137 - Jesus Was Born to Love You#
137 - Jesus Was Born to Love You
(JP Text Group - Happy Angels Compilation)
Sharing Topic: Jesus Came to the World to Love You
John 3:16-18
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Let’s pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you! Thank you for giving us this time to worship and praise you here, believing that you are working in everyone’s heart. You have given us your only beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and you have let the Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts forever. No matter where we go, you are with us.
As a new week begins, we look solely to you for supply and strength, carrying your power into the new week. You personally comfort each person, knowing everyone’s needs, supplying food for us. We completely give the following time to you, praying in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!
During this Christmas season, the phrase most often heard is "Jesus loves you." How does Jesus love us? The verses we just read from John 3:16-18 illustrate God’s action of love for us.
First, we need to understand one thing: "love" is not a noun, but a verb. "God loves the world," this verse, who was Jesus speaking to? Nicodemus. There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, who came to Jesus at night to ask how he could enter the kingdom of God.
In fact, before he asked, Jesus knew what he was thinking. Jesus said, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” He then immediately said, “God loves the world.” For the Jews, God was only their God, and even today’s Jews believe that only God loves them the most, and that they are unworthy.
Many Jews today still believe that Gentiles are unworthy to enjoy God’s blessings with them. Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, telling him, “God loves the world.” The world includes everyone. Amen! God loves all people in this world. Some may say that a person is unworthy of God’s love, but God still loves him. That is God’s love; He does not look at our actions or what we have done; He still loves you.
Nicodemus was very familiar with the Law of Moses and taught others to obey the Law, yet this teacher of Israel did not understand the matters of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said you must be born again. Is going back into the mother’s womb and coming out again considered being born again? No. That is just going in and coming out again; it is not being born again. In his lack of understanding, Jesus explained that being born again is like the wind; you cannot see it, but you can feel it. The work of the Holy Spirit is the same. This shows that although this Jewish teacher taught others the Law, he did not understand the matters of the Holy Spirit.
We live in the age of the Holy Spirit. To understand the matters of the Holy Spirit, we need to understand not only God’s word but also the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to understand the Bible. Having knowledge does not mean you can understand what it says. The Bible, through the Holy Spirit, brings life to people. A simple sentence can save a person’s life; that is the charm of the Bible. It is a book full of life. Amen!
God speaks here about many things regarding Jesus. In the beginning, God created this world and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden for them to enjoy what He had created. Unfortunately, they sinned, and from that moment on, the whole world fell into sin, unable to overcome it, only rolling around in sin. God does not want us to live like this because He loves us. What did He do? “He gave His one and only Son.” If God had a hundred sons and gave us one, would He feel pain? Of course, He would. If you have ten sons and give one away, wouldn’t you feel pain? Yes, but how does the pain of giving away the only beloved son compare? He gave Him to whom? He gave Him to us. Think further, who else? He gave Him to me!
If this Bible has nothing to do with you, why read it? Always remember: God loves you! Are you part of that? Remember how I used to teach everyone to read the Bible? How should this verse be read? God loves you! He even gave His one and only Son to you! This can be applied to everyone. Even if he does not believe in Jesus, you can tell him God loves you and even gave His one and only Son to you.
If you believe in Him, you will not perish but have eternal life. God loves us; it is not just words. Soon, in a few months, it will be Valentine’s Day. If someone says every day, “I love you, I love you, I love you to the ends of the earth, like the Yellow River’s waters flowing endlessly,” but gives you not even a single flower, does he love you? This woman would say he is really stingy. If this man is not good at expressing himself, I mean, hypothetically, on Valentine’s Day, he brings out a rose. Is this an act of love?
Brothers and sisters, God does not just say it; God truly acted in love. He said He has already given His one and only Son to us. Jesus is prepared for all people in the world. Jesus was given to the world to ensure that these people do not perish but have eternal life! Perishing and dying are not the same. Brothers and sisters, the Bible says that when Adam sinned, Adam died, right?
