1 John 4:7-11 (KJV)
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Statistics state that nearly one billion Valentine’s cards are exchanged each year. February 14th is the day! During that day, many will rush out - and even some at the last minute - to get that special someone a box of chocolates, some flowers and/or a valentine card.
Webster defines a valentine as “a gift or card sent to a loved one on Valentine’s day”. If you will think about it, we don’t send these cards, flowers or chocolates out to just anyone. They are generally reserved for those whom we love. I have received some very nice gifts on Valentine’s Day in the past.
But as we observe this day dedicated to those whom we love, I want to examine the greatest love story of all time: The love that God had/has for us! As a result of God’s love for us, we should have that same love for others. No text illustrates this fact better than the text chosen for today’s message.
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another. What an intriguing thought! This call to love is one that needs to be heard today.
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another. What an intriguing thought! This call to love is one that needs to be heard today.
Just look around you at the attitudes and actions of others. Turn on the news and notice how many robberies, assaults, rapes, murders, and acts of terrorism are reported on a daily basis. Why? It is because of the absence of love.
How many times have you heard a juvenile delinquent use the excuse that nobody ever loved him or her? While this may seem like a cop out, this statement actually contains some truth.
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
The truth is that many people in our day do not love because they have not grasped the love of God. I want to minister to you today about the “Explanation, the Evidence and the Extent” of God’s Love!
I. The “Explanation” (or interpretation) of God’s Love: 1 John 4:7
There are many different translations of the word love in the New Testament. The translation from the Greek in this verse is AGAPE meaning to love in a social or moral sense; unselfish brotherly love.
A. The “source” [beginning or place of origin; manufacturer; supplier] is explained in
The truth is that many people in our day do not love because they have not grasped the love of God. I want to minister to you today about the “Explanation, the Evidence and the Extent” of God’s Love!
I. The “Explanation” (or interpretation) of God’s Love: 1 John 4:7
There are many different translations of the word love in the New Testament. The translation from the Greek in this verse is AGAPE meaning to love in a social or moral sense; unselfish brotherly love.
A. The “source” [beginning or place of origin; manufacturer; supplier] is explained in
1 John 4:7b For love is of God!
Love is not sentimental; it is not sexual; it is not social love. It is supernatural love. This is the love that the Holy Spirit puts within us. As a result of this love, we will extend this love to others.
B. The “Significance” [importance; effect; result; outcome] is explained in
1 John 4:7c And every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
Everyone that loveth – This is referring to the love for the brethren. I hope that you can honestly say that you love the brethren. If you can’t then I have something for you a little later on!
Everyone that loveth – This is referring to the love for the brethren. I hope that you can honestly say that you love the brethren. If you can’t then I have something for you a little later on!
What is the significance of this love? It is evidence of your salvation. 1 John 5:1-2 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
Also, we find that love is the first of the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Also, we find that love is the first of the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Christian love is a matter of will rather than feeling. We must love even those we might not like very well - Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That is a brief explanation of God’s love. Let’s move a little farther and see:
II. The “Evidence” (that which tends to prove or disprove something; ground for belief; proof)
of God’s Love: 1 John 4:8-9
There are many people who seem to be loving people and do a good job making people believe that they are loved. But after further examination of their actions, we find that it is a facade.
Now we can all love our parents, our children, spouses and even close friends. That is not hard to do. But do you love the brethren? There will be evidence of this love in your actions if you truly do have the love of God dwelling within you.
A. As seen In His People: 1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is
There are many people who seem to be loving people and do a good job making people believe that they are loved. But after further examination of their actions, we find that it is a facade.
Now we can all love our parents, our children, spouses and even close friends. That is not hard to do. But do you love the brethren? There will be evidence of this love in your actions if you truly do have the love of God dwelling within you.
A. As seen In His People: 1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is
love.
There are many people who seem to have love. Many put on a good show and have us all fooled. But once you begin to examine some of their actions, you will find that they are not authentic or genuine.
Verse 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. I believe that this verse is very clear. If we have hatred in our hearts for our fellow man, then we need to examine our salvation very closely.
If you hate your brother, then something is seriously wrong in your life! 1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
There are many people who seem to have love. Many put on a good show and have us all fooled. But once you begin to examine some of their actions, you will find that they are not authentic or genuine.
