Jesus did not come into the world to make life easy, but to make men great

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Jesus did not come into the world to make life
easy, but to make men great

• (John 41-4) When therefore the Lord knew that
  the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and
  baptizing more disciples than John (although
  Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples),
  he left Judea, and departed again into Galilee.
  And he must needs pass through Samaria.
• (Matt. 2639) And he went forward a little, and
  fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father,
  if it be possible, let this cup pass away from
  me nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.

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This love that Christ possessed is what made him
great to us

• (I John 47-11) Beloved, let us love one another,
  for love is from God and everyone who loves is
  born of God and knows God. The one who does not
  love does not know God, for God is love. By this
  the love of God was manifested in us, that God
  has sent His only begotten Son into the world so
  that we might live through Him. In this is love,
  not that we loved God, but that He loved us and
  sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to
  love one another.

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This love that Christ possessed is what made him
great to us

• (I Cor. 1313) But now abides faith, hope, love,
  these three and the greatest of these is love.
• In order that we might more fully be what God
  wants us to be, let us examine the love that
  Christ possessed

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Love DivineLove Divinelove Divine
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Love will face difficulties

• Jesus didnt run from the cross
• (II Tim. 416-17) At my first defence no one
  took my part, but all forsook me may it not be
  laid to their account. But the Lord stood by me,
  and strengthened me that through me the message
  might me fully proclaimed, and that all the
  Gentiles might hear and I was delivered out of
  the mouth of the lion.
• (John 1633) These things have I spoken unto
  you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world
  you have tribulation but be of good cheer I
  have overcome the world.

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Love will pay the price

• Jesus was willing to pay the price that goodness
  demanded
• (Rom. 121-2) I beseech you therefore, brethren,
  by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a
  living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which
  is your spiritual service. And be not fashioned
  according to this world but be ye transformed by
  the renewing of your mind, that you may prove
  what is the good and acceptable and perfect will
  of God.

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• (II Cor. 617-171) Wherefore Come you out from
  among them, and be you separate, says the Lord,
  And touch no unclean thing And I will receive
  you, And will be to you a Father, And you shall
  be to me sons and daughters, says the Lord
  Almighty. Having therefore these promises,
  beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
  defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting
  holiness in the fear of God.

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Love will pay the price

• The rich young ruler wanted to be good
• (Matt. 1916) And behold, one came to him and
  said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I
  may have eternal life?

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• (vv. 17-22) And he said unto him, Why do you
  ask me concerning that which is good? One there
  is who is good but if you would enter into life,
  keep the commandments. He said unto him, Which?
  And Jesus said, You shall not kill, You shall not
  commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall
  not bear false witness, Honor thy father and
  mother and, You shall love your neighbor as
  yourself, The young man said unto him, All these
  things have I observed what lack I yet? Jesus
  said unto him, If you would be perfect, go, sell
  that which you have, and give to the poor, and
  you

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• shall have treasure in heaven and come,
  follow me. But when the young man heard the
  saying, he went away sorrowful for he was one
  that had great possessions.
• (Gal. 220) I have been crucified with
  Christ and it is no longer I that live, but
  Christ living in me and that life which I now
  live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith
  which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and
  gave himself up for me.
• (Matt. 1626) What will it profit a man to
  gain the whole world and lose his soul? or what
  shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

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Hell
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Love will totally forgive

• Jesus wanted
  reconciliation, not
  revenge

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Love will totally forgive

• Jesus illustrated this principle in the parable
  of the unmerciful servant (Matt. 1821-35)
• (Matt. 612-15) And forgive us our debts, as we
  also have forgiven our debtors. And bring us not
  into temptation, but deliver us from the evil
  one. For if you forgive men their trespasses,
  your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But
  if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither
  will your Father forgive your trespasses.

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Love will totally forgive

• (Eph. 430-32) And grieve not the Holy Spirit of
  God, in whom you were sealed unto the day of
  redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and
  anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from
  you, with all malice and be you kind one to
  another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other,
  even as God also in Christ forgave you.

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Love will totally forgive

• (Eph. 430-32) And grieve not the Holy Spirit of
  God, in whom you were sealed unto the day of
  redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and
  anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from
  you, with all malice and be you kind one to
  another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other,
  even as God also in Christ forgave you.
• (I John 412-21)

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Love will totally forgive

• Illustrations of the power of love in forgiveness
• Church in Macon, Georgia
• Businessman sent to Japan (Carl and Edith)
• (Rom. 58) But God commends his own love toward
  us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
  died for us.
• Kansas City church
• Im glad Jesus had the spirit of love and healing
  instead of the spirit of revenge

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• (Rom. 147-13) For none of us lives to himself,
  and none dies to himself. For whether we live, we
  live unto the Lord or whether we die, we die
  unto the Lord whether we live therefore, or die,
  we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died
  and lived again, that he might be Lord of both
  the dead and the living. But you, why do you
  judge your brother? or you again,

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• why do you set at nought your brother? for we
  shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God
  For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, to
  me every knee shall bow, And every tongue shall
  confess to God. So then each one of us shall give
  account of himself to God. Let us not therefore
  judge one another any more but judge you this
  rather, that no man put a stumblingblock in his
  brother's way, or an occasion of falling.

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• (John 1334-35) A new commandment I give unto
  you, that ye love one another even as I have
  loved you, that ye also love one another. By this
  shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if
  ye have love one to another.
• (Eph. 214-16) For he is our peace, who made
  both one, and brake down the middle wall of
  partition, having abolished in the flesh the
  enmity, even the law of commandments contained in
  ordinances that he might create in himself of
  the two one new man, so making peace and might
  reconcile them both in one body unto God through
  the cross, having slain the enmity thereby

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Do you want to be great?

• If you are willing to face every difficulty with
  God at your side
• If you are willing to pay whatever price, knowing
  that in exchange you will be abundantly blessed
• If you are willing to demonstrate your love in
  your attitude towards others

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• Then you will be greatChrist-like
• And one day be with him and all the redeemed of
  the ages
• Will you accept his invitation?
• (I John 31) Behold what manner of love the
  Father has bestowed upon us, that we should
  be called children of God
  and such we are.

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Christs words are simple

• He that believes and is baptized shall be saved,
  but he that does not believe shall be condemned.
  (Mark 1616)

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Satans plan is also simple

• Which do you choose?