02-13-2022 - Learning about Love from the Best

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

It is ESSENTIAL that we go to the EXPERT on LOVE… Would you go to a trade school to learn how to be a rocket scientist, or to Harvard to learn how to play video games? Would you go to pauper to learn how to make money? Would you go to a politician to learn how to tell the truth?

Consider LOVE - we often go to magazines focused on corrupt and fleshly ideas, entire cultures go to pornography & prostitutes and mistake lust and gratification for intimacy, we turn to systems and cults that promise connection but are ultimately led by narcissists, sociopaths and hell-bent on taking rather than truly giving...

God’s Love is POURED into the heart of those Justified by Faith (5:5)

Peace with God - Through Christ

Standing in Grace - Through Him/Christ

Suffering Leading to HOPE - Because of Christ

God’s Love PLACED Christ on the Cross for Ungodly (v. 6) Sinners (v. 8)

Romans 12:9–13 ESV

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

God’s Love should PRODUCE qualities which bind us together (Romans 12:9-13)

Romans 13:8–10 ESV

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Love for each other PERFECTLY Fulfills the LAW (Romans 13:8-10)