New Year, Same Mission_Love

Intro

Why did God create Man?

What is the role of the church?

What is my goal in leading as the under-shepherd of Christ?

Message

The Person of Love

1 John 4:7–10 ESV

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The God of Love

Separation = 1 Jhn 4.8.

Sacrifice = 1 Jhn 4.9.

Salvation = 1 Jhn 4.10.

The Person of Love = Jesus = 1 Jhn 4.10 “10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

The People of Love

1 Jhn 4.7 “7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”

The expectation of this love

defining love

define propitiation

Origin in God… Love is the test

we who have been loved so much would ourselves love one another

we who are called by His name ought to love for we are His

The expression of this love

the worlds false love… unregenerate cannot love

biblical love… see below

Christ is the Person of Love, in Christ you are to be a People of Love.

The Practice of Love

1 John 4:11–16 ESV

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

The Call of Love

1 Jhn 4.13 “13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.”

God’s love permeates us = to fill you

Eph 5.18 - be filled with the spirit

God’s love is perpetuated through us = to go beyond you

God’s love is perfected in us = Christ through you

perfected = fully accomplished… nothing laking in Christ!!

identity in Christ ?

The Confession of Love

1 Jhn 4.15-16 “15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

the truth of this confession

the terms of this confession

death to self for the other… what does this look like?

By the Spirit of Christ we make both make profession of Christ and practice Christ-like Love to one another.

The Perfection & Power of Love

1 John 4:17–21 ESV

17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1 John 5:1–5 ESV

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The Falseness of Love

1 Jhn 4.20 “20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”

when is love a lie?… when we call a lie love!

The Fellowship of Love

1 Jhn 4.19 “19 We love because he first loved us.” 1 Jhn 4.21 “21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

we are a people created for relationships

this love brigs fellowship with God as well as man

The Fearlessness of Love

1 Jhn 4.17-18 “17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

fearlessness in the life to come

fearlessness in sharing this gospel

The Faith of Love

1 Jhn 5.4 “4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

The fullness of the perfected power of Christ in us is both internally and externally experienced as we fearlessly embrace by faith this gospel.

Close

Do you know the gospel?

Can you articulate the gospel?

Do you believe the gospel?

Are you sharing this gospel?

Are we living this gospel?

New Year, Same Mission!!

Group Questions

How would you explain the meaning of “love” to a child in a way that child could understand?

How is the supernatural love of God different from the superficial idea of love that we so often hold?

Why does love have its origin in God? Can unregenerate people truly love? How is the love shown by those born of God different?

What is the difference between knowing about God and knowing God personally as Father? Why is love a good test for whether someone knows God?

How would you define the word propitiation to a group of your peers? What does it tell us about God? About man? Where do we see these themes throughout the rest of Scripture?

How can Christians perfect the love of God? Does that mean there is something lacking in Christ’s work?

What would Christian love look like if Christ’s example was truly followed? How can you follow the example of love He displayed on the Cross?

Explain the connection between identity and action when it comes to love. Why must identity come first?

How does abiding in the love of God give us confidence when we face judgment? How does it reassure us for the future?

Why does love cast out fear? What does fear reveal about our relationship to God?

Why does John combine loving God with loving your neighbor? Which is more important?

Why is it impossible to love an invisible God if you do not love your brother?

How is the command to love God and neighbor seen throughout the Scriptures?