It says, wonders of his love. And brother Thomas, now y'all didn't see him, he was sitting back in the back, was reading the scripture as the kids were up here. The last verse that he read was John 3, 16. And when we think about Christmas, how many of you would agree with me, you'd say, preacher, Christmas is a busy time of year. Would you agree with me there? And it's a busy time. But you know, Christmas really, I believe, could be summed up with that verse that Thomas read. And most of you know it by heart, whether you grew up in church or Sunday school, it says, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. When I think about Christmas and I think about God's love, number one, I know this, is that God's love is an amazing love. It's not just an emotional feeling, It's an amazing love. You say, preacher, what makes you say that God's love is an amazing love? Well, I'll tell you why it's an amazing love. It's because, first, it's universal. God's love, the Bible says in that verse, John 3, 16, for God so loved the what, church? The world. Now, when God said that, he's not talking about the plants and the animals and the grass and the dirt, but that word world literally means mankind. God loves all of mankind. God's love is not limited by race. It doesn't matter if you're red, yellow, black or white. God loves you. It's a universal love. The Bible says in Romans 2.11, For there is no respecter of persons with God. Can I tell you tonight that there is no African God. There is no Indian God. There is no Caucasian God. The God that we serve in the God of the Bible is the God of the world. God so loved the whole world. It's a universal love. God is not limited by culture. He's not limited by economic status, whether you have a lot of money or whether you don't have hardly any money at all. He's not bound by the middle class or the upper class, but God's love is boundless. The Bible says in John 3, 16 that he tells us that God loves every boy, every girl, every man, every woman. There is no one outside of the bounds of God's love. And can I tell you tonight, that includes you. You are not outside of God's love. When the Bible says in John 3, 16, for God so loved the world, you can take your name and put it where it says world. God so loved Philip. God so loved, you can put your name there. It's an amazing love because it's a universal love. But not only because it's universal, because it's unconditional. Do you realize that the God that we serve, God doesn't say this, well, I'm going to love you as long as you do X, Y, or Z. Well, I'm going to love you if you're a good boy, if you go to church, and if you put money in the offering plate. If you do those things, then I'm going to love you. And that's not what the Bible says. The Bible says that God loves the world regardless of what you have done, regardless of what you haven't done. There is nothing that you can do that would ever separate you from the love of God. It's an unconditional. Most of the time, we love people because they love us back. They're easy to love. But you know, Jesus said this, love your enemies, bless them that curse you. God loves the unlovable. It's a unconditional love. The Bible says this, but God commendeth his love toward us and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Do you realize tonight that on your worst day, the day that you committed the most egregious sin, God still loved you. God sent his son to die for you. You say, preacher, how is that? It's because it's unconditional. It doesn't matter what you do or do not do. His love is amazing because it's universal, it's unconditional, but also His love is inexhaustible. The Bible says in Psalms 90 verse 2, Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Do you realize that God did not have a beginning? and God does not have an ending. And the Bible tells us in 1 John that God is love. That means His love never had a beginning and His love never had an ending. His love is inexhaustible. It never runs out. I believe as humans, listen, there are a lot of times that people can cause you so much hurt that you get to a point where you say, you know what? I don't love you anymore. But you know, the Bible says that God is long-suffering. You know what that means? That He bears our injuries. His love is inexhaustible. There's nothing that you can do to cause God not to love you. Jeremiah 31 3 says, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Isn't that wonderful, church, that we cannot exhaust God's love? It's inexhaustible. It's an amazing gift. But not only is it amazing, but it's an astounding gift. The proof, when most people, most of you, if you're married, there's that time of the year, men, you'll know what I'm talking about, The wife says, hey honey, you know what today is, don't you? Sometimes we're like, oh my. Sometimes if we're good, we'll know what she's talking about. And most of the time, she's talking about her anniversary. And it is traditionally on those days that maybe you give a gift or you trade gifts. A lot of times they'll say that a love is demonstrated by a gift or what someone does. You say, Preacher, how can I know that the God of heaven loves me? Because he did something about it. See, God doesn't just tell you that he loves you in the Bible. No, God did something about it to prove his love. You say, Preacher, what did he do? He did what these kids sang about tonight. See, if you would look at this manger, and if you would look at this star behind those things, you're going to see a cross. See, Jesus Christ came for one reason and one reason alone, and that was to die for mankind. He did something about it. He sent His Son. Some 2,000 years ago, God sent forth His Son, manifested Himself in flesh. And He lived some 33 1�2 years as the sinless Son of God. Why did He do that? He did it to die. He had no sin to die for those who had sin. It was an astounding gift. That verse I mentioned earlier, but God committeth His love toward us, and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. That word for, it means in the place of. Because of God's love, Jesus Christ became my substitute. See, you belong on that cross. You belong on that cross. But God loves you so much that He said, I'm going to put my son on that cross for you. It was a substitution. Listen to me. Friend, God loves you so much. that He sent His only begotten Son to die for you. It was an astounding gift. You say, Preacher, what does that mean for me? Number three, when I think of John 3, verse 16, I see an all-encompassing plea. We think about God's Son, Jesus Christ, who died for us. Do you realize that you could be here and you're lost, you're not saved? You say, Preacher, what does that mean? Nicodemus said it like this when he talked to Jesus. He said, teacher, rabbi, I know that the things that thou doest, these miracles, you have to come from God. But Jesus said this, except a man be born of good, you cannot see the kingdom of God. Your good works do not save you. Coming to church does not save you. Being a good parent doesn't save you. Giving money doesn't save you. Helping the poor doesn't save you. Being baptized doesn't save you. The only thing that saves you is putting your trust in Jesus Christ and what he did on Calvary. And it's an all-encompassing plea for God to love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever, you know what the word whosoever means? Whosoever. Anybody. Anybody can trust Christ as their Savior. It doesn't mean it's just for the religious, but it's for everyone. And can I tell you right now, the greatest thing you could ever do this Christmas is to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. That's the best decision you could ever make. And Jesus and God says, whosoever. God loves you so much that he invites you tonight to receive his precious gift. You say, preacher, I don't need this gift. My good works, or I haven't done anything wrong. I haven't really sinned, so I believe that I'm going to get to heaven. You know what the Bible says? For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Every person has sinned. Well, preacher, I believe that my religion will get me to heaven. There are many ways to get to heaven. There's many different religions. That's not what the Bible says. The Bible says there's only one way to heaven. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. So the only way to get to heaven is through Jesus Christ according to the Bible. And can I tell you tonight that every religious leader has died. Joseph Smith has died. Buddha has died. Mary has died. But you know what Jesus said? He said, I am the resurrection and the life. I once was dead but now I live forevermore. You say, preacher, what do you mean in order to get to heaven I need to believe? That word believe means to depend on, to trust. Many of you, when you come in here tonight, you got in this seat. And most of you, maybe one person did this, but most of you, you didn't grab that seat and you didn't think to yourself, well, I think it's gonna hold me up. Well, let me just, yeah, it probably, no. You just sat in the seat because you depended and you trusted that it was gonna hold you up. That is what the Bible says, is that we trust in what Jesus Christ did on Calvary. The Bible says, for by grace are you saved through faith, not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Preacher, is it really that easy? Absolutely. That Philippian jailer said something like this. He said, Sir, what must I do to be saved? You know what Paul told him? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. has a desire, the Bible tells us that he's not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Do you realize tonight that the God of heaven, as we close, the God of heaven right now, if you're not saved right now, he wants you to be saved. He wants you to be born again. Jesus said, I come to give you life and life more abundantly. God wants you to spend forever with him. There is a promise in that verse. Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Miss Kelly, if you help me out on the piano, I'll say this as I close. That word perish, there's two destinies in that scripture. Everlasting life and then perish. Perish means this, to be forever separated from God. that when you die, and I'm not here to put a damper on the Christmas program, but the Bible says that there are two places that you'll go when someone dies, heaven and hell. It's not a made up story, it's not a myth, but there are people physically right now in both places. He said you'll either perish or you'll have everlasting life. And can I tell you tonight, I'm not interested in religion, I'm not interested in how good you are, I'm interested in what God can do for you and He can save you. That verse answers the question, what will happen after I die? The Bible says it's appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment. You think back over your life tonight, everybody in here knows someone that's probably been close to you that has died. I don't know about you, But there are times that I miss appointments, whether it's with your doctor, your dentist, maybe you've got an appointment with a mechanic. Some point in your life, you've probably missed an appointment. Do you know that the Bible says there's an appointment that every single one of us ain't gonna miss? It's our appointment with death. It's a ever-present reality. The Bible says that our life is short. It says it's but a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanisheth away. You say, Preacher, I don't really, man, I come to see kids sing and you're just really being discouraging. No, I'm trying to help you. Trying to help you get it settled of your eternity. Our life is short. Parish describes those who say no to Jesus. Separation from God in a place called hell. But can I tell you, you don't have to experience that tonight. You don't have to experience that. You can experience everlasting life. Jesus said this, whosoever, Paul said this, whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Here's what I want you to do today.