Amazing Love of the Father!
Notes
Transcript
“The depth of God’s love for His children”
“The depth of God’s love for His children”
Introduction to the book of I John—Review
The Theme is—That you may know!
The Gnostics were an heretical group saying that they had a special knowledge
They had knowledge and secrets that they only had
you needed this special knowledge
you needed these secrets
The Apostle John is writing to declare that That they may know all that they need to know
there are no secrets
there is no special knowledge
they can and do know what they need to know
You may know that:
You are Saved
You can have joy
You are loved
You are forgiven
You can know the Father
You can know Jesus
You are a family
You have the Holy Spirit to teach you
You must practice righteous living
You can know who is telling the truth and who is lying
You may know that you have assurance of salvation
1 John 3:1 (NKJV)
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
A. 4 Words that describe the depth of the Father’s Love for His Children
Behold
What Manner
Love
Bestowed
Before we look at these words let’s ask the question: Why is it important to understand God’s love?
Love is a human need that we were created to experience
Love is, in part, what it means to be created in the image and likeness of God
Genuine love is fulfilling
Genuine love is satisfying
Genuine love is refreshing
Genuine love provides a sense of well being to the one being loved
Love gives approval
Love is the commandment of God
Love God
Love your neighbor
Love is what the Holy Spirit produces in our hearts
Love is what motivated God to create people
Love is what motivated God to send His Son to die on the cross for the sins of His people
Love is what motivates us to worship the God of Creation who is the Father of the Believers
Love is what motivates us to serve Him
Love keeps us going when we want to quit
Love is what causes us to keep looking for His return
Verse 1
And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Savior’s blood
Died he for me who caused his pain
For me, who him to death pursued
Amazing love! How can it be,
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me!
Amazing love! How can it be,
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me!
1 John 3:1 (NKJV)
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
BEHOLD!
Imperative= Look=See=Behold
What manner of love
It is an interrogative
It is a question
What kind of love
Where did this kind of love come from?
This is not your normal love
This exceeds anything like love on earth
There is nothing like this
what is it
where is it from
This love is amazing
Look at this amazing love that you have never seen anything like it
This love is indescribable
Look we have not seen anything like this love before!
Love
God’s love—Agape love
It is love by choice
There is no condition nor is it unconditional
It is simply love by the will
It is choosing to love someone without any strings attached
It is not based upon feelings or emotions
Genuine love is based upon obedience to God
The Father has bestowed on us
Bestowed upon us
Has been given
It is a gift
It has been granted and it continues
That we should be called the children of God
Our identity in Christ is very important
Know who you are in Christ
But also know Whose you are
You belong to God
Your identity is in Christ
You are apart of the triumphant Church
[Chorus]
Let the Church be the Church
Let the people rejoice
For we've settled the question
We've made our choice
Let the anthems ring out, songs of victory swell
For the church triumphant, is alive and well
You know, this ship's been through battles before
The storms and the tempests and all the rocks on the shore
Though the hull may be battered
Inside it's safe and dry
It's gonna carry its cargo to the port in the sky
God has always had a people.
Many a foolish conqueror has made the mistake of thinking that because he had forced the church of Jesus Christ out of site, he had stilled its voice and snuffed out its life, but God has always had a people.
The powerful current of a rushing river is not diminished because it's forced to flow underground.
Now the purest water is the stream that burst crystal clear into the sunlight after it has forced its way through solid rock.
There have been [?] who like Simon The Magician sought to barter on the open market that power which cannot be bought or sold, but God has always had a people.
Men who could not be bought and women who were beyond purchase.
God has always had a people.
There have been times of affluence and prosperity when the church's message has been nearly deluded into oblivion by those who sought to make it socially attractive, neatly organized, financially profitable, but God has always had a people.
Yes it's been gold platted, draped in purple and encrusted with jewels.
It has been misrepresented, ridiculed, lauded and scorned but God has always had a people.
And these followers of Jesus Christ have been, according to the whim of the times, elevated sacred leaders and modern heretics.
Yet through it all, their march is on that powerful army of the meek.
God's chosen people who cannot be bought, blabbered, murdered or stilled.
On through the ages they march, the church!
God's church triumphant!
Listen child of God, its alive.
Discouraged pastor, it's his church and it's still alive.
Lonely missionary, sow that seed with confidence.
The church is still alive.
Old saint, you're not alone or forgotten.
The church is still alive.
Its alive my broken-hearted friend, it's still alive.
Busy mothers, just keep trusting in Jesus, the church is alive.
You're not alone out there [?], just keep looking to Jesus.
The church is alive.
And faithful fathers, there's rest in the Lord.
God's church is still alive.
So family of God lift your hands, lift your hands and praise the Lord.
The church, God's church triumphant is alive, it's alive my friends.
Alive and well