Behold What Manner of Love

,

John 3:1 KJV 1900

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

1 John 3:1 GW

Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are. For this reason the world doesn’t recognize us, and it didn’t recognize him either.

John 3:1 KJV 1900

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

1. This Love has been bestowed upon us.

A. ,

John 3:16 KJV 1900

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

B. , — Before any of us believed.

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

II. What manner of Love.

A. The Love of God ,

Romans 5:5 KJV 1900

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

B. Never failing love ,

1 Corinthians 13:8 KJV 1900

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

III. The commandment of Love

A. An order from God:

1. From which there is no retreat.

2. About which there is no debate.

a. ,

Deuteronomy 28:1 GW

Carefully obey the Lord your God, and faithfully follow all his commands that I’m giving you today. If you do, the Lord your God will place you high above all the other nations in the world.

The blessings shall come to pass

b., Walking in divine health

Exodus 15:26 GW

He said, “If you will listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what he considers right, if you pay attention to his commands and obey all his laws, I will never make you suffer any of the diseases I made the Egyptians suffer, because I am the Lord, who heals you.”

c. , Walking the covenant life

Deuteronomy 7:6–14 GW

You are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. He chose you to be his own special possession out of all the nations on earth. The Lord set his heart on you and chose you, even though you didn’t outnumber all the other people. You were the smallest of all nations. You were chosen because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors. So he used his mighty hand to bring you out. He freed you from slavery under Pharaoh (the king of Egypt). Keep in mind that the Lord your God is ⌊the only⌋ God. He is a faithful God, who keeps his promiseand is merciful to thousands of generations of those who love him and obey his commands. But he sends destruction to pay back everyone who hates him. He never takes long to pay back anyone who hates him. So obey the commands, laws, and rules I’m giving you today. If you listen to these rules and faithfully obey them, the Lord your God will keep his promise to you and be merciful to you, as he swore to your ancestors. He will love you, bless you, and increase the number of your descendants. He will bless you with children. He will bless your land with produce: grain, new wine, and olive oil. He will bless your herds with calves, and your flocks with lambs and kids. This will all happen in the land the Lord will give you, as he swore to your ancestors. You will be blessed more than any other people. Your men and women will be able to have children, and your animals will be able to have offspring.

d. , He that loves not abideth in death

1 John 3:14 GW

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers. The person who doesn’t grow in love remains in death.

e. , Walking in prosperity.

Deuteronomy 8:11–18 GW

Be careful that you don’t forget the Lord your God. Don’t fail to obey his commands, rules, and laws that I’m giving you today. You will eat all you want. You will build nice houses and live in them. Your herds and flocks, silver and gold, and everything else you have will increase. When this happens, be careful that you don’t become arrogant and forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of slavery in Egypt. He was the one who led you through that vast and dangerous desert—a thirsty and arid land, with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He was the one who made water come out of solid rock for you. He was the one who fed you in the desert with manna, which your ancestors had never seen. He did this in order to humble you and test you. But he also did this so that things would go well for you in the end. You may say to yourselves, “I became wealthy because of my own ability and strength.” But remember the Lord your God is the one who makes you wealthy. He’s confirming the promisewhich he swore to your ancestors. It’s still in effect today.