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God is LOVE
- 1st – Knowing LOVE… vs. 7-11
- 1st – 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!
- 2nd – 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!
- Beloved – let us love one another – for love is of God!
- 1st – The LOVE chapter…
- 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!
- 3rd – 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!
- In this the love of God was manifested toward us…
- 4th – 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!
- 2nd – 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!
- No one has seen God at any time!
- 1st – 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!
- If we love one another – God abides in us!
- 2nd – 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…”
- By this we know that we abide in Him – and He in us – because He has given us of His Spirit!
- 3rd – 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]
- 4th – 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!
- 5th – 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.”
- And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.
- How to see God… vs. 12
- 3rd – The END of LOVE… vs. 17-19
- 1st – 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…”
- Love has been perfected among us in this:
- 2nd – 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.”
- There is no fear in love – but perfect love casts out fear – because fear involves torment!
- 3rd – 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!
- 1st – Boldness… vs. 17
- 4th – Obedience from LOVE… vs. 20-21
- 1st – 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!
- If someone says – I love God – and hates his brother – he is a liar!
- 2nd – 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!
- 1st – No HATRED… vs. 20
John 13:35 – “All will know that you are My disciples – if you have love for one another.”
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