Verse 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. I believe that this verse is very clear. If we have hatred in our hearts for our fellow man, then we need to examine our salvation very closely.
If you hate your brother, then something is seriously wrong in your life! 1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love, one to another.
B. As seen in His provision: 1 John 4:9a In this was manifested the love of God toward
us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live
through him.
It is one thing to love someone. It is another to love someone enough to give your most precious possession for them. John 3:16 God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I have seen several movies where someone has kidnapped a child and is calling on the parents of the child to pay a ransom to receive their child back without any harm done to them. Of all of the movies with this plot, I have never seen a parent say “Just keep the kid. You are not getting my money”. No, they are always willing to give whatever is needed for the safe return of their child.
Church, we were held in bondage to sin. There was a great price that had to be paid, and we could not afford the ransom. God loved us enough that He was willing to send His only begotten son to be that ransom for us! I can’t explain the love of God any better than the picture of love on Calvary’s hill. Hebrews 9:11-12 But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Verse 22 Without shedding of blood is no remission. (John 3:16)
Maybe you are here and have never accepted Jesus. God has paid a great price so that you can have the opportunity to be a son of God. You can’t pay the ransom. It has already been paid. All you have to do is surrender to Christ. Romans 10:9-10 If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
It is one thing to love someone. It is another to love someone enough to give your most precious possession for them. John 3:16 God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I have seen several movies where someone has kidnapped a child and is calling on the parents of the child to pay a ransom to receive their child back without any harm done to them. Of all of the movies with this plot, I have never seen a parent say “Just keep the kid. You are not getting my money”. No, they are always willing to give whatever is needed for the safe return of their child.
Church, we were held in bondage to sin. There was a great price that had to be paid, and we could not afford the ransom. God loved us enough that He was willing to send His only begotten son to be that ransom for us! I can’t explain the love of God any better than the picture of love on Calvary’s hill. Hebrews 9:11-12 But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Verse 22 Without shedding of blood is no remission. (John 3:16)
Maybe you are here and have never accepted Jesus. God has paid a great price so that you can have the opportunity to be a son of God. You can’t pay the ransom. It has already been paid. All you have to do is surrender to Christ. Romans 10:9-10 If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Finally, I would like to see:
III. The “Extent” (the space or degree to which a thing extends; length; area; volume; scope; measure; amount; compass; range) of God’s Love: 1 John 4:10
We have already seen the extent of God’s love to a point, but I would like to look a little deeper into this thought.
A. It Is Undeserved (not justly or rightly earned) Love: 1 John 4:10a Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us.
We could have done nothing to deserve the love of God. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Love is not something that is earned. When you give birth to a child, they can’t do anything for themselves. There is no way that they could have earned your love that way.
This Agape love that we have been discussing today is an unconditional love. We can’t earn it! This just shows us the character of the one and only true living God!!!
Many of you are trying to clean your life up, and you are trying to get to a point where you can be accepted by God. People of God, you are wasting your time. You will never get to that point on your own. But the good news is Jesus loves you and gave Himself for you!
B. It is the “Ultimate” (highest, conclusive, last) love: 1 John 4:10b And sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Propitiation – from the Greek (Hilasmos - hil-as-mos') meaning atonement; reconciliation!
OUR “REDEMPTION” COMES ONLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST!!!
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends!!!
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends!!!
Conclusion: 1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
I can’t add anything to that. John hit the nail on the head. If you have experienced God’s love, it will be seen in your life. If you haven’t experienced God’s love, you can today!
Love is a divine attribute; it is an idea in the “One Mind”.
God is love and love is God!!!
The difference between divine love and human love is that divine love is broad and unlimited!! It is a universal and harmonizing power!!
Human love is based on personality and is selfish, lawless and fickle/changeable.
In reality there is only one love which is Divine love! When man expresses divine love, it will establish one (male or female) in fearlessness and courage. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound-mind.
By establishing ourselves in the Divine Love and expressing that love at all times, we are helped to fulfill the command Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you. (Matthew 5:44)
It will also draw to us all that we require to make us happy and contented, all that really belongs to us.
We develop love in our heart by asking daily that the infinite love of the Father be poured out upon us by praying, meditating, and affirming that we are one with Him and express at all times the perfect love of God!!!
In the Matchless Name of Jesus The Christ, Amen!
HALLELUJAH!!!!!!
~ Evangelist Jackie Burton
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