Gods Passionate Love                                                                5 February 2006

1.  Introduction

• Passion is visible, tangible – felt by others when in the presence of a passionate person
• Apathy is visible, tangible – felt by others when in the presence of a person filled with apathy
• Apathy drains – Passion stirs, refreshes, ignites – impacts life.
• Jesus is a passionate person

Emotions   – wept, laughed, sang, angry, sorrowed, grieved

Strength    – confronted sin, mentored mission, No to person, went to the cross

Tenderness – touched unlovable. E.g. woman at the well, e.g. leper, e.g. Peter

• Rev 11:4.  His eyes were as a flame of fire – “flashing lightning”
• John 2:17.  “The zeal of your house…” zeal = to boil, passion!

2.  You Are God’s Passion!

(a)  God is passionate about you – He is a passionate, extravagant lover.  BELIEVE IT.

• He loves us … not because He has to … we are His passion and prize.

Hebrews 12:2.  “For the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.

• The cross was the way to demonstrate His extravagant love nothing was with held.

(b)  Jesus = the Friend of Sinners (Matt12:19)

Luke 15:2.  “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

• Jesus reached out to connect, accept, embrace, affirm people.
• The main criticism of religious people – “Friend of sinners”

Prov 17:17.  “A friend loves at all times”

Luke 7:39.  “if this man were a prophet he would have known who and what manner of woman this is that touches him, for she is a sinner”

(c)  Jesus continually communicated to people – “You are of value to Me”

Mk 1:41.  “Moved with compassion he put forth his hand and touched him.”

• The leaper was unclean and untouchable.  i.e. rejected
• To be received with open arms, to be held and told words of love is healing
• Touch soothes the heart and restores the spirit.

Mark 5:31-34.  “The women with the blood issue.”

• He brought her condition to the light so she could be restored back into relationship with people.

3.  The cross – Gods Passionate Love in Action

(a)  No greater Love! (John 15:13)

• The cross = the demonstration of Gods Love
• The cross = the nature of Gods Love – sacrificial, generous
• The cross = the foundation for covenant relationship
• The cross = not only what God did but, how he operates, His way!
• When you meet Jesus you will see the marks of the cross still there.

(b)  The cross – A divine Exchange

• God removed every barrier to relationship. (Col 2:14)
• Jesus became sin on our behalf – we became righteous (2Cor 5:2)
• Jesus became a curse on our behalf – so we could be blessed (Gal 3:13-14)
• Jesus became forsaken on our behalf – so we could be accepted (Mt 27:46, Eph1:6)
• How could we not love someone who so passionately loves us?

Luke 7:47…She loved so much – forgiven much

• Passionate, expressive, generous love – from a grateful forgiven person.

(c)  We were there at the cross!

• Not physically – but spiritually – we participated in every part.

• Betrayed him with a kiss                          •   Struck the nails
• Falsely accused and blamed                     •   Stood and said if you be Son of God
• Struck him without cause                         •   Derived him under pressure
• Mocked and belittled him                         •   Became disappointed and fled
• Drew blood with the whip                        •   went back to old ways
• Crowned him with thorns                         •  didn’t believe when someone told us
• Chose Barabbas instead of Him                   “He Lives”
• Crucify him

• In all this He never never stopped loving you.
• “Friend of sinners” – I qualify – He is a friend of mine!

4.  Passionate Love – The only possible Response!

1Jn 4:9-10.  In Him is love – God is love

1Jn 4:19.  We love him because – He first loved us.

• The woman loved passionately – she responded to his love!
• Love must be expressed – words and actions and passion!
• How can we not love Him! – Unless hardened by sin?  (Heb 3:12)

                                                         - Attached to other lovers?  (Ja 4:4)

2 Cor 5:15.  “…no longer live for selves but unto him who died”

• Passionate love is seen in worship, obedience, generosity, love for the family of God, commitment to the cause of Christ.
• The Cross = Reminder of Gods passionate love.

                             = The place to return when love goes cool.

                             = The way of sustaining passion and fire (Lu 9:23)

                                          - Living not for self but for someone else.