17,700 not hate his father and mother wife and children brothers and 294 00:23:17,700 --> 00:23:21,400 sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 295 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:24,700 You can't even get started unless we get to the point where 296 00:23:24,900 --> 00:23:31,000 there is no one on the planet. Underpants. 297 00:23:32,300 --> 00:23:38,700 Other children, not even our spouse unless God is higher. 298 00:23:38,700 --> 00:23:43,000 Unless our love for God, is stronger than any of them. 299 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:48,300 We cannot be his disciple. And sometimes that means we have 300 00:23:48,300 --> 00:23:51,400 to make some hard decisions. John 3 verse 5. 301 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:53,700 Jesus says most assuredly I say to you. 302 00:23:53,700 --> 00:23:59,800 Unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the 303 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:02,600 kingdom of God. Even after we've been saved our 304 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:07,400 ultimate acceptance by God. Is conditional and most of the 305 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:11,400 scriptures that were about to read you, find a little word. 306 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:18,600 If setting off, incontrovertible e, the absolute necessity of the 307 00:24:18,608 --> 00:24:24,000 qualification, John 14:23, if anyone Loves Me, Jesus says, he 308 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:27,700 will keep my word and my father will love him, and we will come 309 00:24:27,700 --> 00:24:29,300 to him and make our home with him. 310 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:33,900 And so, when we opted, not to keep the word of Christ, what 311 00:24:33,900 --> 00:24:38,800 have we done? We forfeited the guarantee Jesus 312 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:41,900 makes similar statements about the importance of abiding or 313 00:24:41,900 --> 00:24:45,600 remaining in him in the next chapter verse 6. 314 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:50,300 If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and 315 00:24:50,300 --> 00:24:53,500 is withered and they gather them and throw them into the fire. 316 00:24:54,100 --> 00:24:57,500 And they are burned verse 10. If you keep my Commandments, you 317 00:24:57,500 --> 00:25:00,300 will abide in my love. Just as I could kept my father's 318 00:25:00,300 --> 00:25:04,200 Commandments and abide in his love throughout the Epistles, 319 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:07,800 the Apostle Paul. All opposed this same principle. 320 00:25:07,900 --> 00:25:12,200 First Corinthians 15 verse 2. He speaks of the Gospel by which 321 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:15,100 also, ye are saved. If you hold fast the word, which 322 00:25:15,100 --> 00:25:18,300 I preached to you, unless ye have believed in vain second, 323 00:25:18,300 --> 00:25:23,200 Timothy 2 verse 5. And also, if anyone competes in 324 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:27,100 athletics, he is not crowned, unless he competes, according to 325 00:25:27,100 --> 00:25:29,500 the rules. Of course, God is not concerned 326 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:33,300 about the Olympics. The analogy is met here by the 327 00:25:33,300 --> 00:25:39,300 inspiration of the Holy Spirit to teach us about salvation 328 00:25:39,900 --> 00:25:43,400 being conditional. It would be hard to find a Bible 329 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:47,500 passage that is more clear on meeting conditions to retain our 330 00:25:47,500 --> 00:25:51,900 relationship with Christ. Then James chapter 5, verse 19 331 00:25:51,900 --> 00:25:55,700 and 20 Brethren. If anyone among you wanders from 332 00:25:55,700 --> 00:26:00,000 the truth and someone turns him back, let him know that, he who 333 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,500 turns a sinner from the error of his way, will save a soul from 334 00:26:03,500 --> 00:26:07,300 death and cover a multitude of sins. 335 00:26:08,100 --> 00:26:10,600 This morning, there is no doubt, he's there. 336 00:26:12,100 --> 00:26:19,000 That God loves you. There can be no doubt God. 337 00:26:19,900 --> 00:26:24,500 Loves you. Even more than your mama does, 338 00:26:25,300 --> 00:26:29,000 that's hard to Fathom. But it's the truth, consider the 339 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,700 words of a nearly thousand-year-old poem. 340 00:26:31,700 --> 00:26:35,200 Put the song by Frederick. Layman the third verse of this 341 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:38,800 song, could we, with ink the ocean fill and where the Skies 342 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:42,000 of parchment made where every stalk on earth a quill. 343 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:46,600 And every man ascribed by trade to write the love of God, above 344 00:26:47,300 --> 00:26:51,800 would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the 345 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:56,300 whole those stress from Sky to Sky. 346 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:02,800 The father never stopped, loving the prodigal. 347 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:08,000 But neither did he force himself on the prodigal? 348 00:27:08,900 --> 00:27:15,500 The state of the prodigal always resolve revolves around his 349 00:27:15,900 --> 00:27:19,100 choices. The real issue. 350 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:24,500 The question weighing in the balances, is this? 351 00:27:25,900 --> 00:27:31,000 Do I love God back? Do I love God? 352 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:34,500 More than the world do I love God? 353 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:40,300 More than all that? His Nemesis can offer me. 354 00:27:41,700 --> 00:27:45,600 No difference really between Jesus and Satan. 355 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:56,200 Satan offers you things. Jesus offers himself. 356 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:02,100 We just have to make the choice. As Paula died. 357 00:28:02,100 --> 00:28:05,500 So long ago, which one will it be? 358 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:11,500 Which one will you choose Elizabeth Barrett? 