THREE GREAT ACTIONS

1 JOHN 4:9-14                                                                  

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

 Three greatest actions. Maybe the three greatest actions. What can they be? Would they be acts of terrorism and/or war--- like Pearl Harbor or 9-11? Great doesn’t always mean good. Would they be war stoppers like Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Would they be moments that transcend war like the first man in space or man walking on the moon? Would they be an act of desperation like when a parent lifts a car off a child through a rush of adrenalin? Though all these may be powerful actions once again the Lord God Almighty would have to take center stage. The three greatest actions? Let us pray and then search the Scriptures together.

 

 I. THE FIRST OF THESE THREE GREAT ACTIONS IS WHEN GOD THE FATHER SENT JESUS

1. Great Manifestation [1 Jn. 4:9, Jn. 3:16]

-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

-For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son

2. Great Motivation [1 Jn. 4:10, Rm. 5:8]

-Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

--But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

3. Great Mission [1 Jn. 4:14, 2:2]

-And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

-And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

 II. THE SECOND OF THESE THREE GREAT ACTIONS IS WHEN GOD THE SON CAME TO EARTH

Someone has wisely pointed out that God walking on earth is a greater event than man walking on the moon.

1. The Great Humanity Involved [Phil. 2:2-7, John 15:13]

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

2. The Great Humility Involved [Phil. 2:8, Is. 53:2-4]

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

-For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

3. The Great Horror involved [Phil. 2:8, 2 Cor. 5:21, Mark 15:34, Ps. 22:1]

-… even the death of the cross.

- For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

- And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

- My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

 

III. THE THIRD OF THESE THREE GREATEST ACTIONS IS GOD THE SPIRIT’S WORK ON EARTH

1. It is a Christ Work [Jn. 1:29-34, 2:11]

2. It is a Convicting Work [Jn. 16:7-11]

3. It is a Continuing Work [Jn. 7:39, 20:19-22, Gal. 5:22-25]

-But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.

- Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.