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OUROURDUMPSTERDUMPSTERDIVING DIVING GOD GOD

Jn 3:16a “For God Jn 3:16a “For God soso loved the world loved the world that He gave His only begotten that He gave His only begotten Son…”Son…”

A love beyond the norm – a new A love beyond the norm – a new standard:standard:

Limitless love is lavished on usLimitless love is lavished on us Holy love is directed to an unholy worldHoly love is directed to an unholy world Perfect love is extended to imperfect Perfect love is extended to imperfect

worldworld Pardoning love to a condemned worldPardoning love to a condemned world Gracious love to a world in disgraceGracious love to a world in disgrace Reclaiming love to a degeneratingReclaiming love to a degenerating and and

lost lost world world

Love compels…Love compels…

1 Jn 4:9 “…that God sent His 1 Jn 4:9 “…that God sent His only begotten Son into the only begotten Son into the world”… Jn 3:16 “That He world”… Jn 3:16 “That He gave…”gave…”

Love isn’t content to exist – Love isn’t content to exist – love must act.love must act.

Love always serves.Love always serves. Love always provides.Love always provides. Love always fulfills/satisfies.Love always fulfills/satisfies.

God’s love gives…God’s love gives…

““..that ..that whoeverwhoever believes in Him…” believes in Him…” No matter who you are, where No matter who you are, where

you’ve been what you’ve done, you’ve been what you’ve done, where you’re going, no matter where you’re going, no matter WHAT, God’s love gift is for you WHAT, God’s love gift is for you IF you believe (in Christ as IF you believe (in Christ as Savior.)Savior.)

Love believes that none should Love believes that none should perish….perish….

God’s love believes…God’s love believes…

Matteo Ricci, Jesuit missionary to Matteo Ricci, Jesuit missionary to China…China…

Our “flesh” needs the Christmas Our “flesh” needs the Christmas scene to be pastoral, pristinescene to be pastoral, pristine

To view the birth of God-flesh for To view the birth of God-flesh for what it really was would require what it really was would require us to view God Himself in a whole us to view God Himself in a whole different light – a dumpster different light – a dumpster diving Goddiving God

Born to die…Born to die…

“…“…that all who believe may not that all who believe may not perish but have eternal life.”perish but have eternal life.”

Everything outside of Christ is Everything outside of Christ is perishableperishable

Christ put on mortality that we Christ put on mortality that we may have immortality & that our may have immortality & that our lives, this side of eternity, would lives, this side of eternity, would have meaning and purpose that is have meaning and purpose that is pleasing to God.pleasing to God.

Retrieving a Retrieving a treasure…treasure…

Jesus exchanged His divinity for Jesus exchanged His divinity for humanity and came to this earth. humanity and came to this earth. He went through the refuse of this He went through the refuse of this fallen world (a real dumpster fallen world (a real dumpster experience) to find what He experience) to find what He considered a treasure (you and considered a treasure (you and me) so we would not be lost or me) so we would not be lost or destroyed, but that our lives would destroyed, but that our lives would have meaning and purpose.have meaning and purpose.

The challenge…The challenge…

1 Jn 4:7b “… for love is 1 Jn 4:7b “… for love is from God….for God is from God….for God is love”love”

““How deep the Father’s How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast love for us, how vast beyond all measure; that beyond all measure; that He should give His only He should give His only Son & make a wretch His Son & make a wretch His treasure.”treasure.”

Be blessed…Be blessed…