He Promises: The Unbreakable Love of God

Bible Passages: John 3:16, Luke 15:4, Luke 15:7, 1 John 4, Luke 9:54, Romans 5:8, John 15:13, 1 John 4:8–10

What got you out of bed this morning?

What are you hoping for today?

What do you want God to do in your life?

Look around at the people in your life. Family. Friends. Co-workers. The cashier at the grocery store. The neighbor whom you speak with at the backyard fence. We all tend to put these brave faces on, and we appear to all be fine on the outside. Yet...on the inside. If I were a betting man, I’m sure most of us are dealing with hurt, with loss. We’re dealing with guilt; shame; loneliness; anxiety; finances. What are you dealing with?

No matter what you’re going through …Jesus has a promise that speaks directly to your pain.

Today I’m personally happy you are here. We are beginning a New Series called “He Promises” …

Jesus promised …

    Jesus promises you will know His voice.

  Jesus promises to be with you always.

Jesus promises to give you peace.

Jesus promises you don’t have to worry.       Jesus promises to give you rest.

Today … right at this very moment...Jesus promises his love for you

Big Idea: God’s love for us is unbreakable, offering hope and reassurance that in every circumstance, we are cherished and accepted.

A group of friends was once hiking when one of them slipped and fell into a muddy ravine. Rather than turning back or leaving him behind, the others rushed in to help. This is a beautiful picture of God’s love for us—always willing to reach out and pull us from our lowest moments, regardless of how dirty or lost we feel. His embrace is a reminder that we are cherished, providing hope and acceptance, no matter the circumstance.

God's love is profound, unconditional, and everlasting, reaching everyone, even in our failures or doubts about our worthiness to receive it. God’s love reassures us that regardless of our struggles, doubts, or failures, God's love remains constant and unchanging, helping us to find peace in out identity as beloved children of God. The very nature of God’s loveis proactive, unconditional, and meant for everyone, addressing both those of deep faith and those uncertain of their standing with God.

1. God’s Inclusive Invitation

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God’s inclusive love is shown in giving His Son for the world. John 3:16 highlights the foundational truth of divine love that encompasses everyone, stressing that God’s love is proactive and sacrificial. This passage encourages believers to find reassurance in knowing that divine love is vast and unchanging, ensuring everyone who believes will have eternal life. Jesus’ voluntary sacrifice is the ultimate embodiment of God’s love, and I prayer that this encourages you to trust in the security of His love.

2. God’s Relentless Pursuit

Luke 15:4 NIV

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

Do you believe that God loves the world?

And if so, while we believe God loved the world, maybe there is doubt that He loved me

 How could God possibly love me personally? Well, Jesus says it himself. You are the one Jesus loves.

God relentlessly pursues the lost. God is the shepherd who leaves the flock to find a single lost sheep, revealing God’s focused love that seeks the one who strays. Jesus’ role as the shepherd, illustrates how His mission on Earth was to seek and save the lost. This serves as a powerful reassurance that no matter how far one may drift, God’s love actively seeks us out and calls us back to Him.

3. God’s Celebratory Joy

Luke 15:7 NIV

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

You might highlight the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents over the 99 righteous who feel no need to repent, as described in Luke 15:7. This illustrates God’s celebratory love toward repentance, underscoring that every return to Him is met with joy and acceptance. Here, Jesus is again central as the one who brings sinners back to God, fostering reconciliation. You can suggest that this heavenly joy over repentance should uplift believers, reminding them of their immense worth and the joy they bring to God.

4. God’s Essential Nature

1 John 4 NIV

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

1 John 4, details how love is not merely an action but God’s very essence. The passage encourages us to love one another, reflecting the divine love given to them through Christ. Jesus is love incarnate, demonstrating how His earthly ministry was a living testament to God’s love in action. This call to mirror God’s love offers a profound challenge to live selflessly, trusting that His love in us is transformative.

5. God’s Unconditional Sacrifice

Romans 5:8 NIV

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God’s love is shown in Christ dying for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates the unconditional nature of His love—a love not based on our merits, but given freely. Jesus’ sacrificial act underscores the depths of divine love and mercy. Let’s embrace this freeing truth, releasing us from the burden of earning God’s love and enabling them to rest in His endless grace.

