John - The Love of God
God’s Love
Text: John 3:16
Thesis: To prove that God loves all men equally and desires the best for all; therefore,
men should give God their best.
Introduction:
(1) John 3.16 is indeed the “Golden Text” of the Bible.
a. The gist of the Bible is summed up for us in one verse.
b. This verse shows:
i. The greatest giver – God
ii. The greatest gift – His only begotten Son
iii. The greatest measure – The world
iv. The greatest future blessing – Eternal life (Woods 66).
(2) We sing songs about God’s wonderful love, but do we really know what it means?
(3) We read verses like John 14.15, but are we really motivated by this love?
(4) If we truly know God, then we know love.
a. Oftentimes, love for a person causes an individual to go beyond expectations and keep on in spite of weariness.
b. Why do we do what we do?
Discussion:
I. God’s love is SACRIFICIAL.
A. Love is from the Greek agapao, which is an unconditional love that here “focuses of the one great expression of God’s love in the giving of His son” (Pack 1:63).
B. God GAVE His only begotten Son.
1. This is His grace; i.e., unmerited favor.
a. He did this even though we had neither done anything nor could would do anything to deserve this love.
b. Paul wrote, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man would one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love for us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5.6-8).
2. We deserved Hell because of our sins, but God GAVE us another chance.
3. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 6:23)
4. “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offences of one many be dead, much more the grace of God and the GIFT BY GRACE, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” (Rom. 5:15)
5. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God: therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not.” (I John 3:1)
C. God’s love is more than words.
1. He didn’t just talk about loving us.
2. He loved us in everything that He did.
II. God’s love is not SELECTIVE.
A. God loved the world (John 3.16).
1. This includes all people of every race, sex, nationality, etc.
2. Paul wrote, “For there is no respect of person with God” (Rom. 2.11).
B. It is easier to love somebody than others.
1. Nevertheless, God loves all men equally.
2. Maybe you have been places where favorites have been shown, but God does not have favorites.
C. As one wrote, “Salvation is for all; the offer in the word “whosoever” is unlimited […]” (Woods 67).
III. God’s love is STEADFAST.
A. He is “longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3.9).
B. Paul wrote, “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us for the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our love” (Rom. 8.38-39).
C. Sometimes, you may have friends who “love” you only while you have money, etc., but God loves you always and forever.
D. The only person who can jeopardize this condition is you; thus, “Keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 21).
E. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness (Lam. 3.21-22).
Conclusion:
(1) Truly, God is love (1 John 4.8).
(2) Do we know our loving God?
(3) Do we talk about loving Him back, or do we love Him back in everything that we do?