The Greatness of God’s Love

The Greatness of God’s Love

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us” ().

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

I. The “Who” of God’s Love

6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

I. The “Who” of God’s Love

“God is love” (, ).

A. God is the “who” of his love. He had no beginning and will have no ending. He is from everlasting to everlasting.

B. God’s love is great because he is great. God created the heavens, the earth, and all that is contained therein.

II. The “What” of God’s Love

“God so loved the world” ().

A. The “what” of God’s love refers to every person—the great and small, black and white, and rich and poor alike.

B. God’s love includes the alcoholic, drug abuser, prostitute, terrorist. All who repent and forsake their sins may be saved.

III. The “Where” of God’s Love

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” ().

A. The “where” of God’s love refers to “everywhere.” His love went to Calvary, where he atoned for the sins of the world.

B. God’s love extends to the uttermost parts of the earth. It reaches the haughty and proud and includes those in the depths of despair.

IV. The “When” of God’s Love

“God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” ().

A. The “when” of God’s love means “at all times.” God’s love continues forever, for he is eternal.

B. Since God always was and always will be, his love is from everlasting to everlasting, for “God is love.” “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love” ().

V. The “Why” of God’s Love

“Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” ().

A. The “why” of God’s love is beyond our comprehension. However, we do know that God desires to fellowship with his creation.

B. Because of his great love, God gave his only Son to die on the cross for our sins and to bring us back into fellowship with himself.

Spray, R. E. (1991). Positive Sermon Outlines (pp. 26–27). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.