In God’s eyes, “death” means something different than our understanding. In God’s eyes, death means separation. Before, Adam could meet God every day, but when Adam’s life ended, he was separated from God. After sinning, he was cut off. So, in God’s view, Adam was already dead. Here, it uses the term “perish,” meaning complete destruction. Revelation records that one day God will destroy all that is filthy and dead; to destroy means it will never be found again. Amen!
Accepting Jesus means you will not perish and will receive His eternal life. Many people do not understand and say, “Does this mean that believing in Jesus means I won’t die?” Yes, you will die. Where does resurrection come from? Our limited, decaying life must die. When this life dies, when Jesus Christ comes again, He will reshape our lives into a glorious, never-decaying life! So, God loves us and is continually doing things. Amen! God loves the world and even gave His one and only Son to us, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life! Who are these people? Those who believe in Him.
As long as you are willing to accept Jesus, you are accepting Jesus’ love! Amen! Is accepting Jesus painful? Accepting Jesus is not painful; instead, it brings joy. If you do not want to live in pain, accept Jesus. What Jesus gives you is definitely joy and peace! Amen! This is what Jesus gives us; He only has these things to give to others. For example, if I am a doctor and a patient comes to me, I can use my medical skills to solve his problem. What we do not have, we cannot give to others.
When the people of Israel meet, they usually ask “shalom,” meaning peace. This includes not only peace, smooth sailing, and everything being well, but also many meanings, such as your life being safe, God’s protection on your journey, God’s provision in what you do, and everything you do being under God’s protection. Every aspect is blessed by God.
God gave us Jesus; do you know who Jesus is? He is the Prince of Peace. Amen! If peace has a king, Jesus is that king. When you find Jesus, you find the greatest peace. True peace is found in Him. Hallelujah! Tell your friends around you to come and believe in Jesus. They might say, “I’m worried every day…”
It’s okay; there is no worry in Jesus. Jesus has joy and comfort. When people around you say, “What should I do? I really have no way out,” you have no way, but Jesus has a way. Everyone needs Jesus. No matter what kind of person you are, you need Jesus! “That whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus said, “God loves the world,” actually telling Nicodemus not to think wrongly. Jesus not only loves you Jews but also loves Gentiles. Amen!
“He even gave His one and only Son to them.” God gave His one and only Son to die for our sins on the cross. If we had not sinned, Jesus would not need to die. If we were not sinners, Jesus would not need to come to the world; we would have been with God all along. The problem is that all people have sinned. Some say, “I haven’t sinned.” That’s right; you just haven’t violated the laws of your country. But what about God’s law?
Some say, “I don’t think I’ve sinned.” What is God’s law? For example, lying is a sin in God’s eyes. Has anyone ever said they have never told a lie in their life? Don’t argue in front of God; we are all sinners before God. Even if you have never committed a sin in your life, don’t forget, you became a sinner not because you sinned, but because Adam sinned. All people are in sin because our ancestor Adam sinned. Are Adam’s descendants all sinners? Isn’t that unfair? Actually, there is something even more unfair.
After we became sinners, we continuously sin throughout our lives. God does not judge us according to our actions; instead, He gave us His one and only beloved Son, Jesus Christ. As long as you believe in my Son Jesus, you were originally in Adam, but now through the cross of Jesus, you are in Christ, becoming a new creation! God says that as long as you believe in my Son Jesus, you are in Jesus Christ, and I will take full responsibility for you!
Previously, we were in Adam; today’s born people are all in Adam. Can people in Adam who strive to obey the law be saved? No one can keep the law. Striving to do good cannot save you. Can striving to go to church save you? No! Brothers and sisters, “that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” If you just go to church but do not believe, you cannot be saved.
