7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
WHAT ARE THE FACTS ABOUT GOD'S LOVE
There is nothing like the love of God! It is the most overwhelming & the greatest thing God ever did for any of us! He loved us, He was moved to do everything else that He has done. John's epistle has a 4-fold purpose.
That our joy might be full. (1:4)
That we might not sin. (2:1)
That we might know that we have eternal life. (5:13)
That we ourselves might love others.(4:11)
1 John is the great book of love. It is mentioned 46 times in 135 verses. It was written to combat a heresy known as Gnosticism. The Gnostic believed that knowledge was power. They felt that they had a special knowledge of God and His ways. John is writing to put them into their place! And, as he does, he tells the rest of us about a great God with a great love for great sinners. Let the Lord speak to your heart as we consider the thought, What Are the Facts about God's Love.
I. V. 7-11 THIS LOVE IS DESCRIBED IN THE CONTEXT
A. It
Is Unspeakable - I can't
understand it, or why, but I know I have experienced it and I can never be
separated from it - Rom. 8:38-39
B. It
Is Unending - Jer. 31:3…I have loved you with
an everlasting love! God's love is
eternal!
C. It
Is Unselfish - It asks for nothing in return!
However, it leads man to repent and turn to God in love - Rom. 2:4; 1
John 4:19- We love him because He first loved us!
D. It
Is Unmerited - Cannot be earned or deserved!. (His
love is based in His grace!) (Matt. 23:37.)
E. It
Is Unconditional - It is not based
on what we can or cannot produce, it comes from the heart of God. Man can never
reach a place when he will not be loved by God! God loved us first, He loved us
anyway and He loves us eternally!
F. His love is Supernatural, it is Sacrificing, it is Satisfying!
God's love can never be fully understood, but
it can be seen! It is best seen at the cross!
- He
Stood In The Gap - 2 Cor. 5:21- For
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him! HE TOOK YOUR PLACE!
- He
Saved Us From Hell - It is His death
on the cross, the death that released His precious blood, that opened the door
of salvation for every sinner who will come to God. 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Eph.
1:7- In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of His grace!; Col. 1:14- in
whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.; Heb.
9:12-14. Rev. 1:5- To
Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood!
When you know you
are loved by God, it will be visible in 3 different areas.
1. Love
For The Savior
2. Love
For The Saints -1 John
4:12
3.
Love For The Sinners
