THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE BELIEVER

The Scripture that Bill opened this morning’s service with sets the tone of the next few sermons. We have before us one of the sweetest descriptions of God in the Bible. God is love. This is a statement as true in Scripture as God is holy, or as God is almighty, or as God is present everywhere.

The love of God is a sweet, delightful doctrine of Scripture and one that we must never tire of discussing or enjoying. Consider the love a little boy has for his ant farm. He takes care of those ants, making sure they have enough food and water and ensuring the temperature is just right for the colony to thrive. He guards the ant farm from his sister. He loves the ants. In an infinitely greater degree of separation, God, the creator of heaven and earth and all that is in our vast and expansive universe, loves human beings.

Our topic for today and next Sunday (Lord willing) is to look at The Love of God and the Believer, that is, we will see the implications of God’s love for the believer. Now, if you remember our previous three sermons addressing the need for discernment among believers. There are false prophets in the world, as we noted from both Scripture, history, and the current society.

Now, as human beings we are prone to be imbalanced. If it is too hot, we adjust the thermostat too much, and it becomes cold. Other examples of those imbalances to which we are predisposed would be the role of government. For example, we realize that there are businesses that take advantage of people, and the government steps in to help protect their rights. However, many times they overcompensate and institute rules and regulations that are not only unnecessary, but are, at times, harmful.

Now, I bring this up because we all have a tendency to be imbalanced in our views of God. I tend to maximize God’s holiness, not purposely though, to the exclusion of God’s love.

Our writer, the apostle John, was also given to imbalances. In Mark 3:17, he is given the name (along with his brother James) “Sons of thunder.” Now, why was he given this name? Consider this account from Luke 9:51-54.

Now we see why he was referred to as a son of thunder. Like many young people, he was eager and excited for the truth. He was zealous for the truth! Yet, as the young man John aged, His zeal for truth was tempered, or balanced, with love.

Though not losing his zeal for truth, John was overwhelmed by the love of God. He refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

John 13:23

John 13:23 NASB95

There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

John 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; 21:20

John 19:26 NASB95

When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”

John 20:2 NASB95

So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

John 21:7 NASB95

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.

John 21:20 NASB95

Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”

In our present epistle, this letter penned by the aged disciple whom Jesus loved, focuses on God’s love as well. You can imagine the tears in John’s eyes as he penned the phrase, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God!” (3:1)

It is from this foundation, this Niagara Falls of God’s love (though that picture insignificantly illustrates His love) that then pours out to the eddies of our lives to others.

The Love of God and the Believer is John’s focus this morning. We see in our present passage of Scripture that, on the basis of the love of God, we must love. It is not optional. It is a divine command. Let us break this down this morning.

I. LOVE IS THE DISTINGUISHING MARK OF THE BELIEVER- 4:7

Love is the self-sacrificial mark of the of the believer. John encourages us, love one another. Coming on the heals of the command to test the spirits, this exhortation to love balances out our discernment with love.

Now, the command is clear: love one another. But why, we may ask? Do you know ________? Do you know what she did to me? Do you remember what he said to me?

Why? How can John tell us to love one another?

A. Love is the distinguishing mark of the believer because love comes from God—for love is from God

The emotion of love finds its source in God, because, John tells us, God is love. It is His essence, as much as is His holiness. Why do we love, believers? Because God is love.

Our, according to the collected teachings of the New Testament, is to be like Jesus Christ. He is love incarnate. Consider His life and ministry. Consider His ministry in Matthew 4:23-25.

Matthew 4:23–25 NASB95

Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.

Or, consider his Sermon on the Mount, where love is the motivation behind all acts and thoughts in Matthew 5:21-30, 38-48.

Matthew 5:21–30 NASB95

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

Matthew 5:38–48 NASB95

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Or, consider Jesus’ love for those who struggle with anxiety. He tells them in Matthew 6:25-34.

Matthew 6:25–34 NASB95

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Or, consider Jesus and the leper in Matthew 8:1-4.

Matthew 8:1–4 NASB95

When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Or, consider Jesus when he saw the crowds in Matthew 9:35-36.

Matthew 9:35–36 NASB95

Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.

Or, consider Jesus’ call to the weary and heavy-laden in Matthew 11:28-30.

Matthew 11:28–30 NASB95

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Let us love one another, because love is from God. Its source is in God. Which leads John to his next thought,

B. Love is the distinguishing mark of the believer because it shows his (or her) relationship to and experience with God—everyone who loves is born of God and knows God

This thought has two focuses: birth and experience. Love is distinguishing mark of the believer, first, because he (or she) has been born of God.

This calls to mind Jesus’ statement to Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” (3:7) You see, in our sin, we were so marred and disfigured that we needed to be completely remade! And from this new birth we are enabled to love like our Father. Love reveals our new birth. But there is more.

Love also demonstrates the experiential knowledge a believer has of God. I believe a parable will help illustrate what John means.

Matthew 18:21-35

Matthew 18:21–35 NASB95

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. “When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. “But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. “So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ “And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ “So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ “But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. “So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. “Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ‘Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ “And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

Jesus is telling us that when we realize how much we have been forgiven, we will be forgiving.

Now, I originally intended to preach more than just this one verse. However, I believe setting this verse, and particularly this thought of the distinguishing mark of the believer in connection with God, is worth it.

Applicational Thoughts

I want to end our time with some applicational thoughts.

1. By dwelling on God’s incredible love, you will be overwhelmed by God’s gracious love.

This is the very basis for John’s exhortation to love one another: God is love. Consider the myriad ways that Christ displays the love of God in the Gospels. Go back and read through the accounts I shared this morning. Read through Luke, he focuses more on the outcasts of society. Read the Gospel of John, who finds Jesus interacting with individuals such as the Samaritan woman. Picture yourself in those stories. Think about passages like Romans 3:10-17 and Ephesians 2:1-3. Remember, Paul commands in Ephesians 2:11-13, that you were at one time without God and without hope. You stood under the just and righteous condemnation of an incomprehensible holy God, and yet God demonstrated His love toward you that, even while you were in the act of sinning, Christ died for you.

We must be overwhelmed by the love of God! This leads to a second

2. When overwhelmed by God’s gracious love, you will extend this love to others.

This is John’s thoughts, not only in our present verse but in next few verses as well.

The whole point of the parable was to end forgiveness to others on the basis of the forgiveness we have received. God is the center of love, and it is from this center that we extend love to others.

There is a beautiful logic in John’s statement. It is brilliant in its application. Because God loves us, we love one another.

When we withhold love to someone, we are, at that very moment, least like God. When we fail to love someone who has offended us, we are not like God.

When we fail to love someone who holds different political views (wither conservative or liberal), we are not like God.

When we fail to love someone who is our enemy, we are not like God.

Why? Because God loved us, filthy detestable sinners justly standing under the wrath of Almighty God.

When we love those who offend us, we mirror our precious Savior. When we love those with whom we disagree, we mimic the Lord Jesus. When we love our enemies, we demonstrate the same love that Jesus demonstrated for us when He gave us life on the cross for our sins.