I just read an article saying someone built many churches and funded many orphans’ education. Shouldn’t such a person go to heaven? Brothers and sisters, can such a person enter heaven? Should they? Why? Because they did not believe. Some say this seems a bit unfair. Brothers and sisters, always remember: If entering heaven is related to behavior, then we all have no hope! You must do good all your life and not commit a single evil act, but no one can do this. Even if you have done many good deeds in your life, those good deeds cannot save you; only by believing in Jesus! Amen!
Originally, we were in Adam. You believe that Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross for my sins! By believing in Jesus, we are pulled up from Adam and thrown into Jesus Christ. Amen! Always remember: It has nothing to do with your actions. When you are in Christ, do not think about the life in Adam anymore. Adam is a life that is very willing to sin, indulge, and fall. But now you are in Christ.
As mentioned earlier, God loves the world. In fact, God is love. Congratulations, you have fallen into a pile of love; can you get out? Sorry, the door is closed; you can’t get out. Accepting Jesus is like this; this is a real spiritual matter. In the past, we were in Adam; now, through believing in Jesus, we are in Christ. You can never go back, so God says, “I give you a new identity, which is righteousness.”
In Adam, you are a sinner; through the cross of Jesus, you have changed from a sinner to a righteous person. Amen! This is God’s action of love for you. God loves the world and even gave His one and only Son to them, so that those who were originally in Adam do not have to die and can enter into Christ to receive eternal life. The moment you accept Jesus, your life is in Jesus’ hands. He will take full responsibility for you. Imagine, God is such a righteous and holy God. If there were a way for people to save themselves, would God still need to give His one and only beloved Son? No.
If people could find other ways to be saved, God would not need to give His one and only Son. Amen! Because we have no way, it is clear that there is no other way to go except this one.
The book of Acts tells us, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Only through the cross of Jesus can we enter into eternal life from a dead life. Amen! Only in darkness can we enter into His light! This has nothing to do with behavior, moral character, or effort! Brothers and sisters, always remember: Salvation has nothing to do with your actions! It is only because God loves you!
On the night Jesus Christ was born, the angels shouted to the shepherds, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you.” Let’s read together:
Luke 2:10-11:
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
This is good news. Did God say, “I see your behavior is good enough, so I will give you my Son”? Is that how it is? Long before the foundation of the world, God had already predetermined the time to save us through His Son. God is not like Moses, who issued the law; this time He gave His one and only Son. The birth of this Son is great news! What is great joy? Brothers and sisters, the birth of a son is certainly great news. The son that Mary gave birth to is for us!
When the world sees Jesus, it is great news! Because everyone will be saved through Him! Without this Son, we would have no hope. The name Jesus means Joshua in the Old Testament; they are completely the same word. The Old Testament is the Hebrew word Yeshua, and the New Testament is Jesus. Jesus and Joshua are exactly the same word, just expressed in two different languages, meaning Savior! He will save His people from their sins! Amen!
What is the main job of a driver? Driving, right? Is everyone who drives called a driver? Are there any drivers among us? Please raise your hand. Are you all drivers? Do you see the difference? The main job of a driver is to drive. This is the job; you cannot say that anyone who drives is a driver. That is not right; they may just know how to drive but are not a driver. The main job of a doctor is to heal and save lives, but you cannot say that anyone who heals and saves lives is a doctor.
For example, if someone falls into the water and someone pulls him out and presses on his chest, and the person spits out water, and says, “Doctor, you are so kind to save this person,” does that mean he is a doctor? Not necessarily. We say your main job is what reflects your identity. Jesus’ main job is to save you from sin! Amen!
We not only fell into sin before believing in Jesus but also may fall into it after believing. Therefore, Jesus’ work is redemption; whenever you fall into it, He can save you. Amen! Brothers and sisters, what should you do when you are weak? Call on Jesus! Because He is your Savior! Amen!
