A Love Of Great Value

Introduction

I am the kind of person who likes to research something out before allowing it in my life or in my body, influencing my family, etc. I will read articles, watch videos, influencers, etc. I want to make sure that what I am not wasting my time with investing my life in a lesser investment.

John is bringing to our attention something every believer should materialize between themselves and other children of God; LOVE.

A few things I want to establish today:

The Appeal to Love

The DNA Of God’s Love

The Duplication Of God’s Love

1) The Appeal To Love (vv7-8)

This has been the message from the beginning of our conversion (3:11)

The message of the world: “love is God” WRONG!!!!!

John is speaking of a transcendent attribute that he himself not only saw exemplified, but also experienced himself.

COMES FROM GOD! “God is love” (v8)

You must set your heart to grow in this supernatural imputed love.

You would think that it would just be instinctively that believers love believers, regardless of whether they are nice or not. NOT SO!

A completed love in you is not indicative of you automatically handling it with mastery.

Illustration: There are many things I have made available for Henry’s use. However, he must grow into them.

Those who become lazy with personal growth will struggle in materializing the greatest gift of God; HIS LOVE.

LISTEN, “he that loveth not, knoweth NOT God”

2) The DNA Of God’s Love (vv9-10)

(v9) So if there is a unique kind of love from God, what does it look like?

“manifested the love of God toward us”

“God sent”

This was done before the foundation of the world.

1 Peter 1:18–21 (KJV 1900) — 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Before anything was created, THIS was determined to happen.

(v10)

Notice the comparison between what God received and what He gave.

We see in this verse the very standard of love that He imputed into every born-again believer.

“not that we loved God”

Romans 3:11 (KJV 1900) — 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Psalm 53:2–3 (KJV 1900) — 2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. 3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; There is none that doeth good, no, not one.

“but that he loved us”

Romans 5:8–11 (KJV 1900) — 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Quote: “Nothing that man can do or say can bring God to adopt a favorable attitude or kindly disposition toward us. God is propitiated because His holy and righteous character has been vindicated by means of the vicarious and expiatory sacrifice of Christ. He has removed our guilt and sin so completely that He can show mercy to believing sinners like us. Love found the way.” [Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Epistles of John: An Expository Commentary (1 Jn 4:10). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.]

Jesus took the blow of the Father’s wrath so he could love them.

Jesus sacrifice covered all our sins.

APPLICATION

We must wake up every day with a predetermined heart to show love before we have any experience that day.

We must take the blow of ANY HURT from believers so love might reign through our bodies.

1 Peter 4:8 (KJV 1900) — 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

His love in us has been given to us that we might materialize the power it has to “cover a multitude of sins.”

3) The Duplication Of God’s Love

“if God..........and he did!”

“we ought”

Illustration: Gas may be in the tank, but we have to push the accelerator.

NO circumstances attached!

John is saying, “How can we not show God’s love after experiencing it ourselves?”

Here is our spiritual family moto: “LOVE THEM”

(v12)

“No man hath seen God at any time”

No one has seen the Father.

Jesus was incarnate and everyone could see and sense the presence of the invisible God.

Here is the imperative point! READY?

As Jesus wrapped in flesh. We are indwelled with the Spirit.

Because of the nature of God’s dwelling, people ought to see Him IN US by the way we display HIS LOVE

“seen” = to gaze admiringly v. — to gaze upon something that stimulates the moral and mental faculties in an impressive (and often astonishing) way.

The “dwelling of God” is equivalent to gazing admiringly upon the face of God.

Illustration: Jesus used the wind as an example to Nicodemus.

“Dwell” = to continue

We are used to seeing people’s positivity and strength change/fail when it is difficult to flesh out a Calvary love.

“Perfected” = to be fully accomplished ⇔ be perfected v. — to be or become thoroughly or entirely accomplished; conceived of as becoming perfect or complete.

God perfects His love “in us” and when we practice meekness, His Spirit puts it “on us”

Colossians 3:12–15 (KJV 1900) — 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Conclusion