Untitled Sermon (3)

Introduction

1. Tell story of Madalyn Murray O'Hare

2. We all want to be loved by someone

3. We are all loved by God.

- Greatest realization that we can ever come to in this life is that we are loved by God.

4. Turn with me please to the Book of 1 John and we are going to talk about being loved by God.

God is love (4:8)

Love defined

This is the word agape used here.

(Highest form of love) Seeks the ultimate good will of the object loved. This word is used to describe God. (4:8) A closer look at what this love looks like.

This love basically means a will to do good towards its object - not a feeling (For example loving your enemy - Matthew 5:43-ff) - it’s an attitude of mind a desire of the will. - (Being cut off in traffic example) Love seeks the best for an individual even if it upsets them.

Mark 10:17-22 Jesus loved him and told him what he needed to do to go to heaven. We have to tell people the truth in a loving way even if it upsets them. (Ephesians 4:15)

Maybe we are tempted to compromise when someone, maybe a member of our family whose not a Christian, says well I’m a member over at some denomination and we are all going to the same place but taking different paths……. We have to lovingly tell them the truth using God’s word….. not in arrogance but in sincerity and gentleness. If we love people we will tell them what they need to do to go to heaven. God’s love shown (4:9)

The greatest demonstration of God’s love.

We can look back to a place in time and see God’s love for you and me shown on the cross.

John 3:16 God loves me and you and He died for me and you. Read Phil 2:6-8 - the Creator of the universe died for me and He took the punishment that we deserved b/c He loves us. He died for us but why?? He died for us b/c love seeks to meet needs of others. What was our greatest need??

We have all sinned (Romans 3:23) Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2)

Isaiah 59:1–2 (NASB95): Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save;Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your iniquities (or sins) have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. We all deserve hell (Romans 6:23) We have no hope apart from Christ and His blood (Ephesians 2:12-13)

Ephesians 2:12–13 (NASB95): remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Brethren if we had to spend 1,000,000 years in hell rather than an eternity because of our sins that would be better than we deserve, if we had to spend 10,000 years in hell, 1,000, 100, if we were just put out of existence. But turn with me to Romans 8:15-17 But brethren we are co- heirs with Christ and we have a home in heaven….. I can’t fully fathom myself the grace and the love of God.

Thankfully God met our greatest need by sending Jesus to die on the cross for you and for me. God’s love is unconditional (4:10)

This is an amazing and comforting thing to think about.

God first loved me and you. (He made the first move)

1 John 4:10 - He loved us not us loving Him. We did nothing to deserve this whatsoever. God loved us when we were His enemies.

Romans 5:8 - loved us while we were sinners Jesus died for you and me while we were sinners. Propitiation - the satisfaction of an offended party - in this case God. (Holman illustrated pocket Bible dictionary)

Jesus suffered the punishment that you and me deserved. 1 Peter 2:21-25 He came to earth. Lived and died, and suffered more than we will ever know so that you and me could have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10 God loves us more than anyone or anything ever could. So a question for you and me as we close…. Are we living for Him who died for us?

I have to answer this as well as you. Are we giving Him our best each day… or are we going through the motions? Are we growing? - 2 Peter 1:9 tells us that if we are not growing it’s b/c we are nearsighted. Christ is our life - Colossians 3:4 - not a habit nor a hobby - but our very reason for being is Christ (Philippians 1:21). Galatians 2:20 - He died for us all individually 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - He died for us so that we would live for Him so that one day we can live with Him.

Conclusion:

1. God loves b/c that’s who He is that is part of His nature. (4:8)

2. We see the greatest example of God’s love when we look at the cross. (4:9)

3. God’s love for us is unconditional. (4:10)

4. God has met our greatest need and He loves us all.

5. If we wind up lost it won’t be because God didn’t love us but it’ll be because we didn’t love God and do what He said.. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)

6. Since God so loves us what should our response be? (Love Him) - How?? - John 14:15 - IF YOU LOVE ME THEN YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS

a) - This means becoming a Christian if we haven’t done so.

b) - If we are a Christian it means giving God our best everyday, growing closer to Him, constantly saying not my will but Thine be done.

7. Have you responded to God’s love?