Good morning,
This week we will look at who is love, what He has done for us, our response, and what 1 John 4:7-21 tells us about love.
GOD IS LOVE
1) God is Love (I John 4:8)
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
2) God demonstrates His love (Romans 5:8)
But God commendeth (demonstrated) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
3) God loves the world (John 3:16)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
4) How do we respond to God’s love?
Keep His commandments
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (I John 5:3)
Love Him (I John 4:19)
We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:7-21
God is love (4:7-21)
God is the source of all love (4:7-8)
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
God models what genuine love is (4:9-10)
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
God commands us to love one another (4:11-12)
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Assurance of the work of the Triune God in us (4:13-15)
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
The Christian’s response to God and His love (4:16)
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
The perfecting of love, both now and in eternity (4:17-18)
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
The reason for our love to Jesus (4:19)
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
The commandment to love (4:20-21)
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
Who is the source of love? Why?
How did God model His love for us?
What does He command us to do?
How does the unity of the Trinity work?
What should I response be to God’s love?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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