Because He Loves Us

Ephesians 2:4-5,  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)            

Theme: God’s Motivation for Saving Us is Love. He loves us so that we might love others with a genuine servant’s heart and thus bring glory to Him! 

Introduction:

Have you thought much on the reason God saves us? Some might suggest God saves us primarily to take us to Heaven. Another might offer the idea that God saves us to keep us out of Hell. Many have concluded that God is concerned about humanity and therefore, He devised a plan to save us. Yet, others may have concluded that God saves us because He saw something special in us and deemed salvation a fitting reward.

Actually the Word of God addresses this great question with brilliant clarity. As usual it would be wise to look there before drawing any conclusions about God’s actions and motives. As we discover God’s motivations for saving us, we will also be challenged to adopt those same motives for our treatment of others. As a result, we will not only treat people as God does, but we will do so for the same reasons.

So, Why did God Save Us?

God luxuriously exhibits undeserved kindness to sinners because of “His great love wherewith he loved us.” This type of love seeks our highest good. Since we sinners are spiritually dead toward God, we have no means of proving ourselves worthy to Him. This is what makes God’s love so “great.” (Bible Knowledge Commentary)

Beloved, this is the reason He had compassion upon us. It is not that we had any claims on His favor; the reason God saves is found in Him and not in us! Eternal love led to the gift of our Savior.

Lesson:

God Saves Us Because He Loves 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.

  

One primary reason that God sent His Son, Jesus, to this world to die for our sins was because He loves us. God forgives us, grants us eternal life, and gives us the gift of His Holy Spirit out of His immeasurable love and grace. This is one of His primary reasons.

1 John 4:9-11, In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. [10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Indeed Christ can to die for our sins. This was a deep and profound expression of giant size love for us. God is motivated by an out-of-this-world kind of love to save sinners like us. There is no room at all for us to brag about our performance to earn salvation; we owe it all to the love and grace of God.

A.     GOD DOES NOT SAVE BY HIS LOVE FOR US.

 Dr. J. Vernon McGee related this following account:

One young fellow who had been attending came up to me. He had on a funny hat with “Love, love, love” written all over it. He had on a funny coat with “Love, love, love” written all over it. He had “Love, love” on his trousers and even on his shoes. I asked, “Why in the world do you have “love” written all over you?” “Man,” he said, “God is love.” “Well,” I said, “I agree with you. Nothing could be truer than that.”
Then he added, “God saves us by His love.” I answered. “I don’t agree with that. God doesn’t save us by His love. Can you give me a verse that says He does?” He scratched his head and thought a while and then admitted he couldn’t think of one. “Well,” he said, “if God doesn’t save us by love, then how does He save us?” I answered, “Very frankly, I’m glad you asked me that question because the Bible says, ‘By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.’ God saves us by His grace.”
Then the boy wanted to know the difference. This is how I explained it to him: “God does love you. Don’t lose sight of that. God loves all of us. But God cannot, on the basis of His love, open the back door of heaven and slip us in under cover of darkness. He can’t let down the bars of heaven at the front door and bring us in because of His love. God is also light. God is the moral ruler of this universe. God is righteousness. He is holy and He is good. That adds up to one thing: God cannot do things that are wrong—that is, wrong according to His own standard. So God couldn’t save us by love. Love had God strapped—we could say it put Him in a bind. He could love without being able to save.
I thought you would quote John 3:16 to me. Let’s look at what that verse says: ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ Does it say God so loved the world that He saved the world? No, that’s exactly what it doesn’t say. God so loved this world that He gave His only begotten Son. You see, God couldn’t save the world by love because He goes on to say, ‘that whosoever believeth in him should not perish.’ You and I are going to perish. We’re lost sinners, and God still loves us, but the love of God can’t bring us into heaven. God had to provide a salvation, and He paid the penalty for our sins. Now a God of love can reach out His hands to a lost world and say, ‘If you will believe in My Son, because He died for you—if you will come on that basis—I can save you.’ God doesn’t save us by His love. God saves us by His grace.” –McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary

B.     GOD DOES NOT SAVE BECAUSE OF OUR EFFORTS. (Ephes. 2:8-9)  

Eph 2:8-9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9, Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Rom. 3:20, Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Many believe they can earn salvation by their efforts; they fail to understand that “grace” is God’s free favor towards ill deserving people. Grace involves God reconciling repentant sinners to Him even though we clearly do not deserve such treatment!

