The Depths of the Father's Love
Tony Schachle
Behold the Father's Love • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 19 viewsHappy Father’s Day to all of our dads! Today, on Father’s Day, we celebrate the love that our Heavenly Father has for us. In 1 John 3:1-3, we find that the love of the Father is (1) Extravagant, (2) Intimate, (3) Misunderstood, (4) Transformative, and (5) Purifying. As we learn about what the Father’s love means to us, it should motivate us to want to be reflectors of His love to others.
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Transcript
SCRIPTURE
SCRIPTURE
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. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
MESSAGE
MESSAGE
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
I. The Father’s Love is Extravagant
I. The Father’s Love is Extravagant
1a Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us...
The Father’s Extravagant Love Must be Experienced
“Behold” [ἴδετε] (horaō) means more that just “to look at or to see.”
It means “to know by experience.”
You can’t experience God’s love merely by hearing about it or reading about it. You must experience it by receiving the love of God through believing in Jesus Christ and accepting His redeeming sacrifice for your sins on the cross.
The Father’s Extravagant Love is Indescribably Good
“What Manner of Love” [ποταπὴν] (potapos) carries the meaning of “amazement.”
It is so over the top that it should cause us to marvel.
God has not just given us His love, He has lavished it upon us.
Lavished means giving something in extravagant quantities.
Definition of extravagant: exceeding the limits of reason; extremely high in value.
God paid the highest price possible by sending His Son Jesus to die for our sins.
The extravagant, over-the-top, superabundant, value of the love of God should cause us to marvel in amazement and should result in our extravagant worship of Him.
The Father’s Extravagant Love is the Pinnacle of Love
Love [ἀγάπην] (agapē) is the highest, truest form of love.
It is unconditional and self-sacrificing.
The agapē love of God should be the type of love that we stive to have for God and for others.
The Father’s Extravagant Love has been Bestowed on Us
Bestowed [δέδωκεν] (didōmi) signifies an act of generous giving.
God’s love is a gift, not something we earn.
He bestowed His love to us by His grace: unmerited favor.
You never have to earn the Father’s love. We love Him because He first loved us. His love is an outflowing of his grace and is freely available to anyone who will receive it.
II. The Father’s Love is Intimate
II. The Father’s Love is Intimate
1b ...that we should be called children of God!...
The Father’s Intimate Love means We have been Adopted into His Family
“Called children of God” highlights our new identity through Christ.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
If you find yourself fighting the good fight of faith from a position of weakness or defeat, start by letting the love of your Heavenly Father remind you of who you are in Him. Once you understand what it means to be a child of God you will understand that you are fighting from a position of victory.
The Father’s Intimate Love means we have Close Relationship with Him
The Father’s love isn’t distant but personal and nurturing.
He knows us by name and desires fellowship with us.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...
God cares and wants to be involved in every intimate detail of your life. Let His love be your Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
III. The Father’s Love is Misunderstood
III. The Father’s Love is Misunderstood
1c ...Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
The Father’s Love is Rejected by the World
“The world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”
The love of God is countercultural and challenges worldly values.
The world does not understand it because they have not yet experienced it.
This is why we are told not to love the world or the things that are in the world. The values of the world are in opposition to God. If we love the world, the love of the Father is not in us.
The Father’s Misunderstood Love is a Call for Us to Stand Out
Being a child of God means living differently, which the world often misunderstands.
We are called to stand firm in our faith even though we encounter cultural pressure from the world.
We are told by God’s Word to come out from world and be separate and to touch not the unclean thing. It may not be the popular thing to do, but it is the right thing to do.
IV. The Father’s Love is Transformational (v. 2)
IV. The Father’s Love is Transformational (v. 2)
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
The Father’s Transformational Love Reveals our Present Identity
“Now we are children of God.”
God’s love changes who we are immediately upon salvation.
If you have experienced the love of God through salvation in the name of Jesus Christ, then you are not the same person you used to be. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. His love has given you a new identity.
The Father’s Transformational Love Reveals our Future Glory
“It has not yet been revealed what we shall be... we shall be like Him.”
The ultimate transformation will occur when we see Jesus face-to-face.
Our present identity is nothing in comparison to the glory that awaits us in Heaven. One day when we see Him face to face we are going to transformed into His image and likeness.
V. The Father’s Love is Purifying (v. 3)
V. The Father’s Love is Purifying (v. 3)
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
The Father’s Purifying Love Should Lead Us to Holiness
“Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself.”
God’s love inspires us to pursue a holy and blameless life.
The love of the Father and the hope that we have of the future glory with Him in Heaven should motivate us to live lives that are pleasing in the sight of God. That means we seek to purify ourselves from uncleanness and sin and then pursue His holiness.
The Father’s Purifying Love Makes Us a Reflection of His Purity
“Just as He is pure.”
Our lives should mirror the character of our Heavenly Father.
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
The Father’s love should motivate us to be more like Him. And we should be a mirror and reflect His love in our relationships with others.
CALL TO ACTION
CALL TO ACTION
Challenge to Fathers: Embrace the extravagant, intimate, misunderstood, transformational, and purifying aspects of God’s love in your role as a father.
Give sacrificially and mirror the generosity of the Heavenly Father.
Foster intimacy by being present, listening, and showing affection.
Model courage in standing firm in your faith despite societal pressures.
Nurture your children’s growth, guiding them toward their potential, just as God shapes you.
Set a spiritual example by leading your family in righteousness and integrity.
Challenge to Everyone: Reflect on and respond to the depth of the Father’s love. Let it shape your relationships and faith.
