God is LOVE

• 1^st – Knowing LOVE… vs. 7-11
  • 1^st – The LOVE chapter…
    • The word LOVE [ἀγάπη] – is its various forms – is used 324x in NT – [KJV]
    • When we talk about LOVE – we tend to think of the LOVE chapter – I Corinthians 13
    • But LOVE [ἀγάπη] is ONLY used 9x – in all of I Corinthians – [16 chapters – 437 verses]
    • In contrast the word LOVE is used 52x – in the book of I John – [5 chapters – 105 verses]
    • Which is MORE than any other book of the NT – [the next closest is the Gospel of John]
    • And it is used 29x – just in our passage this morning – I John 4:7-21
    • Meaning more than HALF of the uses of LOVE in the whole book – are all right here…
    • So if there is a LOVE chapter in the Bible – this is it!
  • 2^nd – LOVE one another… vs. 7-8
    • Beloved – let us love one another – for love is of God!
      • All THREE forms of the word LOVE – are used in this opening statement…
      • BELOVED [ἀγαπητός] – adjective – we who have received unconditional LOVE…
      • LOVE [ἀγαπάω] – verb – should [subjunctive] give unconditional LOVE…
      • LOVE [ἀγάπη] – noun – because unconditional LOVE is from God!
      • This is NOT a command [imperative] – it is a question [subjunctive]
      • John is bringing to a conclusion – what he has been building to for a past TWO chapters…
      • We SAY we BELIEVE in Jesus – and therefore have RECEIVED the LOVE of the Father…
      • But it is easy to SAY – the question is do we PROVE it by LOVING others daily [present]!
    • Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God!
      • When Nicodemus came to speak with Jesus at night – John 3:3
      • The Lord explained that in order to be saved – we must be BORN twice…
      • BORN of water – referring to physical birth – our birthday…
      • And BORN from ABOVE – referring to our spiritual birth!
      • We have already seen – those who are BORN again – do not LIVE in SIN – I John 3:9
      • But being BORN again – is not just about what we do NOT do – SIN
      • It is also about what we DO – we daily [present] are LOVING one another!

• He who does not love does not know God – vs. 8
  • Anyone [πᾶς] who is not LOVING – does not KNOW [γινώσκω] God!
  • People who do NOT know Jesus – might still LOVE others – but it is CONDITIONAL…
  • They LOVE those who LOVE them back – but will stop LOVING those who hurt them…
  • Those who LOVE conditionally – show they do NOT know [γινώσκω] God…
  • Because God LOVES us unconditionally – no matter what we do – He never forsakes us…
  • And only when we LOVE like Him – do we KNOW [γινώσκω] we are BORN again!
  • Luke 6:35 – “Love [ἀγαπάω] your enemies… and you will be [the CHILD] of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.”
• God is love!
  • [ὁ θεὸς] the God – [ἀγάπη ἐστίν] LOVE is!
  • This has to be one of the MOST powerful statements in the whole Bible…
  • This is NOT saying that God is LOVING – or that He LOVES us…
  • This is STATING that the DEFINITION of LOVE – is God!
  • If you wanted to describe the word ORANGE to someone – how would you do it…
  • You could TRY to describe it as WARM – or BRIGHT…
  • But the best way would be to show someone an ORANGE – it DEFINES the color!
  • If we want to KNOW what LOVE is – we just need to LOOK at God…
  • He is the very DEFINITION of the WORD – God is what LOVE means!
• The character of God…
  • The LOVE of God is of HUGE importance – because it is NOT the only word to DEFINE Him…
  • God is JUST – meaning He will always do what is RIGHT – Revelation 16:7
  • God is HOLY – meaning He will not allow SIN in His presence – Leviticus 11:44
  • God is SOVEREIGN – meaning His will always is accomplished – Ephesians 1:11
  • But if God was ONLY – JUST – HOLY – SOVEREIGN – He would be a TERRIFYING God…
  • In his JUSTICE He would cast us into HELL – because He is HOLY…
  • And in His SOVEREIGNTY – there would be nothing we could do about it…
  • But it is His LOVE – that give us HOPE – that He will give us GRACE!

