The definition and exception of Love

How God defines love

Introduction

The story of TP and the sat “compromise”

The term had not been misunderstood and not clearly defined and the consequences were drastic for my friend. This is a funny story to lead into vital topic. Today we observe the Advent of Love. As we look around our world today, are you similar to me and believe that we need a true definition of Love? Are we like my friend and walking around misunderstanding the core of Jesus’s greatest commandment? In Matthew chapter 22 an expert in the Law approaches Jesus and asks “What is the greatest commandment” to which Jesus responds “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” If “the greatest command” we have from Jesus is to love then we best understand it’s definition and practice it’s application. Turn with me to 1st John 4

Read 1st John 4:7-12

God Defines Love (v. 8b-10)

God gives us the definition of love because he is qualified to do so.

v.8 God is love

God is not merely “loving”

God doesn’t simply “love” us

God himself is Love

God is the essence of his being

Many of us have gotten love wrong because we have not recieved it’s definition from a qualified source.

Marriage does not define love but rather defined by it.

Sex does not define love but rather defined by.

Family does not define love but rather defined by it.

The issue with defining love by an unqualified source is that source will fail us. But not God. Not the source. If you want to have pure water than it must come from a pure place. If you wish to have true love existing in your life then you must be connected to its true source.

For some in this room you have never been connected to the source of true love but rather heard things about him, experienced “love” in other realms other than being connected to the true source.

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God defines love as sacrificial (v. 9-10)

Every action and word from God is loving.

God defines love as BEING sacrificial

God sent his son, to benefit you and I.

Sacrificial love, love practiced truly involves putting away self for the benefit of others.

We too often over look what we celebrate this time of year for.

Think with me for a moment the sacrifice that our father made for us.

Jesus is fully God. 100% Sovereign. Reigning over all. Has the highest seat beside the father and yet God chose him, sacrificially, the one who had every right and reason not to come, came.

Wow what a source of love.

When we describe love. When we think about “Love” and it’s definition we must KNOW that it embodies sacrifice.

God defines love as eternal (Isaiah 54:10)

In a world where things last but a minute praise God that his love is never ending

This is hard for us to even fathom

God defines love as unconditional (Romans 5:8)

There is no condition for God to love us.

We receive love based on who God is not what we have done.

God Expects Love (v. 7-8a, 11-12)

Once you understand the definition of love you then have an obligation to follow it’s instruction.

Have you ever wanted to remain blissfully unaware of something’s meaning because you knew, if i find out I will be obligated to do something.

Are you loving others in a sacrificial way?

Loving in a sacrificial way means you will put aside your comfort for the benefit of others.

Is your comfort not sharing the gospel with someone you are close to because of fear of their reaction?

Is your comfort being correct? Has anyone been more correct than Jesus? Yet he left comfort!

Is your comfort apathy?

Is your comfort, your rights?

Are you loving others for their eternal benefit?

What separates us from the outside world is our eternal hope and faith.

Are we loving out of an overflow of our eternal hope?

Do we long for other’s eternal salvation?

Are you loving others unconditionally?

Love is not love if we put terms on them.

I will love you if…

Today you may be thinking “I am not loving. I haven’t been loving.” Let me encourage you to examine v. 7 again with me.

We have been born (past tense) and we know God (present tense)

In order to love in this way we must be connected to the source daily!

The only way to accomplish this love is to remain connected to the source

You notice John doesn’t state that love comes via some sort of threat but rather inspiriation.

Are we being inspired to love?

Church, we will not leave today with greater love unless we connect to its source.

Conclusion

I want to leave you with this

Children’s definition of Love

“Love is what is in the room with you at Christmas when you stop opening presents and just listen.” Christmas time is a time of celebration and reflection. God’s love came to us and our response is to go and love one another.