359 00:28:11,500 --> 00:28:16,800 The oldest of 12 children who lived in the early 1800s, 360 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:21,600 perform remarkable Feats of Brilliance as a child and young 361 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:26,700 adulthood without any formal education amazing to read, how 362 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:32,600 the by age, she learned to read Homer in the original Greek and 363 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:36,600 when she was a teenager, she was reading the Hebrew scriptures. 364 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:41,200 Is Elizabeth though is most known for her poetry. 365 00:28:42,100 --> 00:28:46,800 One of her most famous lines is, how do I love thee? 366 00:28:47,700 --> 00:28:52,000 Let me count the ways. Some of you is young, people may 367 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:55,500 think from time to time that you have controlling parents. 368 00:28:57,900 --> 00:29:02,000 You ain't seen nothing. Elizabeth Barrett. 369 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:06,300 The oldest of 12 children was told by her father as were her. 370 00:29:06,500 --> 00:29:11,300 Other siblings. You may never get married. 371 00:29:11,300 --> 00:29:18,100 You are forbidden from Mary. One day, they'll later in life. 372 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:23,000 Elizabeth Barrett met Robert Browning and even though she was 373 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:27,900 in poor health, he loved her. They fell in love and despite 374 00:29:27,900 --> 00:29:32,500 her father's orders his command, she married him. 375 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:40,300 But in his anger and frustration her father refused to ever see 376 00:29:40,300 --> 00:29:43,500 her again. Elizabeth nourished her Broken 377 00:29:43,500 --> 00:29:50,700 Heart by writing impassioned letters to her father love 378 00:29:50,700 --> 00:29:54,700 letters pleading with him as the father that she held. 379 00:29:54,700 --> 00:29:59,100 So dear that she would take him back that she would come, that 380 00:29:59,100 --> 00:30:02,800 he would come and visit her, that everything could be like it 381 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:09,300 was And once again, there was no response, the years wore on 382 00:30:09,300 --> 00:30:13,200 still no response. Finally, a year before her 383 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:18,800 father's death, she received a box in the mail from her father. 384 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:26,500 Her excitement soon turned to anguish and she opened up that 385 00:30:26,500 --> 00:30:31,000 box. She discovered In it was every 386 00:30:31,700 --> 00:30:35,800 letter she had ever written. Unopened. 387 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:42,700 Have you ever heard of a more tragic story of unrequited love. 388 00:30:43,300 --> 00:30:50,700 But this morning, there is something more tragic, if You 389 00:30:50,700 --> 00:30:56,700 have or have not read. The story and these letters of 390 00:30:56,700 --> 00:31:01,900 love that God has written to you and then can still go on in your 391 00:31:01,900 --> 00:31:07,100 life without returning that love without showing God. 392 00:31:07,100 --> 00:31:11,500 How much love and appreciation you have for him by abiding in 393 00:31:11,500 --> 00:31:17,500 his love and living for him and settling instead for the things. 394 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:23,100 The Satan has to offer. as we bring our lesson to a close this 395 00:31:23,100 --> 00:31:27,900 morning understand and remember that God's love is 396 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:32,700 unconditional, he will always love you no matter what but also 397 00:31:32,700 --> 00:31:37,700 understand that salvation Is not unconditional. 398 00:31:38,900 --> 00:31:41,800 He will not force himself on you this morning. 399 00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:45,400 Won't you turn to God? Or turn back to God, if not 400 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:48,500 obeyed the gospel, once you do so believing, that Jesus Christ 401 00:31:48,500 --> 00:31:50,800 is the Son of God. Once you repent of your sins 402 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:56,300 once you confess before men, I believe that Jesus Christ is the 403 00:31:56,300 --> 00:31:59,700 Son of God. Won't you be immersed in the 404 00:31:59,700 --> 00:32:03,500 watery grave of baptism? Become a child of God, turn to 405 00:32:03,500 --> 00:32:06,400 him, run to him. Maybe this morning, there's 406 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:08,600 someone here, who is a Christian? 407 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:11,700 But there's something that's not right in your life. 408 00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:17,200 You're holding back, you're not giving God everything you have. 409 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:20,700 Maybe there's someone in your life. 410 00:32:21,700 --> 00:32:23,500 That you're loving more than God. 411 00:32:25,400 --> 00:32:29,100 You need to give him everything. You need to turn it all over to 412 00:32:29,100 --> 00:32:30,800 him. He'd to come to him. 413 00:32:31,100 --> 00:32:32,600 There's sin in your life. What you? 414 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:37,500 Repent of it once you confess it pray with you and for you. 415 00:32:38,500 --> 00:32:41,200 We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the 416 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:46,900 Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you 417 00:32:46,900 --> 00:32:50,000 would like any additional information, or you would like 418 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:53,200 to receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail. 419 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:57,700 Please email us at info at her Church of Christ 420 00:32:57,700 --> 00:33:01,600 Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays 421 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:07,200 at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 422 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:11,400 Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our 423 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:12,300 honored guest.