“Unto Him That Loved Us”

Rev. 1:4-6, Psalm 8:3-4, Rom. 8:38-39

I: John’s Salutation:
1. Greeting of the O.T. “Peace be unto you.” “Peace be unto thee & peace be to thine house.” David to Nabal.
2. Never a salutation like this of John. “Grace be unto you and peace.” Grace and peace, because sins have been forgiven & man is reconciled to God.
3. John breaks into a glorious description of what Christ is, and what he has done for the Christians.
4. Until sin has been paid for, there can be no grace and no peace.
5. It is as if John arose and fell upon his knees in worship.

II: “Unto Him That Loved Us”
1. No pity, not condemnation, but love.
2. Love came before the washing! We were dirty and unlovely. Unwashed & smell of death upon us.
3. Loved us individually. Not as a number, as one of the multitude, but as an individual. None need feel lost in the countless sea of humanity. In the vast multitudes, it is good to know that God knows us by name!
4. “What is man that thou art mindful of Him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him.” Psa. 8:3-4
5. Before the foundations of the earth and after this old earth has passed away. He has loved us with an everlasting love. Rom. 8:39.

III: “Washed Us From Our Sins…”
1. Written in the past tense.
2. The word for love was present tense, but for wash in the past tense!
3. Washed, one great act.
4. We were helpless to wash our sins away, but he did!

IV: Made Us Kings and Priests.
1. Citizenship was a high price in John’s day.
2. To be a King or Priest was beyond ones fondest dream.
3. He has assigned us a place of service.
4. We are charged with service of being Kings * Priest.
5. We have access to the throne of God for ourself and for others.
6. Our common everyday living is raised to a heavenly level as we exercise our place as Kings and Priests. Act like! Walk like!