• 3^rd – Defining LOVE… vs. 9-10
  • In this the love of God was manifested toward us…
    • The natural question we ask – what does it MEAN to LOVE one another…
    • The LOVE of God was REVEALED [φανερόω] to us – in TWO different ways!
  • God has sent His only begotten Son into the world – that we might live through Him!
    • The FIRST definition – is in the MESSAGE He SENT [ἀποστέλλω] – APOSTLE…
    • The picture is that of an ambassador – a representative of God to a LOST world…
    • Who was His AMBASSADOR – the ONLY begotten [unique] SON…
    • The title Son of God – is used 45x in the New Testament…
    • It is often misunderstood – it has nothing to do with the Jesus being BORN…
    • It describes His relationship to the Father – the SECOND person in the Trinity!
    • When I was dating Jen – I was not always able to be here with her…
    • So I wrote her messages – LOVE letters – to show her how much I missed her!
    • God DEFINED His LOVE for us – even though He was far away…
    • By sending a LOVE letter – the SON coming to give us the MESSAGE of LIFE!
    • John 3:16 – “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son – that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
  • In this is love – not that we loved God…
    • But that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins!
    • The SECOND definition – is what God DID…
    • LOVE [ἀγάπη] – is NOT defined by us LOVING [ἀγαπάω] God…
    • LOVE is DEFINED by how God LOVED us – He SENT Jesus as a SACRIFICE for our SINS…
    • SACRIFICE [ἱλασμός] – Jesus came to DIE – so that we might LIVE!
    • The way to find out how valuable something is – how much would you pay for it…
    • If we were only willing to pay TEN pesos for a something – it is NOT worth very much…
    • If we are willing to pay TEN million pesos – then it is a VERY valuable!
    • How MUCH does God LOVE us – He was willing to DIE to save us…
    • Meaning there was NOTHING – no PRICE to high He was not willing to pay…
    • To REDEEM us from our SIN – give us the GRACE that would open the door to HEAVEN…
    • That is how much LOVE God proved He has for us – through the CROSS!
• 4^th – LOVE by example… vs. 11
  • Beloved – if God so loved us – we also ought to love one another!
  • BELOVED [ἀγαπητός] – we who have received His unconditional LOVE…
  • SINCE [not if] God proved His LOVE [ἀγαπάω] for us – through the EXAMPLE of Jesus…
  • We OUGHT [ὀφείλω] – to constantly [present] be in DEBT…
  • The DEBT we owe is our LIVES – the LOVE of the Father compels us to LIVE for others!
  • The world teaches us to live by the MANTRA – look out for number one…
  • Every moment we are encouraged to ask what do WE want!
  • But this is the OPPOSITE of LOVE – LOVE demands that we LIVE for others…
  • We OWE it to Jesus – who PAID for all of our SIN – to follow His EXAMPLE…
  • To live our lives in such a way as to CONTINUALLY be a blessing to those around us…
  • This is the RESULT of having the LOVE of the Father in us!

