The Alien Love of God

REFLECTION QUOTES

“[God] comes for you, in the flesh, in Christ, into suffering, on your behalf. He does not offer advice and perspective from afar; he steps into your significant suffering. He will see you through, and work with you the whole way. He will carry you even in extremis. This reality changes the questions that rise up from your heart. That inward-turning ‘why me?’ quiets down, lifts its eyes, and begins to look around. You turn outward and new, wonderful questions form.

Why you? Why you? Why would you enter this world of evils? Why would you go through loss, weakness, hardship, sorrow, and death? Why would you do this for me, of all people?”

~David Powlison (1949-2019), Author and Former Director of CCEF

“For the Church has not beauty but what the Bride-groom gives her; he does not find, but makes her, lovely.”

~C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), British writer and theologian

“The man who is not afraid to admit everything that he sees to be wrong with himself, and yet recognizes that he may be the object of God’s love precisely because of his shortcomings, can begin to be sincere. His sincerity is based on confidence, not in his own illusions about himself, but in the endless, unfailing mercy of God.”

~ Thomas Merton (1915-1968), American Trappist monk, writer, and social activist

“This is the goal of all Christian community: they meet one another as bringers of the message of salvation… their fellowship is founded solely upon Jesus Christ and this ‘alien righteousness’”

“Human love constructs its own image of the other person, of what he is and what he should become. It takes the life of the other person into its own hands. Spiritual love recognizes the true image of the other person which he has received from Jesus Christ; the image that Jesus Christ himself embodied and would stamp upon all men.”

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), German Theologian and Nazi Dissident

“Run, John, run, the law demands, but gives us neither feet nor hands,
Far better news the gospel brings: It bids us fly and gives us wings.”

~Attributed to John Bunyan (1628-1688), Pastor and Author of The Pilgrim’s Progress

SERMON PASSAGE

Titus 3:1-7 (NASB)

1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. 3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.