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‘If that isn’t Love’ (see lyrics – Written by: Dottie Rambo)

He Left The Splendour Of Heaven, Knowing His Destiny.
Was A Lonely Hill Of Golgotha, Where He Laid Down His Life For Me.

(Chorus)

If That Isn’t Love, The Ocean Is Dry. There’s No Stars In The Sky, And The Sparrow Can’t Fly.
If That Isn’t Love, Then Heavens’ A Myth. There’s No Feeling Like this, If That Isn’t Love.

Even In Death He Remembered, The Thief Hanging There By His Side.
He Spoke With Love And Compassion, Then He Took Him To Paradise.

(Check-mark all your answers)

— Q1. Have you ever heard about the details of a Roman crucifixion?

O – No, and I don’t want to.     O – Yes, a speaker once told me.     O – I saw ‘The Passion of the Christ.

— Q2. Think about how anyone enduring such torture could possibly be concerned about the welfare of another… Which of these behaviours was displayed by Jesus as He was hanging on that cross? – (Further discussion to follow.)

O – He cared for His mother’s welfare.     O – He asked for the forgiveness of His persecutors.

O – He gave His message of salvation to the thief dying beside Him.

John 19:23-27 (ESV) When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom,  (24)  so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things,  (25)  but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  (26)  When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”  (27)  Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

— Q3. These verses describe a fact of the culture of the days when Jesus walked this earth.

— For discussion… Can you even imagine how Mary felt as she was there watching her son die?

Luke 23:32-37 (ESV) Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.  (33)  And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.  (34)  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.  (35)  And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”  (36)  The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine  (37)  and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

— Q4. Looking back at how Jesus was abused and mocked as they prepared Him for this crucifixion…

— For discussion… What power could cause Jesus to want to forgive all this abuse as He hung there gasping out His last dying breaths?

Luke 23:38-43 (ESV) There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”  (39)  One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”  (40)  But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  (41)  And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”  (42)  And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  (43)  And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

— Q5. What does this account prove as to how we are saved?

O – You only need to repent and believe in Jesus.     O – You must be baptized.     O – You must do good works.

For proof of the correct answer SEE: Romans 10:8-10 (ESV) But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);  (9)  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

— Q6. For discussion… How did that dying thief fulfill these requirements?

(I’ll close with this reminder… KK)

If That Isn’t Love, The Ocean Is Dry. There’s No Stars In The Sky, And The Sparrow Can’t Fly.
If That Isn’t Love, Then Heavens’ A Myth. There’s No Feeling Like this, If That Isn’t Love.