God is compassion

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

we become the Pharisee

Heraclitus “Until we hear a more sure word, we are ships at night in a storm, trusting the best opinions of man”

until we hear from God himself we are just tossed around hoping in the opinion of others

we tying our boats to others and just hoping they have the right course set

But John says “Heraclitus you are right, but you don’t have to trust the opinions of man you can look at Christ.”

John 1:1–5 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John says that word has come and it is Christ

John 1:14 ESV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

We can know God

When we look at the life of Christ and see the heart and the Character of the God as He interacts with people

Matthew 9:35–38 ESV

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Matthew

“When he Saw the crowds he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like a sheep without a shepherd.”

What Does God see?

when He looks at this world?

John 3:16–17 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

God’s motivation is love

God loved so He gave

God’s movement towards us is love

He didn’t come to condemn but to save

Ezekiel 18:23 ESV

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?

Ezekiel

Jesus didn’t come to to point His holy finger and wave it at us saying “look at the mess you are!”

Matthew 9:9–13 ESV

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus came because God is a God of love and compassion

and we reap the benefits of this amazing love God has for us

Sheep without a shepherd

Jesus Calls Himself the “Good Shepherd”

John 10:14 ESV

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

John 10:10 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

shepherd gives guidance

Protects and cares

Leads them

John 10:11 ESV

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

He sacrifices out of Love

Ephesians 2:1–8 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Because God is a God of Compassion and He looks at us and is motivated by love

We don’t have to stay dead in our trespasses

We can be made a new creation

Where there was once

shame

guilt

condemnation

we can now have

righteousness- we are in right standing

Justification- the debt has been paid

sanctification- we are being made into christ image

Romans 5:6–8 ESV

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God came not because we were righteous or even good

but He came because we were lost and stuck

Isaiah 53:4–6 ESV

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.