Abiding in God's Love

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God's love is a unique love that can only be shared by the children of God. When this love is perfected in us we will love one another in such a way that the world will desire such love.

Notes
Transcript
Introduction Thoughts
Jesus said,
John 13:35 ESV
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
As we have been working our way through 1 John love has been a reoccurring theme through throughout the book, but our passage today is one that we would call a definitive passage. A definitive passage is one where God just clears off a spot and says let me tell you about … In this case the subject is love.
If we are ever going to prove out our salvation to this world, showing people what it means to be indwelt by God and be a part of God, it will only be because we learn to love well.

For God is Love.

1 John 4:7–8 ESV
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:7

What is love?

7 Types of Love, according to the ancient Greeks
The greek word used all throughout this passage is agape love. Those of you that have grown up in church have probably come to know the meaning of agape as “unconditional love.”
Philia: Love of a friend.
Storge: Love of family.
Ludus: Love for fun (Flirting, Playful, Conjugal, with no strings attached)
Ludus: Love for fun (Flirting, Playful, Conjugal, with no strings attached)
Eros: Love of the body. (Lustful)
Pragma: Love of purpose (common goals and aspirations, “I love my chuch.”)
Pragma: Love of purpose (common goals and aspirations, “I love my chuch.”)
Philautia: Love of self.
Agape: Love of the soul. (Unconditional, not based on the subject: “I love people.” “God so loved the world.” “I love nature.”
Agape: Love of the soul. (Unconditional, not based on the subject: “I love people.” “God so loved the world.”
Agape is word used over and over in this passage. An unconditional, charitable, unbiased type of love that is given no matter what the circumstance.
As John starts off this portion of scripture the subject is very clear. “Love one another.” When you look at this passage in greek, you find a word that is not translated into our English translations. It’s a clarifying word we might translate as “that”.
So it might read, “Let us love one another, for that love is from God, and whoever has that love is born of God and knows God.
This kind of love being described is a specific love that we would call godly love.
If we are going to prove out our salvation to the world we must understand this special kind of love that only comes from God.
John 13:35 ESV
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
If we are going to prove out our salvation to the world we must understand this special kind of love that only comes from God.
There are three major aspects of God’s love that we can find in the passage. So let’s dive in together.
There are three major aspects of that love that only comes from God. So let’s dive in together.

I. God’s love must be recieved before it is given.

The love of God is no ordinary kind of love, but a unique love that originates from God himself.
1 John 4:9 ESV
9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
1 John 4:

The love of Jesus is an unconditional, uncommon, unque love.

Followers of Jesus Christ are indwelt with the Spirit of Christ.
It is the Spirit of Christ that allow a person to love unconditionally.

Unconditional love can only come from unconditional love.

John 3:16 ESV
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
This unique unconditional love has been offered by God not in word only but in action through the sacrifice of his Son Jesus.
This is a universal offer no matter what your circumstance or sin level might be.
Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We express God’s love through the Spirit God has placed in us.

God expresses his love through those that have been indwelt by his love.
A Person might say, “God loves me.” I would reply, “Who did God use to love you.”
God love cannot be received until it is expressed.
The love of God is not mysterious but evident in the lives of all followers of Christ.
As sons and daughters of God we are ambassadors of his love.
1 John 4:12–13 ESV
12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
1 John
In the list of the fruit of the Spirit the first thing you see is Love.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians, “if I don’t have love I am nothing.”
The way that a believer assures his heart before God is this uncommon love that causes you to act on behalf of another.
To deny yourself for the good of others.
This is the spiritual gauge that we should use to measure our effectiveness as Christians.
Or even the evidence that we are followers of Christ.

II. God’s love must be proactive and not reactive.

II. God’s love must be proactive and not reactive.

Because God’s love is not dependent on anyone our anything, He can freely offer his love to everyone at any time. This allows God to be proactive in his love for us and offer it through the sacrifice of Jesus 2000 years ago. It’s also the reason the offer of love is still good 2000 years later.
1 John 4:10 ESV
10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God’s love is proactive and sacrificial.

That love that come from God is actively seeking out those that need love.
It’s a radical love that knows no barriers and no one is ever out of reach.
God’s love always involves sacrificial giving without getting anything in return.

Proactive love means you are searching for ways to love people with the uncommon love of God.

When we are proactive and express God’s love to a selfish world you will know it by the question that follows: “Why?”
Why would you give to me?
Why would you show kindness to me?
Why would you feel responsibility for me?
Why would you love me?
It’s like when your wife tries to trap you when she asks, “Why do you love me?”
There is on why. Just because.
Because you are you and I am me.
Because you are made in the image of God and God himself has imprinted you on my heart.

Worldly love is reactive and selfish.

Worldly love appears to be giving but there is always an expectation of return. Sometimes unspoken but always there.
It always has an if then statement attached to it.
It always has an if then statement attached to it.
Friend to Friend
If I do you a favor you owe me a favor.
If I give you what you want, then I expect to get what I want soon.
Husbands and wives.
Husbands and wives.
If I show love to you then you will show love to me.
If I show love to you then you will show love to me.
If I show love to you then you will show love to me.
If I clean the dishes then I expect the bedroom to come alive tonight.
Parents to kids.
Parents to kids.
“I do so much for you and this is what I get in return.” Are you doing it for them or are you needing love in return.

We have learned to function in this selfish love because its the only love we know.

People are paying each other off all the time.
Our relationship have become nothing more than bribes and payoffs; obligation and guilt.
People get to the place where they don’t want to have relationships anymore, because they own too much. (Pause) They own too much.
1 John 4:11 ESV
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
God’s love is not selfish but sacrificial; not reactive but proactive toward you.
God’s love is not a manipulation tactic like worldly love.
I have asked Believers for years, “What do you own God for your salvation.” Inevitably they reply, “I own Him my life.”
The true answer is you own him nothing your salvation is a free gift.
The blessing of this free gift is love relationship with God and one another but it is not owed. It just is.

III. God’s love must be perfected in you for you to love others.

1 John 4:12 ESV
12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:16
1 John 4:16 ESV
16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

The proof of a Christian abiding with God is revealed through his unique love for his brothers.

1 John 4:17–18 ESV
17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Perfect love cast out fear

The first time fear is mentioned in the Bible is when Adam hid from God after sinning against him.
Fear in a relationship always is caused by the unknown.
What will God do to me?
What will God do to me?
What have a done to myself?
Will there be mercy or punishment?
Fear can only be cast out when love is applied.

Perfect love casts out punishment

God’s love is unique because he has already shown mercy and grace. He was proactive in his love and mercy toward us.
God’s love is unique because he has already removed the fear of punishment through the cross.

Perfect love casts out hatred

1 John 4:20–21 ESV
20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
1 John 4:
It is impossible to love God and hate your brother.
Living in the love of God demands that you share that love with others.
Review Statements

The unique love of God is expressed to the world by those that have recieved God’s love.

God’s love is proactive in that provision has already been made for acceptance and forgiveness.

When God’s love is perfected in us, it will cast out all fear, punishment, and hatred from our hearts and lives as we love one another.

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