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Radical Love #6 - Fortified by Love

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Ascension is a big deal. Over the years, I think we’ve forgotten about it. Or maybe we never really thought much about it. I won’t bother to speculate tonight why that might be. But I do want to start by simply saying: the Ascension of Jesus into heaven is a big deal. Let me just list some of the reasons. Let me briefly tell you why (and this will not be a complete list).

  • It means that Jesus has taken his seat at God’s right hand.

  • It means that Jesus sits and rules. All things are under his feet.

  • It means that Jesus intercedes for us now before the Father.

  • It means that Jesus is preparing a place for us with him for all eternity.

  • It means that Jesus would send his Holy Spirit. Remember he told his disciples, “Unless I go, I will not send the Holy Spirit.”

  • It means that Jesus is coming back for us.

John wants to fortify us in three ways: Our hearts, our homes, and our holiness. A look at 1 John 2:28-3:6.

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Radical Love #5 - Love for the Truth

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We live in dangerous days. The danger I speak of is not necessarily the danger on the roads or streets. The greatest danger we face is the constant assaults against the truth. That assault has been happening since the Evil One rebelled and was thrown out of heaven. Yet, we have an anointing from the Holy One, and we know the truth.  We know He who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Continue in him, and we will be unashamed before him when he comes. 1 John 2:18-27

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Radical Love #4 - Either/Or Love

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Augustine, in “City of God,” writes about a rightly ordered love. He means that we have to get our love for things in the right order. We should love the things that are to be loved. We should not love the things that are not to be loved. John speaks more directly and clearly about what and who should be loved and not loved. It is an either/or love. You cannot love the world or anything in the world. It all passes away and will destroy you. We are called to love our Father in heaven. (1 John 2:15-17)

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Radical Love #3 - Four Tests

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How do you know?

That is one of the questions that John wants to help answer for us and in our hearts in this letter. Ten times in this letter, he states: “This is how you know...” He wants us to be sure and to know that we are remaining in God and walking in the light.

Today, as Pastor Chris officially begins his ministry here, we apply some of John’s tests to our own hearts as we study 1 John 2:3-14.

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Radical Love - #1 - Fellowship Enjoyed

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John opens his first letter with two crucial things. First, he identifies himself as a first-hand witness of Jesus and all that he did. He saw him. He touched him. He heard him. All with his own eyes, ears and hands.

From then on, Jesus had made it John’s mission to declare the One who is Life and Light to the world. John did this so that we may have fellowship with each other and fellowship with our God. Here is John’s goal for this letter:

“I write this so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:4

Scars #7 - Resurrection Scars

The death of Jesus left a nasty scar on the hearts and minds of his followers. The scar tissue was so deep it was hard to believe that he had risen. Things happen in our lives that make it hard to believe that Jesus has conquered death and lives and rules eternally. The scar tissue runs thick and deep. One thing cuts through the tissue and helps us to see clearly. Luke 24:1-12.

Scars #6 - Facing Death

When Jesus was dying and after he died, there were many different responses, just like there were a variety of responses to his entry into Jerusalem. Some mocked him. Some grieved, not understanding what was going on. Others saw this happen and believed in him. God, grant that we remember his death with faith and hope. Luke 23:39-56.

Scars #5 - Labels

Labels are often nasty things, especially when other people label us. They label us as this or that. They characterize us as this or that. Jesus was labeled, too: “This is the King of the Jews.” He was labeled as the One who would take our sin, take our death, and take our punishment. So that we might have a new label: Forgiven! (Cf. also Colossians 2:13-15). We'll be looking at Luke 23:32-38.

Scars #4 - The Substitute

He should have been crucified. He should have been hung on that cross. I’m talking about Barabbas, of course. He deserved every bit of the pain of that cross and more of God, in heaven. Yet, there was a substitute for him – Jesus! What a miscarriage of justice! What an improper use of power on Pilate’s part, making Jesus a pawn so that he might keep control of the people. Yet, Jesus stood in for Barabbas and us too! We deserved every bit of the pain of the cross and more! Yet, Jesus took our place! He stood in for. He was abandoned. He was rejected by God and the people. All this so that we will not be abandoned. All this so that we will not be rejected. Luke 23:13-25

Scars #3 - The Scars of Rejection

I wonder how Jesus felt when his own people mocked him and rejected him. I wonder what he felt as people nailed him to the cross and rejected him. We ponder these things because we just don’t know how Jesus felt. But we do know how we feel when people mock and reject us. We do know how we feel when we are spurned and turned away by people. We also know this. Jesus was unafraid to step to the cross and endure its pain because he knew two things: 1) He knew that he was the Son of God. This had been affirmed to him (at least) twice before. 2) He knew that his rejection meant our acceptance by God. Our rejection by people will still hurt, yet we know that we are not and will not be rejected by our Father in heaven. (cf also Isaiah 53). Luke 22:63-71.

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Scars #2 - The Scars of Memory

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The Scriptures share countless stories of failure on the part of the followers of Jesus. Peter fell asleep. Judas betrayed him. The disciples ran when Jesus was arrested. Peter denied him. We aren’t so different. If we were to tell the stories of our failures, the list would be long. Our memories are often scarred by the memories of our sins. Yet, Jesus rises to meet the betrayer. Jesus rises to embrace the cross. He leans into it because he knows that his cross means that our record is clean and erased. As a result, we have a new name. Luke 22:47-62.