1. No matter how loving we are, we don’t get bonus points with the Almighty for imitating Jesus. We love each other because we recognize that “this is one for whom Jesus died.
  2. In Martin Luther's Small Catechism he borrows a line from St. Augustine about what defines a "god."
  3. At Golgotha, Jesus saves us from sin by becoming sin for us. Jesus takes all our messes, all our shame, all our guilt, all our fears and insecurities and He allows them to kill Him instead of us.
  4. Forgiveness of sin, righteousness, and eternal life aren't handed out by God because we deserve it.