1 John 4“Why Jesus came”

3 thoughts before we hear the reading:

* Love

* Missing the mark

* Being Born Again

Conditional ‘love’ depends on the attractiveness or

worthiness of the object for it to be exercised.

Divine love does not

Conditional love is missing the target

Unconditional love hits the target

Unconditional love brings about new birth

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13)

No-one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. (I John 3:9)

7Beloved, let us love one another,for love comes from Godand everyone who loveshas been born of God and knows God.

8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

9In this was manifested the love of God towards us: that God sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

10In this is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

11Beloved since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

12No-one has ever seen God; but if we love one another,

God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Why did Jesus Come? 1 John 4

Thank God for his written Word to us

Upside downWe remember the birth of Jesus, the ChristWe have been told stories of oldGod came as a childTo change the destiny of all menTo show forgiveness to sinnersTo believe such things is misguided, the truth isHe was just an ordinary man who lived an ordinary lifeThose who do not believe the truth sayWe proclaim his name Emmanuel, God with usWe share the wonder of the shepherdsWe sing the songs of the angelsThis is not what is realShepherds were not awakened by angelic announcement

There were no wise men celebrating the birth of the KingI'd be lying to you if I said thatFor the creator of the universeThere was no room in the innFor the Son of GodThere was but a humble stableWhether you like it or notThis is the reality of Christmas That's what I used to thinkBut then I made room for him in my heartAnd Jesus turned it all upside down

There were no wise men celebrating the birth of the KingI'd be lying to you if I said thatFor the creator of the universeThere was no room in the innFor the Son of GodThere was but a humble stableWhether you like it or notThis is the reality of Christmas

Upside downWe remember the birth of Jesus, the ChristWe have been told stories of oldGod came as a childTo change the destiny of all menTo show forgiveness to sinnersTo believe such things is misguided, the truth isHe was just an ordinary man who lived an ordinary lifeThose who do not believe the truth sayWe proclaim his name Emmanuel, God with usWe share the wonder of the shepherdsWe sing the songs of the angelsThis is not what is realShepherds were not awakened by angelic announcement

We remember the birth of Jesus, the ChristWe have been told stories of oldGod came as a childTo change the destiny of all menTo show forgiveness to sinnersTo believe such things is misguided, the truth isHe was just an ordinary man who lived an ordinary lifeThose who do not believe the truth sayWe proclaim his name Emmanuel, God with usWe share the wonder of the shepherdsWe sing the songs of the angelsThis is not what is realShepherds were not awakened by angelic announcement

O Little townO holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in; Be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel!