The Gateway of Love

Drawing from John 3:16-17 and Romans 5:6-8, we're invited to see love not as a fleeting emotion or feeling, but as the very essence of God Himself. The sermon takes us through humanity's fallen condition—from Cain's first murder to Israel's rebellion in the wilderness—showing us that we deserved judgment, not mercy. Yet God's response wasn't based on how He felt about our sin; it was rooted in who He is. This is where the gateway opens: Christ's sacrifice on Calvary wasn't an emotional reaction but an intentional decision. The cross becomes our bridge, our open door, where God's wrath met His love, and love won. We're reminded that real love in our own lives isn't about feelings either—it's about choice and commitment. Just as Christ chose the cross despite the agony of Gethsemane, we're called to choose Him in response. The altar call isn't just an invitation to receive something; it's a challenge to respond to the greatest love ever demonstrated. Will we walk through the gateway He opened, or will we let the greatest love pass us by?