The God That Created You Is A God Of Love

The God That Created You Is A God Of Love

Text: John 3:16

16 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.

Introduction:

* The Bible says that God “is” three things: God is light, God is spirit, and God is love.

1 John 4:8–11 (AV)

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

* First John 4:8 doesn’t say, “God is loving.” It says, “God is love”—and there is a difference.

* God is not “loving”—He is love. That means the very essence of His nature is love; everything He does is a manifestation of love; and He cannot do anything that is not-love.

* The Bible says plenty about the love of God:

• His love is knowable and believable, able to be experienced (1 John 4:16).

• He loves us in spite of our sins (Romans 5:8).

• He loved us before we were able to love Him in return (1 John 4:19).

• His love is revealed in His mercy (Ephesians 2:4).

• His love is everlasting, never-ending (Jeremiah 31:3).

* Everything good the human race knows how to do, it learned from God, and that is especially true of love.

* God set the example for how to love by loving us “in spite of.”

Romans 5:8 (AV)

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

*The clearest sign of God-like love is when someone loves another in spite of what they have done wrong, which is how God loves us.

* Another sign of God-like love is sacrifice—loving at a loss.

* Illustration of Sacrificial love:

I read a story once about a little boy whose sister needed a blood transfusion to live. The boy had suffered and recovered from the same disease and built up immunity to it in his blood. Because they shared the same rare blood type, the little boy was the only donor available. He agreed to donate his own blood so his sister could live. As the nurse put the needle into his arm, the boy watched his blood begin to drain out of his body through the plastic tube. He looked up at the doctor and asked seriously, “Doctor, when do I die?” * Neither the doctor nor the family realized that the little boy thought he was giving up his life—his blood—so his sister could live. But that’s what he was prepared to do. 1 John 3:16–18 (AV)

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

* We are looking at genuine, sacrificial love when we look at someone willing to give up his life for another person.

* This God-kind of love was not a part of the everyday Greek language until the love of God in Christ was revealed to the world.

* The Greeks had words for love, but they did not refer to selfless, sacrificial love.

* Eros referred to physical passions (compare our word “erotic”).

* Stergo, a Greek word not appearing in the New Testament, was used by Greeks to refer to a family kind of love.

* Phileo is a brotherly kind of love (compare the name “Philadelphia, City of Brotherly Love,” and the word “philanthropy,” the love of humankind, often expressed through charitable gifts).

* There was not a word in common use that could serve to describe selfless, sacrificial love.

* The Greek word agape began to be used by the New Testament writers to describe God’s love.

* God’s love is a kind of love that seeks nothing in return; that seeks only the benefit and well-being of the one loved.

* God reached down from heaven for our benefit and loved us and saved us in spite of the fact that we had nothing to offer Him in return.

Text: John 3:16

16 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.

* John 3:16 is used in so many presentations of the Gospel because it so clearly reflects the nature of God’s saving love.

* I’ll never forget learning once how the Gospel is pictured in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave His Only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not Perish but have Everlasting Life.” The whole Gospel in one verse! * I would like to share with you several dimensions of God’s agape love as revealed in John 3:16.

I. The quality of God’s love.

* The quality of God’s love is revealed in the little word “so.”

* We could read the verse this way: “God loved the world so much that He gave …”

* His love revealed in this verse is full of passion and emotion. God “so” loved the world.

* The Roman world was unfamiliar with a love that was so deep and sacrificial that an innocent person would step forward and die for the guilty.

Illustration:

In St. Paul’s Cathedral in London stands a life-size statue of Christ. This statue takes people back when they see it.

It isn’t the normal image of a sedate looking Christ hanging on the cross, or a statue of Christ with little children, or in a meditative pose.

Actually, it’s a rather ugly appearing statue.

It is a statue of Christ writhing in anguish and pain on the cross.

And underneath it are etched these words: “This is how God loved the world.”

As unpleasant as it is to see, it is an accurate representation of just how costly our salvation was, and how selfless God’s love was.

II. The object of God’s love.

* “God so loved the world …” Only an agape kind of love could have allowed a Jewish writer, the apostle John, to write such a thing.

* The Jews looked down with disdain on “the world” of Gentiles, yet here a Jewish writer records the fact that God loved everyone in the world in addition to the Jews.

* You remember the story of the good Samaritan. The Jews were so filled with pride that they hated the very object of God’s love.

Luke 10:30–35 (AV)

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

* Listen to what Jesus had to say to them:

Matthew 15:6–9 (AV)

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Matthew 23:13–16 (AV)

13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

* Jesus told this story to illustrate to those listening to him teach that the Pharisees and religions rulers had missed the point!

* They were so filled with the pride of being God chosen people that missed the reason God had called them out of the world for- to show God’s love to the world.

* Instead of revealing God’s love to the world, they became experts on the laws of God and distorted the words of God until the message of God’s love to the world had been lost.

* The Jewish religious leaders, in their pride, thought that they were the objects of God’s love, the truth is that the Object of God’s love is the world.

* When Jesus came He set the record straight. Listen to how this is illustrated in the salvation of a man name Zacchaeus:

Luke 19:1–10 (AV)

1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him,

This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

* The story of how Mary, who washed Jesus’ feet with her hair reveals the same hatred for the world that is the very object of God’s love.

Luke 7:37–39 (AV)

37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

* As followers of Christ, the object of our love should be the same as the object of God’s love. The world.