What should you do when you feel bad inside? Call on Jesus! What should you do when you have no way out? Call on Jesus! Because He is the Lord who saves you! Amen! He is the Savior! His main job is to save you. Amen! If you have such a Lord, that’s great! He takes on tasks that others cannot do and does them very easily. Lazarus had been buried for four days; for people, there was no way out. But when Jesus came, His main job is to save people. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Lazarus, come out! And Lazarus came out. This is the Savior you believe in! His name is Jesus! Amen!
The angels said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”
All people, including you today. If you have not yet accepted Jesus, this message is also for you.
There is great news; you have heard it, and it concerns everyone. A Savior has been born for you in the town of David, and His name is Jesus Christ! Amen! He will save you from sin.
Many people teach that the first thing to do when coming to church is to try to cleanse yourself. What do you need Jesus for then? If you are feeling anxious right now, just try not to think about it; what do you need Jesus for? If people could do this, there would be no need for a Savior. Because we cannot do it, we say, “Lord, I cannot; I believe you can, and you are willing to help me do it. I ask you!” Amen!
Jesus is here to save us from sin and to save us from eternal separation from God. He wants to save you from your difficulties, from your current lack and problems. Amen! Not only can He give you life, but He can also help you in your daily life and in various environments, allowing you to overcome all kinds of situations. Therefore, the “love” mentioned here is a verb; God truly acted, and His one and only Son has always been doing this.
While Jesus was on earth, He said, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” Jesus has always been doing the work of salvation. When the woman caught in adultery was thrown at Jesus’ feet, did Jesus say, “Stay away from me, you filthy woman…”? Did He say that? No, He wanted to save this woman and pull her out of filth and sin. After Jesus forgave this woman, He gave her the power to truly be saved from her fallen life. Amen!
Brothers and sisters, if you truly hate your temper and cannot live with your husband, and your life is a mess, congratulations! You have an opportunity today; you have a way out. Living in Adam is like this. Now entering into Christ, your life will change. Amen! This is how we change; it is not by your effort. When you are in Christ, do you know what to do? Just look to Jesus; that is enough. Acknowledge Him as your Savior, and that is enough.
Brothers and sisters, do you know why we pray? Yes, it is to ask. You tell God what you need. Yes, but why do we pray to God? Is it okay not to pray? Why not? Many people say prayer is spiritual breathing; if you don’t pray, you will die. Don’t believe that. I want to tell everyone why we pray to God. Because when you pray to God, you are acknowledging Him as your Savior in this matter! Amen!
In everything, when you say, “Lord, help me,” you are acknowledging Him as your Lord. When you pray like this, you are willing to let go, and God will take full responsibility for you. You say, “Lord, I have no way,” and God says, “I have a way. I will give you inspiration; I will give you strength.” Amen! Not praying is relying on yourself. So, the meaning of praying in everything is here. When you pray to God, you are acknowledging Him as your Lord! Amen!
Whether it is good or bad, prayer is not just about asking for things. It is like meeting a friend and being particularly happy, saying, “Lord, I am so happy today.” God already knows you are happy. Has God ever said, “Don’t say it; I already know”? Has God ever said that to you? If you are willing to pray to God like this, your joy will be doubled. Do you know why? Because God enjoys your joy with you, and you will receive even more joy.
Brothers and sisters, the benefit of praying to God is here. Why is He called Savior? Because He is different from other lords. When you feel bad inside, you say, “Lord, I feel so bad,” and God says, “I hear you; I will comfort you.” When you pray to God, saying, “Lord, I am so happy today,” God says, “I will give you back what you gave me, and I will double it for you.” Don’t you feel even happier? This is the difference between God and man!
When you tell a person, “Auntie, I feel so bad,” she might say, “It’s okay; just bear with it; it will pass.” We still feel quite bad. You say, “Auntie, I won a million,” and she says, “Hmph, you didn’t give me a penny!” Our happiness is discounted again. When you talk to God, you never lose because He is the Savior. He will always give you what He has inside. No matter if it is good or bad, I encourage you, brothers and sisters, to treat Him as your Savior and share your troubles with Him. You will gain greater benefits.