• 2^nd – Seeing LOVE… vs. 12-16
  • How to see God… vs. 12
    • No one has seen God at any time!
      • No one [who is alive] has EVER [at any time] looked at God…
      • Moses wanted to see the FACE of the Lord – Exodus 33:18
      • God would let His GOODNESS [כָּל־טוּבִי] pass before Moses – and He would call out His name…
      • But no man can look on His FACE and live – Exodus 33:20
      • FIRST – God is so HOLY – sinful man would perish in the pure light of God!
      • Isaiah 6:5 – “My destruction is sealed – for I am a sinful man and a member of a sinful race.”
      • SECOND – Upon seeing God – who would want to go back to an ordinary life!
      • II Corinthians 12:4 – “He was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words – which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” [NLT]
    • Evidence of God…
      • But if not one can SEE God – how do we KNOW that God exists…
      • John gives us FIVE ways – that we can SEE God!
  • 1^st – Through our LOVE… vs. 12
    • If we love one another – God abides in us!
      • FIRST – if [subjunctive] we LOVE [ἀγαπάω] each other continually [present]
      • It is PROOF that God is ABIDING [μένω] in us – because we are NOT easy to LOVE!
      • LISTEN – there are MANY days when it is very HARD to LOVE me – just ask my WIFE…
      • I am SINNER – and given the chance – I will PROVE it to you…
      • So in order to LOVE someone like me – DAILY – it takes a supernatural effort!
    • His love has been perfected in us!
      • Which allows the LOVE of God to be PERFECTED through our lives…
      • PERFECT [τελειόω] – meaning to be COMPLETE!
      • Colossians 1:24 – “[I] fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ.”
      • There was NOTHING lacking in the sacrifice of Jesus – the cross…
      • When the work was done Jesus said – it is FINISHED – nothing needed to be added!
      • But we were NOT there to see the cross – we did NOT see Jesus die…
      • Therefore we are to LOVE one another – so others can see the LOVE of God is us…
      • If we LOVE conditionally – like the world – no one notices…
      • But when we LOVE unconditionally – like Jesus – people see something different…
      • People take notice – through our LOVE they see Jesus in us!
  • 2^nd – Through the Spirit… vs. 13
    • By this we know that we abide in Him – and He in us – because He has given us of His Spirit!
      • SECOND – we KNOW [γινώσκω] that God ABIDES [μένω] in us – because of His SPIRIT…
      • The NUMBER one result of being FILLED with the SPIRIT – is BOLDNESS for Jesus!
      • When Peter and John healed a LAME man – a crowd gathered – FIVE thousands were saved…
      • But then they were arrested – and brought to the Sanhedrin [rulers]
      • These RULERS told them to NEVER to preach in the name of Jesus again…
      • Peter – filled with Holy SPIRIT – replied:
      • Acts 4:10-12 – “Let it be known… that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth – whom YOU crucified – this man stands here before you whole… Nor is there salvation in ANY other – for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we MUST be saved.”
    • Boldness shows people Jesus…
      • When the RULERS saw the BOLDNESS of Peter – Acts 4:13
      • UNLEARNED – [ἀγράμματος] – literally illiterate…
      • IGNORANT – [ἰδιώτης] – literally idiots…
      • In spite of their ACCURATE estimation of these very ORDINARY men…
      • They were very IMPRESSED at their BOLDNESS – and SAW the men had been with Jesus!
      • When was the last time we were BOLD for Jesus – stood up for the GOSPEL…
      • We are called to be a LIGHT in a dark world – Matthew 5:14
      • What we NEED is to ask for the Holy Spirit – to STRIKE the match – light us on FIRE!
      • Luke 11:13 -“Your heavenly Father [will] give the Holy Spirit to those who ask…”
  • 3^rd – Through the Son… vs. 14
    • And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world!
    • THIRD – we have SEEN [not the Father] – but John did SEE Jesus – Colossians 1:15
    • We might ARGUE – we have NOT seen Jesus – but we do have a TESTIMONY…
    • TESTIMONY [μαρτυρέω] – a life TRANSFORMED by Jesus who is our SAVIOR [σωτήρ]
    • We cannot SEE the WIND – it is INVISIBLE to our eyes…
    • But we can SEE the RESULTS of what the WIND does – a TYPHOON is undeniable!
    • People cannot SEE God – but they can SEE the results of God in our lives…
    • Who wants to be a TYPHOON – an undeniable FORCE – so people can see Jesus…
    • Our TESTIMONY may be the only BIBLE people ever read…
    • But it can also be the PROOF they are waiting for – to show them God is REAL!
    • II Corinthians 3:3 – “You are a letter from Christ… written not with pen and ink – but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone – but on human hearts.” [NLT]
  • 4^th – Through confession… vs. 15
    • Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God – God abides in him – and he in God!
    • FOURTH – SEEING God – is about what we SAY…
    • If we CONFESS [ὁμολογέω] – to AGREE with what the Bible says…
    • That Jesus is the SON of God – the SECOND person of the TRINITY!
    • Romans 10:9 – “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead – you will be saved.”
    • RELIGION tries to make SALVATION hard – lots of RULES…
    • In order to be SAVED – you must go to our CHURCH – give so much MONEY…
    • You have to ACT a certain way – WORSHIP a certain day – DRESS like we do!
    • God does NOT make SALVATION hard – He wants EVERYONE to be saved – I Peter 3:9
    • All that we NEED to do – is CONFESS with our MOUTH that Jesus is LORD…
    • Then God will come and ABIDE [μένω] in us – and we will ABIDE [present] in Him…
    • And then we can SEE that God is real – EXPERIENCE the LOVE of God in our lives!
  • 5^th – Through faith… vs. 16
    • And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.
      • FIFTH – we SEE God – because we BELIEVE…
      • We have KNOWN [perfect] and BELIEVE [perfect] the LOVE [ἀγάπη] God has…
      • BELIEVE – verb form of [πίστις] – to have FAITH!
    • God is love – and he who abides in love abides in God – and God in him!
      • What do we BELIEVE – [ὁ θεὸς] the God – [ἀγάπη ἐστίν] LOVE is…
      • If we ABIDE [μένω] in LOVE [ἀγάπη] – we are ABIDING [μένω] in God – and Him in us!
      • The universe was made of microscopic atoms…
      • It would be easy for to doubt that – because no one had NEVER seen them…
      • But because people BELIEVED – they created microscopes capable of SEEING atoms!
      • It has been said SEEING is believing – but that is NOT true…
      • It is when we BELIEVE in that God is LOVE – that we can finally SEE Him!
      • II Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith – not by sight.”

