Love at Its Greatest.

Things people love: Cars, Jobs, Types of Food, Vacations areas, people can “love” all kinds of things. Some of us may even think we have experienced love here on earth - but there is a greater love (not the one Whitney Houston sings about “Learning to love yourself” - is not the greatest love of all) You should hear me sining Whitney Houston going to the Road - I wanna dance. No - There is a love so great that human minds cannot explain it - yet we can without reserve, without comparison, without deserving it, we can experience the love of GOD. I struggled with this message because - let’s face it - we’ve all likely heard a message on this passage, it is one of the first verses we learn, and even those that have yet to come to Christ for salvation - know of this verse. Sometimes though - the most profound things are simple in nature yet, grand in meaning, application, and revelation. The Love of God.

Let’s stand together for the reading of just 2 verses of scripture today.

Love at Its Greatest.

Ephesians 2:4–5 (NKJV)

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)

John 3:16–18 (CSB)

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

Today let’s look together at the Who, What, Where, When, and Why of God’s great love for all of us.

1. The “Who” of God’s Love.

“God is love” (1 John 4:8

1 John 4:8 (CSB)

The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 4:16 (CSB)

And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

A. God is the “who” of His love. He had no beginning and will have no ending. He is from everlasting to everlasting. (nothing can separate us from His love)

B. God’s love is great because He is great. God is creator of all things, the heavens, the earth, & each of us.

God’s nature is love - but God’s love is not acceptance of sin in any way shape or form. Above all else God is holy.

2. The “What” of God’s Love.

John 3:16 CSB

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

A. The “what” of God’s love refers to every person.

It refers to all people, the great, the small, the black, the white, the near, the far, the rich, the poor, God’s love reaches to all people for the purpose of Salvation.

God’s love includes the alcoholic, the drug abuser, the prostitute, the terrorist, the racist, the adulterer, the player, the pretender, and the seemingly perfect…All that repent and turn from their sins will be saved by the love and grave of God.

2 Peter 3:9 (CSB)

The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

I liked this song when I was a kid by Johnny Lee - It said “looking for love in all the wrong places” - So many here today and listening have searched for love in so many wrong places, searched for acceptance in the wrong places, looked for meaning in the wrong places, and it has left you in a heartbroken, hurting, struggling mess of life - YET God stands with open arms to welcome you to the greatest LOVE you will ever experience. God’s love is for YOU, you are the “what” you are the focus, the purpose of His love - the reason Jesus came, the reason reconciliation is available.

SAY : I AM LOVED BY GOD!

3. The “Where” of God’s love.

Psalm 139:7 (CSB)

Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

NOTES:

A. The WHERE of God’s love refers to everywhere. His love went to calvary, where He atoned for the sins of the world. (Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 NKJV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

B. God’s love extends to the far reaches of the world and right around the corner, and into our own homes.

It reaches the haughty & Proud, and reaches to those in the depths of despair. - Wherever you are - God’s love can be found through Christ Jesus.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,  And were the skies of parchment made;Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky. (Hymn - Love of God)

4. The “WHEN” of God’s love.

I remember my wedding day very well. I was all dressed up in my tux, nervous, and anxious. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I was 100% marrying out of my league. How did I hoodwink this beautiful woman into marrying me. ME! Then the time came for the weeding to start, and no music, I waited, I waited, I almost fainted. The wedding wasn’t going as planned, there was no que for me to walk out, - I thought - well, this is it, She came to her senses, she made a run for it. Then just as I was about to have full on panic - someone came and told me that her family was running late. (whatever) This beautiful woman, way outta my league, smart, intelligent, bella of the ball, chose me to walk down the aisle with. She loved me even with all that was wrong with me.

God is the same towards us: He loved us while we were still a mess, still a wreck, still filthy. Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The prodigal son return home still filthy not fixed. God does the fixing once His grace and love bring you home.

A. The WHEN of God’s love means - at all times, God’s love continues forever. God is eternal (eternality) and so, every characteristic of God is eternal. His Love, His Grace, His Holiness -

B. God loves with an everlasting LOVE.

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

“Few things in life are everlasting (lifetime warranty) But the love of God is never ending, never ceasing, does not relent, and is the absolute one thing in life you can depend on when all else fails - God Loves You.”

5. The “WHY” of God’s Love.

1 John 1:3 (CSB)

what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

John 14:6 (CSB)

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

A. The WHY of God’s love is beyond our comprehension. (Deut 29:29) But, we do know that God wants fellowship with His creation. (He came into the world to restore fellowship/relationship)

B. Because of God’s great love, Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and to bring us back to fellowship with Holy God.

God Loves you, He wants you to come to Him through Christ Jesus for salvation. Many run from God, they want to “live life” - but apart from God there is no life, (John 10:10)

750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers 252: God’s Pursuit

Several years ago an eastern paper reported this story:

One evening a woman was driving home when she noticed a huge truck behind her that was driving uncomfortably close. She stepped on the gas to gain some distance from the truck, but when she sped up, the truck did too. The faster she drove, the faster the truck did.

Now scared, she exited the freeway. But the truck stayed with her. The woman then turned up a main street, hoping to lose her pursuer in traffic. But the truck ran a red light and continued the chase.

Reaching the point of panic, the woman whipped her car into a service station and bolted out of her auto screaming for help. The truck driver sprang from his truck and ran toward her car. Yanking the back door open, the driver pulled out a man hidden in the backseat.

The woman was running from the wrong person. From his high vantage point, the truck driver had spotted a would-be rapist in the woman’s car. The chase was not his effort to harm her but to save her even at the cost of his own safety.

Likewise, many people run from God, fearing what he might do to them. But his plans are for good not evil—to rescue us from the hidden sins that endanger our lives.

Remember Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 CSB

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

THAT IS A PERFECT PICTURE OF LOVE AT ITS GREATEST.

Romans 3:23 CSB

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 CSB

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 1:7 CSB

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace

Romans 10:9 CSB

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13 CSB

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Love is something that we must accept or reject - God is offering you His eternal love, eternal life, and fellowship with Him - but you must make the call. Reject God, or accept His gift of salvation. What will you do today?

God Loves You

For Home Study:

How has God demonstrated His love to you?

How have you demonstrated your love towards God?

How can you express God’s love towards others, and how can you share God’s love with others?