Love

I. Introduction

Advent

Hope

Peace

Love

Joy

Different “love” used in the bible.

Storge - Family Love

Phileo - Brotherly Love

Eros - Romantic/Intimate Love

Agape - highest level of love referenced in the Bible. This form of love is everlasting and sacrificial, whether or not the giver receives the same level of love in return. (used over 30 times in 1 John 4:7-5:3)

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (NASB95)

4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails;

II. God is Love v 7-8

Love is from God

Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John Loving Others Gives Evidence We Know God (1 John 4:7–8)

“God is love” does not equal “love is God” (a form of pantheistic thinking), any more than “grass is green” means “green is grass.” Love does not define God, but God does define love.

Knowing God produces Love

Being born again opens us up to this Love

His life becomes our life, His love becomes our love.

John Piper

Love is from God the way heat is from fire, or the way light is from the sun. Love belongs to God’s nature. It’s woven into what he is. It’s part of what it means to be God. The sun gives light because it is light. And fire gives heat because it is heat. So John’s point is that in the new birth, this aspect of the divine nature becomes part of who you are. The new birth is the imparting to you of divine life, and an indispensable part of that life is love. God’s nature is love, and in the new birth that nature becomes part of who you are.… When you are born again, God himself is imparted to you. He dwells in you and sheds abroad in your heart his love. And his aim is that this love be perfected in you. Notice the phrase “his love” in verse 12. The love that you have as a born again person is no mere imitation of the divine love. It is an experience of the divine love and an extension of that love to others.

III. God’s Love is proven to us v 9-10

He gives life through His Son

What does it mean to live through Him?

Born again

Abide in Him

Experience Him (Love, Know Him, Fellowship with Him)

Express Him (to others)

He gave His Son for our sin

Propitiation - to turn away the wrath of God by means of an offering.

Used 3 other times.

1 John 2:2 NASB95

2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

Romans 3:25 NASB95

25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

Hebrews 2:17 NASB95

17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

“God provided his own sacrifice!”

Theologian John Stott wrote...

For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be.

IV. God’s Love is perfected in us v 11-12

v 11 - We set the example.

John 4:13–16 NASB95

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.” 16 He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.”

v 12 - We are God’s representatives.

seen (where we get the word theater from) - careful observing, a close scrutiny or examination.

theophanies - visions or revelations of God.

Perfected = complete

V. Conclusion

We celebrate God’s Love for us.

We extend God’s love to others so they may experience and see God.

Closing thought…How do you explain love?

“His sorrow was only as deep as his suffering.” [Lifeway Adults (2021). (p. 27). The Gospel Project: Adult Leader Guide - CSB - Winter 2022. Lifeway Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]