This is what the angels reported to the shepherds: This is great news because a Savior has been born for you in the town of David. No child is like Jesus; God said He is given! God loves the world and even gave His one and only Son to us. What is the difference between giving and being born? We celebrate Christmas to thank Jesus for His birth, but what is the difference between His birth and that of other children? Since God used the term given, it was not a sudden thought; it was planned long ago. Amen! This is our God.
He knew everything long before creation, so He had already prepared His Son to come into this world for us. The Bible also tells us, “For to us a child is born.” This is our Lord Jesus, born as a baby, coming down from heaven, and given to us. However, He is the one who has existed from eternity, coming from God! Amen!
This child is given to us and was born in Bethlehem. Brothers and sisters, think about it. You hope your child is healthy, joyful, peaceful, prosperous, wise, and beautiful; in short, you want everything good for them. That’s right; we all hope our children are great, even better than us. All parents would not say, “I don’t want your abilities and wisdom to surpass mine because I am your father.” No parent thinks like that. Parents always say, “Son, work hard; I hope you surpass me. I am proud of you!” This is human thinking. But why was Jesus given? As mentioned earlier, we all hope our children are good in every way, including longevity. Yet, when Jesus was given, God said, “I let you die!” This is our Heavenly Father!
Jesus lived on earth for only thirty-three years before dying, and God had already determined this before He came to the world. Brothers and sisters, it is not that our God is cruel; it is because of us. If we want to obtain eternal life, someone must pay the price for our sins! Jesus came, He died for us. If you believe in Him, you will not die. He became poor for us, so today, through Jesus, we become rich! We had no peace, but when this Lord was given, He often faced troubles, and He gave you His peace. Amen!
This is our Lord Jesus Christ. He wants you to have all His benefits, just as you want your children to have all the benefits. All these benefits are in the Lord Jesus. Jesus has given all these things to you. Amen! He has given them to you. We hope our children live happily. Only when the Heavenly Father sent Him into the world was it for Him to die, to die for the world, to pay the price for the sins of the world. Because only through such a life exchange can we be accepted by God and be called the children of God!
I really like what a sister from Beijing said: “I am a princess of the kingdom of heaven, sent to the world.” Every time I see this sentence, I feel particularly happy. She has a correct understanding of her identity. I am a princess of the kingdom of heaven, sent to this world. Just thinking about this sentence makes you joyful because you know what your identity is. You are a child of God; you must believe this firmly. Amen! How do you become a child of God? By believing in Jesus, you become a child of God.
It is not because of your good behavior; it is because God sent a Savior. He saves you, transforming you from a sinner to a righteous person. From now on, your identity is a child of God, a prince of the kingdom of heaven. There are no servants in the kingdom of heaven; angels are servants, but you must be a prince. Do not get this wrong. Those who believe in Jesus there are all princes and princesses. How wonderful! This identity is earned through Jesus’ death. So, when you accept Jesus, this identity is upon you. Hallelujah! Therefore, Jesus is given to me by God.
Because all people have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Jesus came to make up for what you lack. The righteousness, holiness, and perfection that God needs are all in Jesus. After He obtained all this, He gave this power back to you! Amen!
The purpose of God sending His Son is so that everyone who believes in Him, which includes all who believe in Jesus, can be saved through Jesus. I believe Nicodemus was very shocked when he heard this. He never thought, “Wow, God’s intention is this.” They had always taught people to obey the Law of Moses, believing that as long as they did well enough, they could enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus came and said it is not like that.
Jesus said, “You just need to believe in Him, believe in the one God has sent, and you will receive eternal life.” This must have been a huge shock to Nicodemus. Today, it is good news for us because you do not have that part of the law, so you do not feel the shock. This news is so good: You must believe in Jesus, and He will give it to you! This is the purpose of God sending His Son into the world.