   1.  Countless People Seem to Believe That God Saves a Man or Woman Because of the Person’s Good Works, Performance or Service.  There are many serving God so that they will not have to go to Hell.  They are attempting earn an eternal home with God by being religious, attending church, obeying the commandments, or treating others kindly. The truth is nothing could be farther from what God actually said.

         a. There Is No Amount or Any Type of Service That Can Earn Salvation.  Ephes. 2:8-9

         b. How Many Good Works Will Help Us Earn Salvation? The Answer is NONE! We could not even do a “good work” until after we are saved and God begin to work through us!  (See Eph. 2:1 & 10)

  2.  The Gospel is the Message of the Undeserved Goodness and Grace of God.

Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross of Calvary to purchase salvation for you and for me. He did so voluntarily and willingly in obedience to His heavenly Father, who was completely and totally motivated by love when He sought our redemption (See John 3:16; 1Cor. 15:1-4).

C.     GOD DOES NOT SAVE BECAUSE OF OUR POTENTIAL.

Just as a person is not saved because of his past good works, neither is a person saved because he has potential for future good works. Some feel they were saved because of their potential.

      1. God Does Not Save Selectively Based On Our Capacity For Christian Service.

God does not look at one person and say, “You have the potential to be a preacher, so I am going to save you” and then look at another and say, “You aren't worth much, so I won't save you.” No, God is not especially attracted to a certain lady because she has a beautiful singing voice or to a gentleman because he has great mental recall or management skills. 

             a. God’s Gift of Salvation Is Offered Freely to All Who Will Receive It.

Isaiah 55:1, Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  

Rev. 22:17, And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Beloved, receive that Gift today! Take it, it is FREE to you, but it cost God the blood of His only Son. Receive the Gift of eternal life! Again Romans 6:23, says “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This awesome gift becomes yours when you receive it by faith.

             b. God Created Each One of Us with a Unique Set of Talents and Traits That Can Be Employed for His Service as He Wills. But, no person is so good, incredibly special, or talented that God will favor them in salvation over another. 

     2.  Every Person Has Equal Merit in God’s Eyes—NONE; We All Are Unworthy of Salvation.   There is no inherent “goodness” in any person that warrants his or her salvation. No person has the prerogative to stand before God Almighty and say, “I deserve to be saved.”

Rather, we each must confess, “I need to be saved.” Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” All means all. Romans 3:12, They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.   (Also see Matt.  19:17; Mk. 10:18)

Dr. McGee shared the following account,

 A poor woman from the slums of London was invited to go with a group of people for a holiday at the ocean. She had never seen the ocean before, and when she saw it, she burst into tears. Those around her thought it was strange that she should cry when such a lovely holiday had been given her. They asked her, “Why in the world are you crying?” Pointing to the ocean she answered, “This is the only thing I have ever seen that there was enough of.” My friend, God has oceans of love, mercy, and grace. There is enough for you. He saves us by His grace because of His love. –McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary

Beloved, God has enough grace to save you and me! This is precisely what Paul taught in Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”. This gift becomes yours when you receive it by faith. Note what Paul says in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Salvation is offered by God as a gift…a gracious gift. You do not pay for your own salvation no more than you pay for your own gift. A gift is given out of love, and it must be received through trust. Beloved, Jesus is not a gag gift!

The same is true with God. He is motivated by His “great love wherewith He loved us” to make available salvation as a free gift to us. In order to receive this gift you simply accept it. The gift is not ours automatically…God does not force this gift on us. You must exercise your faith to accept it. That is you accept the fact that you personally are a sinner, that your sin places you in danger of God’s eternal wrath in hell, and that you can do nothing to rescue yourself. You accept that Jesus Christ is God who became a man to die for our sins as our Deliverer. He was indeed buried and He arose the third day triumphant over death, hell, sin, and the grave. You must accept this risen Savior as your own by faith. Once you do, “the gift of God”—eternal life, forgiveness of sins, a relationship to God, and a home in heaven—becomes yours. Why not receive God’s incredible gift right now?