Advent | Love | Pastor Scotty
JOHN 3:16-21
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 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. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.
Henry Ossawa Tanner - “Nicodemus” (1899)
WHAT DOES LOVE EXPOSE IN ME?
LOVE REVEALS
“People loved the darkness rather than the light…”
We tend to think love means being accepted as we are. John says love means being seen as we are.
When love arrives, it feels dangerous before it feels safe.
Love exposes not to shame, but to heal.
Where do I prefer the dark...not because I hate God, but because I want control?
LOVE INVITES
“Whoever does what is true comes to the light…”
The invitation is not to “be perfect”, it is to “come into the light”.
Coming into the light costs:
Control
Justification
The right to remain hidden
What would it cost me to step fully into the light?
LOVE COSTS
“He gave His only Son…”
God’s love precedes belief, repentance, or response.
We don’t reciprocate to earn love. We sacrifice because love changes what we want.
Cheap offerings no longer satisfy a heart that has seen the light.
If God has already given without condition, what kind of love am I now free to give?
“to will the good of another " - St. Thomas Aquinas
“Love that costs something” - King David
Advent Love Says...
“God loves us so much that He will not let us stay hidden...even behind our goodness.”
