the god of love · 1 day ago · 18everything is from god, who has reconciled us to himself through...

The God of Love

Esther 1-9

1. A People

Condemned

• King Xerxes

Esther 1:1 (CSB) - These events took place

during the days of Ahasuerus, who ruled 127

provinces from India to Cush.

God is in charge of everything,

including our lives and

eternal destinies.

• Haman’s Hatred of the Jews

Esther 3:6 (CSB) - [Haman] planned to

destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews,

throughout Ahasuerus’s kingdom.

Satan hates mankind and

wants to destroy us.

1 Peter 5:8 (CSB) - Your adversary the devil

is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking

for anyone he can devour.

• The Law:

Esther 3:9 (CSB) - “If the king approves, let

an order be drawn up authorizing their

destruction.”

Esther 3:13 (CSB) - Letters were sent by

couriers to each of the royal provinces telling

the officials to destroy, kill, and annihilate all

the Jewish people—young and old, women

and children—and plunder their possessions

on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar,

the twelfth month.

God’s law dooms us: it

demands punishment

for our sins, and

we are all guilty!

Romans 3:19–20 (CSB) - Now we know

that whatever the law says, it speaks to

those who are subject to the law, so that

every mouth may be shut and the whole

world may become subject to God’s

judgment. 20For no one will be justified in his

sight by the works of the law, because the

knowledge of sin comes through the law.

• The law could not be

changed.

God’s law cannot be

ignored or set aside.

Romans 3:31 (CSB) - Do we then nullify the

law through faith? Absolutely not!

2. A People

Championed

• Queen Esther’s Position:

• Queen Esther’s Position:

1. She was Royalty.

• Queen Esther’s Position:

1. She was Royalty.

2. She was a Jew.

Jesus was both

God and man.

• Queen Esther’s Plan:

Esther 4:16 (CSB) - “Go and assemble all

the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast

for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days,

night or day. I and my female servants will

also fast in the same way. After that, I will go

to the king even if it is against the law. If I

perish, I perish.”

• Queen Esther’s Plan:

1. “I will ask the king to write another

law: greater and stronger than the

first.”

2. “I will approach the King.”

3. “I’m willing to die for my people.”

Christ actually did die for us!

When He died in our place,

He fulfilled God’s law that

demanded payment for our sins.

God’s incredible love allows

Him to provide a way to

Himself for those who

could never get there

themselves.

Love trumps judgment!

Romans 8:3–4 (CSB) - For what the law

could not do …, God did. He condemned sin

in the flesh by sending his own Son in the

likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, 4in

order that the law’s requirement would be

fulfilled in us who do not walk according to

the flesh but according to the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 (CSB) - Therefore, if

anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the

old has passed away, and see, the new has

come! 18Everything is from God, who has

reconciled us to himself through Christ. … 19That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the

world to himself, not counting their

trespasses against them. … 21He made the

one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so

that in him we might become the

righteousness of God.

1 Peter 3:18 (CSB) - For Christ also

suffered for sins once for all, the righteous

for the unrighteous, that he might bring you

to God.

• Queen Esther’s

Courageous Act:

• Queen Esther’s

Courageous Act:

1. “I am a Jew.”

• Queen Esther’s

Courageous Act:

1. “I am a Jew.”

2. “Haman is the man.”

• Queen Esther’s

Courageous Act:

1. “I am a Jew.”

2. “Haman is the man.”

3. “Please save my people!”

“Father, forgive them!”

• The King’s Response:

• The King’s Response:

1. Haman is hanged.

• The King’s Response:

1. Haman is hanged.

2. Esther is elevated.

• The King’s Response:

1. Haman is hanged.

2. Esther is elevated.

3. Grace is granted.

3. A People

Celebrating

• The Response: Faith

Esther 9:1–2 (ESV) - On the very day when

the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the

mastery over them, the reverse occurred:

the Jews gained mastery over those who

hated them. 2The Jews gathered in their

cities throughout all the provinces of King

Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who

sought their harm.

God says we must respond

to Him to receive forgiveness:

Believe on Christ!

Romans 3:21–22 (CSB) - But now, apart

from the law, the righteousness of God has

been revealed, attested by the Law and the

Prophets. 22The righteousness of God is

through faith in Jesus Christ to all who

believe, since there is no distinction.

• The Result: Favor and

Safety and Joy

Esther 9:17 (CSB) - They fought on the

thirteenth day of the month of Adar and

rested on the fourteenth, and it became a

day of feasting and rejoicing.

Romans 5:1 (CSB) - Therefore, since we

have been justified by faith, we have peace

with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

You can have a relationship with

God right now if you will come

to Him through faith

in Jesus Christ.