7. God’s Ultimate Expression

John 15:13 NIV

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Laying down one’s life for friends. Jesus’ own sacrifice is the ultimate expression of love, affirming that divine love is selfless and willing to go to great lengths for our sake. Jesus’ act brings us into a profound understanding and experience of God’s love, calling us to appreciate the depth of what it means to be called ‘friends’ and to reflect that love towards others.

8. God’s Manifested Gift

1 John 4:8–10 NIV

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus didn’t just promise his love. He proved his love. God is love.

Love isn’t just what God does—Love is who God is. **

Whoever loves knows God. God’s love was manifested through sending His Son for the world's salvation, making Christ the centerpiece of divine love. Understanding and accepting this love can transform our relationship with God and one another, reassuring us that love is both a gift and a call to action in our lives.

If you feel unappreciated by your family or partners, remind yourself that God's love for you is constant and unbreakable. Take time to pray and meditate on Scripture that reassures you of your worth (like Romans 8:38-39). Then, initiate a heartfelt conversation with your loved ones about how you feel; open communication can foster deeper connections and help you all feel cherished and accepted.

In a workplace where you feel undervalued, remember that God's love is always present, regardless of your job title or recognition. Start each day with a prayer that centers your heart on God's acceptance. Make an effort to encourage a co-worker openly; their response might reflect how supportive atmospheres grow from God's assurance of love, and this positivity can create a more appreciative work culture.

When you encounter hostility or rejection in public places, such as social gatherings or community events, remember that God loves you profoundly despite how others may perceive you. Carry a small card with a Scripture verse that speaks to God’s unconditional love (like John 3:16). In moments of discomfort, pull it out to remind yourself of your identity in Christ, giving you strength to engage positively with others.

If workplace stress leaves you feeling isolated and anxious, focus on God's reassuring love. Create a prayer corner or space at your desk where you can take quick prayer breaks to center your heart. During these moments, offer prayers for your colleagues too. This practice will not only remind you of God's unbreakable love for you but also foster a supportive environment where others feel cherished.

Imagine a flower peeking through the cracks of concrete. Despite harsh environments, it blooms magnificently, illustrating how God's love works within us. Even when life feels tough, His love nurtures us, and we flourish against all odds. Just as that flower is a testament to finding beauty in struggle, God's unbreakable love assures us we are cherished—even during challenging times. We are always accepted, important, and valuable in His sight, no matter our surroundings.

How can you personally identify moments when you've felt unworthy of God's love?

In what ways can you actively express God's unconditional love to those around you?

How can you remind yourself of God's promises when facing difficulties?

What steps can you take to build deeper connections with those you feel estranged from?

How does understanding God's love as proactive change your approach to your daily challenges?

In what situations do you struggle to feel accepted and how might God's love help you in those moments?

How can you show love and support to a friend who feels lost or unappreciated?

What practical ways can you remind yourself of your worth in God's eyes?

When faced with peer pressure, how can God's promise of love empower you to make the right choices?

How can you start a conversation about God's love with someone who may not know it yet?

In John 3:16, what does it mean for you personally to understand that God's love is extended to 'whoever believes'?

How does the image of God as a shepherd in Luke 15 encourage you in your personal relationship with Him?

What implications does 1 John 4 have for understanding God's very essence as love in our daily lives?

Reflecting on Romans 5:8, how does acknowledging God's love while we were still sinners impact your view of grace?

In light of Jesus' sacrificial love, what does it mean to you to be called a 'friend' of Christ as highlighted in John 15:13?

What areas of your life do you struggle to feel accepted, and how can God's unbreakable love support you in those times?

How can you actively express God's love to friends who may be feeling lost or unappreciated?

When facing peer pressure, how can remembering God's promise of love help you make better choices?

How can you start conversations about God's love with those who may not know about it yet?

What are some practical ways you can remind yourself of your worth in God's eyes when feeling insecure?