• 3^rd – The END of LOVE… vs. 17-19
  • 1^st – Boldness… vs. 17
    • Love has been perfected among us in this:
      • PERFECTED [τελειόω] – to COMPLETE – or bring to a CONCLUSION or END…
      • The END of LOVE [ἀγάπη] in our lives – is for us to have BOLDNESS!
    • That we may have boldness in the day of judgment – because as He is – so are we in this world!
      • May have [subjunctive] BOLDNESS [παρρησία] – fearless confidence or assurance…
      • On the DAY of JUDGEMENT – referring to the Great White Throne – Revelation 20:13
      • Because we LOVE [present] – the same way Jesus LOVES – while we are still in this WORLD!
      • We know in our hearts that we make mistakes – a LOT of them – EVERYDAY…
      • The thought of coming before a righteous Holy God can be terrifying…
      • But do NOT miss that because of LOVE – we can come BOLDLY to the Throne…
      • Because it is NO longer the THRONE of judgement – it becomes the THRONE of GRACE! 
      • Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come BOLDLY [παρρησία] to the Throne of Grace…”
  • 2^nd – No FEAR… vs. 18
    • There is no fear in love – but perfect love casts out fear – because fear involves torment!
      • The END of LOVE – is the END of FEAR [φόβος] – to have dread or terror
      • COMPLETE [τέλειος] LOVE [ἀγάπη] – throws away [present] FEAR [φόβος]
      • Because what we FEAR [φόβος] is the TORMENT [κόλασις]
      • Matthew 25:46 – “These will go away into everlasting punishment [κόλασις].”
      • People live their whole lives in FEAR of the TORMENT…
      • The ETERNAL judgement that is the REWARD for all who have SINNED – Romans 6:23
      • But we have NO reason to FEAR – the LOVE of Jesus paid for ALL our SIN…
      • Our FEAR was THROWN away – along with our SIN – through the CROSS…
      • The END of LOVE – is the END of FEAR – because we are FORGIVEN!
    • But he who fears has not been made perfect in love!
      • But anyone who still FEARS [present] what will happen on the Day of Judgment…
      • Has not yet experienced the PERFECT [τελειόω] LOVE [ἀγάπη] of God!
      • If someone is here today – and you are NOT sure happens when you DIE…
      • If there is even a little FEAR – doubting if God will forgive you…
      • Today is the DAY – this is the TIME – to CONFESS and BELIEVE in Jesus…
      • So that His LOVE can fill you – FEAR will leave you – as God comes to ABIDE in You!
      • II Corinthians 6:2 – “Now is the accepted time. Behold – now is the day of salvation.”
  • 3^rd – Relationship… vs. 19
    • We love Him – because He first loved us!
    • The END of LOVE – is we have a RELATIONSHIP with God…
    • We LOVE [ἀγαπάω] Him – in RESPONSE to Him LOVING [ἀγαπάω] us!
    • When God created MAN – He put TWO trees in the garden of EDEN – Genesis 2:17
    • The tree of LIFE and tree of KNOWLEDGE – to eat of the SECOND tree meant certain death…
    • Why put THIS tree in a world that was VERY good – why even give Adam the CHOICE…
    • It all comes down to LOVE – there can be no LOVE with a CHOICE!
    • God DESIRES to have a RELATIONSHIP with us – but it is our CHOICE…
    • Jesus DIED for us – while we were still SINNERS – to show us God is LOVE…
    • God does not want anyone to go to hell – but we can CHOOSE to – by rejecting His LOVE…
    • Or we can RESPOND to His LOVE – and CHOOSE to LOVE Him back…
    • We LOVE Him – because we see how much He first LOVED us!

• 4^th – Obedience from LOVE… vs. 20-21
  • 1^st – No HATRED… vs. 20
    • If someone says – I love God – and hates his brother – he is a liar!
      • If [subjunctive] someone says – I LOVE [ἀγαπάω] God…
      • But at the same time – HATES [present] his BROTHER – he is a LIAR!
      • Because it is NOT about our WORDS – it is about our ACTIONS…
      • WORDS do not reveal what is in our HEART – but our ACTIONS do…
      • LOVE is an EASY word to SAY – but the HARDEST word to LIVE!
    • If we do not love our brother whom we has seen – how can we love God whom we cannot see!
      • We are TESTED to see if we have LOVE in our hearts – by ONE another…
      • LOVING each OTHER is HARD – people hurt us – say mean things to us…
      • But when we are FILLED with the LOVE of God – it allows us to do the IMPOSSIBLE…
      • We can LOVE the UNLOVABLE – and FORGIVE every wrong!
      • And that LOVE is how we KNOW we can do something even more IMPOSSIBLE…
      • We can LOVE someone we have never SEEN – we can LOVE God!
  • 2^nd – The COMMAND… vs. 21
    • This commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also!
    • The COMMAND – to LOVE [ἀγαπάω] God – we should [subjunctive] also LOVE each other!
    • This CHAPTER – this BOOK – arguably the BIBLE – is all about LOVE…
    • FIRST – how much God LOVES us – SECOND – how we should LOVE others…
    • Not just when we FEEL like it – or when people DESERVE it…
    • The COMMAND is that we ALWAYS love EVERYONE…
    • We are IDENTIFIED as children of God – through our LOVE…
    • Because we have RECEIVED the unconditional LOVE that comes from God!

John 13:35 – “All will know that you are My disciples – if you have love for one another.”