* If we are not careful we will find ourselves with the same attitude toward the world and the Pharisees. Listen to what the religious folks of Jesus’ day had to say about the love that Jesus had for the world:

* The religious crowd said:

Matthew 9:10–13 (AV)

10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

* Listen to the response of Jesus:

12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 5:27–30 (AV)

27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. 28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him. 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

* Notice what the religious crowd says:

30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

* Notice the accusations of the religious crowd against Jesus:

Luke 7:34 (AV)

34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

* In the Bible we are exhorted to have the “Mind of Christ.”What was on the mind of Christ? What was his main motivation? God’s love for the world!

*Listen to the compassion in the voice of Jesus as he weeps for the very same religious people who were raising their voices against Him:

Matthew 23:37 (AV)

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

* O that we, like Jesus would strive to be the friend of sinners!

Luke 15:1–10 (AV)

1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

* Is it said of Blue Springs Baptist Church that those folks down there are the friends of sinners?

* I am afraid that our churches today and like the Pharisees and religions rulers in that we focus on ourselves with our parties, field trips, fellowship meetings, seminars, Christian schools, and too soon forget the real message that we should be proclaiming. * Proclaim The message of God’s love to world, the object of his love! III. The price of God’s love.

Illustration of the price of God’s love:

* The high price of God’s love was “His only begotten Son.… ”

John Griffeth lived in the western part of the United States [Oklahoma, according to some versions] during the depression years of dustbowls, dryness and drought. Married in 1929, the Griffeths watched their farming dreams blow into dust. Finally, they gathered their little son with their meager belongings and moved east.

There John landed a job at the Mississippi River tending a drawbridge. One summer day [April 5 in one version] in 1937, he took his son to spend the day with him. Wide-eyed and full of questions, Greg watched his father as he raised the bridge to let the ships pass, then lowered it for the great trains to roar across the river.

About noon, John put up the bridge and sat with Greg on an observation platform to eat their lunches. They enjoyed the activity on the waterfront. John dreamed about traveling so he told Greg stories about the ships and where they were headed. He was so caught up in the stories that he lost consciousness of time. Suddenly he was awakened by the shrill whistle of a locomotive. He glanced at his watch, noting that it was nearly time for the Memphis Express.

John made his way to the gear-room, sat on the stool and took the lever in hand. He looked up the river and back down to see if any ships were coming. Then he glanced below ... Wait! No! No! This can't be! Terror gripped him as his heart leaped into his throat and his blood froze in his veins! Evidently, Greg tried to follow his father, slipped off the catwalk and fell into the massive gears below. His leg was caught and as sure as the sun rises in the morning, if the bridge was lowered six tons of revolving metal would grind him to death!

Mind spinning, John frantically sought for answers! He thought, "I'll run back, tie a rope, let myself down..." -- but, no! There was not a third of the needed time.

John moaned! He was trembling and perspiring as his eyes brimmed with tears. The shrill cry of the train whistle was alarmingly close. More than anything, he wanted to spare his son; but if he did many would die! There was no other way to spare their lives! Stricken and overwhelmed with grief, John bowed his quivering head, covered his eyes, and released the lever. The gear room shook as the wheels turned and the great bridge settled down into place. In moments it was over and the Memphis Express came roaring past.

John lifted his head and looked in the train. There a man read the morning news, the conductor was looking at his watch, and a woman in the dining car was feeding her little girl with a long spoon. No one noticed the heart-broken Griffeth. No one was aware of the grieving father or the newly torn body of his dear son. Choking with passion John called out, "What's the matter with you people? I just GAVE MY SON for you! Don't you even care?" Nobody heard; nobody looked; nobody knew and no one responded as the train disappeared across the river.

The heavenly Father watches our own eternity-bound generation as we speed down the rails of life. Without Jesus we too are hopeless and headed for destruction. Our sovereign God "sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him" (1 John 4:9). What an amazing sacrifice as God "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all" (Rom. 8:32).

* If you have a son, stop and consider this: Is there anyone you love so much in this world that you would sacrifice your son for him?

* Many have lost sons in military conflicts in service to our country, and that is hard enough. But those deaths are not usually voluntary and not brought about by a decision of the parents.

* It’s almost inconceivable for us to consider the idea of giving up our son to save the life of another person. Yet that is what God did.

* The story of Abraham being willing to sacrifice the life of his son Isaac is such a powerful one because it makes the “theory” of God giving up His son real to us because we know how Abraham’s son was to him.

* First John 4:9–10 says, “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

* Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all.”

IV. The offer of God’s love.

* The offer of God’s love was made to “whoever.” God did not offer His love just to the Jews or just to the Gentiles, but to “whoever”—to everybody in the world.

Romans 10:12–15 (AV)

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

* The Bible says that Christ “is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

1 John 2:1–2 (AV)

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

* Enough grace and love was poured out at Calvary to cover the needs of every person in the world.

* The “whoever” doesn’t refer just to geography or ethnicity.

* It also refers to “whoever you are in terms of the depth of your sin.”

* “Whoever” means “whoever”—no conditions or limitations.

V. The choice of God’s love.

VI. The promise of God’s love.

VII. The fulfillment of God’s love.

Conclusion:

* Considering the great love that God has for you as a sinner, why would you linger in indecision, and not rather run to the open arms of a loving God and embrace Him this morning?

* Leave your seat and come to the front and we will take the Bible and show you plainly how to be saved this morning.

* If you find yourself out of fellowship with God this morning, maybee because of Sin, or just neglecting God in your daily life, come and restore your fellowship with the one who loves you so much!

Outline Summary

Text: John 3:16

16 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.

Introduction:

I. The quality of God’s love.

II. The object of God’s love.

III. The price of God’s love.

IV. The offer of God’s love.

V. The choice of God’s love.

VI. The promise of God’s love.

VII. The fulfillment of God’s love.

Conclusion: