The Love of God

1 John 4:8–10 NASB95

The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so 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.

Exegesis (1 John 4:7-10)

Reflection: To love others is to reflect God’s love for us (7)

Indication: To not love is to indicate that we do not know God (8)

Demonstration: God demonstrates His love through the sending and dying of His Son (9-10)

Trans: The question at hand is “why would God give us this type of love when we are so undeserving?” The answer is found in the phrase — “God is love.” This speaks — not so much of God’s actions (what He does) — but of His nature (what He is). God — at the very core of His being — is love.

God Loves Us Because He Created Us

Psalm 139:13–17 NASB95

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

Transition: God extends His love toward us in that He has created us.

Pictures and writings hanging on living room wall. They have a special place in our home because they are the creation of my hand.

God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee. — Augustine

God Loves Us Because He Redeemed Us

Titus 2:14 NASB95

who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

When you purchase something you feel the obligation to care for it. It may be a car, a house, or a something that brings you appreciation. Perhaps something that brings back a childhood memory.

Trans: It is important to notice that God redeems you so that He might use you. That leads us to the final point.

God loves you and desires to use you

Ephesians 2:8–10 NASB95

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

What does God’s love mean for us?

We can rest in His hand

We can trust His plan

We can pursue His heart

Who Am I? by Deitrich Bonhoeffer

Who am I? They often tell me I stepped from my cell’s confinement Calmly, cheerfully, firmly, Like a Squire from his country house.

Who am I? They often tell me I used to speak to my warders Freely and friendly and clearly, As thought it were mine to command.

Who am I? They also tell me I bore the days of misfortune Equably, smilingly, proudly, like one accustomed to win.

Am I then really that which other men tell of? Or am I only what I myself know of myself? Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage, Struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat, Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds, Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness, Tossing in expectations of great events, Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance, Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making, Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all.

Who am I? This or the Other? Am I one person today and tomorrow another? Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others, And before myself a contemptible woebegone weakling? Or is something within me still like a beaten army Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?

Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine. Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine!

Concluding illustration: Take piggy bank. Why does God love us? Not because of the value of the piggy bank, but because God has placed value in you. The value is not in the pot of clay. It is in the value that God has placed in you. God does not love you because of you. God loves you because of Him. It is sacrificial love.