Let’s look at a verse, John 3:17, For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
Why did God say this? Jesus came into the world not to condemn the world but to save the world. Why not just say it directly? Why add “not to condemn the world”? This emphasizes Jesus’ work. As mentioned earlier, Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, everything He has is given to us. Now we talk about His work; He was sent into the world not to condemn the world. What is the reason?
Because before we encountered Jesus, we were already condemned too much. In today’s rapidly changing economy, many people are under tremendous pressure physically and mentally, leading to depression, anxiety, and even fear, worry, and irritability. These problems are increasing. Do you know what the ultimate root cause is? It is actually condemnation. Condemnation is the deepest root. Why do people fear? Many people say, “I can’t go to church on Sunday; if I go to church, I will lose my full attendance bonus this month.” Then they immediately follow up with, “Then I will have pressure on this month’s mortgage, and there will be problems with my child’s school fees and living expenses,” and all these problems arise.
He concludes, “I must keep working and ensure my health.” Where does fear come from? It comes from pressure. Various pressures make him very afraid. What is pressure? It is condemnation! The devil constantly tells him, “Don’t worship God; don’t waste time in the park; hurry up and go to work, work overtime, work overtime! If you don’t work hard, what will happen to your family? What will happen to your children? What will happen to your future? Look at the current economic situation; your boss will fire you!” The more he thinks, the greater the pressure becomes, and various problems start to appear. This is the current situation of the world.
Jesus tells us here that He did not come into the world to condemn us because we are constantly being condemned. On one hand, we condemn ourselves; on the other hand, we accept the condemnation others give us and condemn others. In short, we live in condemnation and have no hope. Many people feel their sins are too many. They often feel guilty for past mistakes and cannot get out of it. They often suffer from insomnia at night, thinking about what they did in the past, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
As a result, they waste today’s matters. In fact, this is a form of condemnation. It is the devil reminding them of what they did in the past. This is a form of condemnation. Some people blame themselves, thinking, “I could have done better; why didn’t I do that?” Under this condemnation, various problems arise. Some people suffer for a lifetime because of their mistakes. This is living under condemnation. They are particularly concerned about what others say. When others are whispering, they think they are talking about them. They have been terrified by condemnation. In fact, such people are everywhere.
Jesus said He came not to condemn the world but to save the world. If your heart is like this, actually no one knows; only you know. It doesn’t matter; remember to give it to Jesus. He can save you. He did not come to condemn the world; you can replace “the world” with “me.”
God sent His Son into the world not to condemn me but to save me through Him! Amen!
If you are currently living in guilt, self-blame, condemnation, and shame, God wants to save you from this. Amen! The good news is that Jesus has come! He does not look at your past; instead, He wants to save you from your bad habits and various problems. You are released, and many problems will be solved. This is why many people send testimonies saying, “Teacher Ren, I used to suffer from insomnia, but during the process of constantly listening to the teachings, it disappeared.” If people hear not a message of condemnation but a message that saves them, they will definitely be released from various condemnations, and their bodies and hearts will find freedom. Amen! Thank the Lord!
Doctors also know that a significant reason for illness comes from pressure. Under immense pressure, people’s blood circulation is blocked, leading to many diseases. Thank the Lord! Brothers and sisters, what should you do when you encounter troubling matters? Call on Lord Jesus; He is your help! Amen! Give all your problems to Jesus, and you will not worry anymore because there is no worry in Him. Amen!
Matthew 9:12-13
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
What kind of people need a doctor? Sick people need Jesus; healthy people do not seek doctors. In fact, what Jesus is saying is in the latter part: What kind of people need Jesus? Isn’t it sinners who need Jesus? Jesus said, “I have come not to call the righteous but sinners.”
Because righteous people do not seek Him at all. Here, there is a premise: Those who think they understand the law and consider themselves righteous, the Pharisees, are self-righteous people who do not need Jesus because their behavior is good. On the contrary, marginalized people in society feel they are not good and need Jesus. Amen! If you believe you need Jesus, He will definitely help you. Amen!
Jesus quoted a verse: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Do you understand what this means? Have you pondered it? Even if you pondered it, you might not understand. Why does He say, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”? Where does this verse come from?
Hosea 6:6-7,
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. 7 Like Adam, they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there.
When you read the entire prophecy of Hosea, you will understand why God says this. Because Hosea mentions spiritual adultery, the spiritual harlot, and in his prophecy, he mentions the people’s unfaithfulness to the covenant, which has wounded God’s heart. God cries out, “Ephraim, what can I do with you?” Then He tells the people, “Your goodness is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.” They come to God with sacrifices, thinking, “God, look, I have offered sacrifices this week.” Just like many people today misunderstand this in the New Testament, saying, “Lord, I have been to church today.” They are making a sacrifice, right?
They are trying to fulfill a law. God does not want this. Brothers and sisters, remember, God does not want this! God’s intention is: “Ephraim, Judah, I do not want your sacrifices; I want to show you mercy.” Do you see God’s heart? God is not saying, “Come on, come to the meeting; come to worship; if you don’t come, I will not have glory!” This is not God’s heart. God’s heart is: “Ephraim, Judah, come before me; I want to give you my mercy. I do not want your sacrifices; I want you to accept my mercy.” Amen!
Brothers and sisters, why do we gather? It is not to make you offer, to attend meetings, for this, for that… God says, “Come, I want to give you my mercy. I want to supply you with my power.” So God says, “Come and accept my supply.” This is the prophecy God gave to Hosea.
So what does Jesus mean by using this phrase? It is: Pharisees, put down your self-righteousness and come accept my mercy! Amen! Are we willing to come before God like this? The people of Israel were unwilling to come before God, offer sacrifices, and leave. God does not want this. God says, “If you acknowledge that you cannot, you can accept my mercy, and I will give you my compassion!” Amen!
Only the Pharisees, such righteous people, who are self-righteous, do not want God’s mercy. But Jesus means, “Accept my mercy! I desire mercy!” Right? He is a God who is willing to give you grace. Mercy is part of God’s grace. Amen! God has mercy on us and supplies us because He is such a God.
He is a Lord who particularly loves to supply grace to people. Thank and praise the Lord! He gives His grace according to our capacity to receive it. However, the Pharisees rejected the grace of Jesus Christ, opposed grace, and wanted to receive God’s blessings through their own righteousness, resulting in losing God’s blessings.
In life, you can use this approach: Lord Jesus, I commit my child to your hands; you will surely keep him because you are a God who shows mercy! So show mercy on my child. In work, Lord, grant me wisdom; I know you are a God who shows mercy because you are a God who loves mercy. You are willing to give me wisdom so that I can manifest your glory in my work! This is what Jesus said; God is particularly willing to give mercy, far beyond your sacrifices. Amen! Hallelujah!
This means bring your problems before Jesus; He is your Savior. There is no need to hide anything. We can still cover up in front of people, but God knows everything about you. As long as you are willing to tell Him that part of your life, “Lord, I give this part to you because I cannot; help me,” God can help you!
“Take my bad temper; you can make me gentle.” It’s that simple! Hallelujah! It is not about effort, “I will not lose my temper, I will not lose my temper.” But you see, he immediately loses his temper again. It is not like that. It is saying, “Lord, give me your gentleness.” You will find that one day, you will no longer have a heart to lose your temper. I usually call this “cutting off the fire at the source.”
A pot of water is boiling; there is no way. God directly removes the fire. If there is no fire, can you still lose your temper? So God’s method is very thorough; He directly takes away the fire. Do not hide anything from God; just tell Him. Even if you say, “Abba, I am not satisfied with you right now; you are unfair,” don’t worry; He will not hit you. Amen!
Because He did not come to condemn; He came to save you! Amen! He did not come to call the righteous but to find sinners. Those who follow Jesus are sinners! Amen! When we find that we have sinned, what should we do? Run to Jesus! He will not condemn you. Do not run to the high priest; that would be terrible. If you have a problem, run to Jesus; He is your Savior! Amen!
So do not hide anything from God. He is a God full of love and grace. When He sent Jesus to die for our sins, Jesus came into this world to make the guilty innocent. Amen! This is the manifestation of God’s righteousness. In the past, we were sinners, but now God has placed our sins on Jesus, so you are justified. This allows us to be in Him, that is, in Christ. Do you remember the example I gave earlier? This side is in Adam, and this side is in Christ. Now we are called to be in Him and become the righteousness of God. Amen! So you are righteous before God!
Romans 8:32: He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
I call this verse the grace that is given freely. Remember, everything we have is received freely! Although we receive it freely, in reality, Jesus has already paid a heavy price. Our blessings, our lives, and everything we do are blessed because Jesus paid the price with His life!
Once we understand this, we will not say, “Lord, that’s great; I can sin freely.” You are wrong. Understanding that everything you have is exchanged for you at a heavy price paid by Jesus will make you cherish this grace. Amen! Jesus is the Savior; we are in His grace, which God has given us freely! Amen!
As we said earlier, Jesus came into the world not to condemn the world. Now, do you believe in Jesus? After believing, God says, “I will call you righteous.” It says here, “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.” Amen! Many people do not dare to call themselves righteous. You must have encountered such examples around you: “How can I dare to call myself righteous? At most, I am a sinner saved by grace, a sinner who has received God’s mercy! I am still a sinner.” The Bible says, “God has called them righteous!” Amen! Who can condemn them? God does not condemn you, and people cannot condemn you. Similarly, do not condemn others. Amen!
Why can no one condemn us? Because Jesus Christ has already died and has risen from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of God. This is the best example. God does not condemn you because Jesus has died for your sins. He is now sitting at the right hand of God; He is your witness. Do not condemn yourself.
“Lord, I am unworthy of this. Lord, look, this situation is getting worse.” This is condemnation. Brothers and sisters, condemnation brings judgment and punishment. First, understand one thing: condemnation is different from requirements. The New Testament has requirements for us. For example, Jesus said, “I give you a new command: Love one another, forgive one another, and support each other.” These are all requirements, but requirements are not condemnation. Condemnation brings punishment.
As we read earlier, John 3:18: Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Their end is hell. Condemnation brings curses and punishment. Do not condemn others. Many people say, “I curse you.” This is condemnation. Do not say such things. When you curse others, you first curse yourself. Do not do such things because when people believe in Jesus, God calls them righteous. God does not condemn you, so do not condemn others, and do not accept others’ condemnation! Amen!
Condemnation brings punishment and curses. This does not mean we have no requirements. God wants us to live out His noble pattern, just like the sister I mentioned earlier. She is a princess of the kingdom of heaven. If she declares her identity like this every day, how does a princess walk? She will not walk around sighing, “Please give me something to eat…”
This is not how a princess behaves. When you watch a princess walk on TV, her eyes are looking up. So your eyes should also look up. Look up to God; do not look down, left, or right. If you look down, you will be discouraged. Always look up! Amen! Look up in everything; that is the style of a princess, the style of a prince! Amen!
Let’s pray together:
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you. Thank you for loving us so much and giving us your one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in you will not perish but have eternal life. Father, we are not condemned because Jesus has already borne all my sins!
I also do not want to condemn others or condemn myself! Because condemnation carries punishment and judgment, I do not live under curses. Because of Jesus’ death, I have been freed from the law and from curses. Thank you, Jesus, for the price you paid on the cross for us. You died for my sins, freeing me from the curse of the law.
I am in Christ; my identity is a child of God. I am a prince; I am a princess. Please give me strength to live out this glorious identity, and let the world see your glory through me because your glory is upon me. Heavenly Father, I thank you for giving me this ability to renew me. I pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!