God is Love

Valentine's Day  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Please turn in your Bibles to 1 John 4. Put a finger there, and turn to the left to Ephesians 5.
This is Valentine’s Day, and since right after Christmas (or just before it for some stores) we have been inundated with the theme of love, hearts, flowers, and candy...er, chocolate.
Perhaps, men, you did not give any thought to this reality until yesterday, on the 13th, when you were reminded by the radio station you were listening to. Or, just before the store closed last night, when your wife sweetly and innocently gave you clues about what today is.
Ladies, this day has been on your mind in some form or fashion the past couple months. You may be wondering what your man has in mind to dote his love on you...or wondering if he might actually remember this time.
Our society puts the focus of Valentine’s Day on love, and showering someone you love with lots of gifts, candy, and affection.
But these are mere superficial external signs of showing love to someone. Our society has done a dandy job of hiding, distorting, and perverting what love is in order to drive their own lust for greed and money.

Love Starts With Imitating God - Ephesians 5:1-2

Therefore = since you are not to walk as those who are not saved (cf. 4:17); we are to be “μιμέομαι” (imitators; lit. “mimic”) of God as children would mimic their parents
Example: sometimes in the morning, when Bonnie is doing her exercise routine, the kids will stand next to her and try to do whatever she is doing
Example: when the snow is deep and we are out sledding, the kdis will attempt to walk in my footsteps so that he can get to where I am
Example: Gemma plays with her baby dolls in a way that is like how she sees a mom with a real baby
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And sometimes, depending on the behavior, a parent can be flattered by their kids doing what they have learned from them...or they can be horrified because that child has opted to mimic their not so good qualities.
It is a natural outworking of a child to want to mimic the behavior they see presented in the adults they are around (family or friends). It is not uncommon for a child to have a favorite superhero or sports star that they want to imitate.
But sometimes, there is an expectation to imitate someone based on name recognition...
When Alexander the Great discovered a coward in his army who also was named Alexander, he told the soldier, “Renounce your cowardice or renounce your name.”
Those who carry God’s name are to be imitators of His character.
The expectation of being an imitator of God was evident in some of Christ’s own teachings
Matthew 5:48
Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Jesus, Himself, lived the life that we need to be seeking to mimic.
Philippians 2:5
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus
1 Corinthians 11:1
Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
Hebrews 12:2
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith
While there are many characteristics of God that we can seek to imitate, for the sake of this week being Valentine’s Day, let’s focus on love

God is Love - 1 John 4:7-11

Love is from God (v. 7)

No matter how much our society tries to define love, it always falls short.
They have tried to define love as an intense feeling of affection toward another person...that is as predictable as the waves of the ocean.
Divorce rate hovers around 50% & the average person has 6-7 sexual partners in their life
They have tried to define love as being born out of lust for another individual
40 million Americans regularly visit pornography sites
One-third of porn viewers are women
Fifty Shades of Grey sold nearly 70 million copies in its first year of publication and 125 million copies by June 2015 (3 years)
They have tried to define love as being whatever you want it to be
Same-sex marriage has been legalized and “accepted” in society
Transgenderism is increasing in popularity, which leads to a perverted view of love
The fact is, none of these definitions of love capture the essence that is God. He is love, and He gets to define what it is. How does He do that? By demonstrating that love.
Romans 5:8 NASB95
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Please join me in reading 1 John 4:7-11

Love is sacrificing for another’s well-being (v. 9-10)

God the Father, sacrificially gave up the pure fellowship that existed in the trinity, by sending His Son for our benefit. The Son came into the world, lived a life without sin in perfect obedience to the Father, and was unjustly nailed to the cross in order to pay the penalty for the sins of the world.
Our holy and just God poured out His wrath on the Son, so that we do not have to experience it ourselves.
The word propitiation indicates a satisfactory payment has been made. Our fine for our disobedience has been paid in full to the judge.
1 John 3:16 NASB95
We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
John MacArthur
“Biblical love is not a pleasant emotion or good feeling about someone, but the giving of oneself for his welfare.”

Love does not discriminate (v. 11)

God’s expression of love does not discriminate, as we are told in 1 John 2:2 that Jesus the Christ is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
John 3:16, for God so loved the world.
Luke 6:35 NASB95
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
Matthew 5:44–45 NASB95
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
John MacArthur “Divine love is unconditional love, love that depends entirely on the one who loves and not on the merit, attractiveness, or response of the one loved.”
The people who most need the love of God (thus our love, as imitators) may not look like us, talk like us or act like us. But the Son died for them, and they are just as worthy (or unworthy) of God’s love as we are.

Love is submissive to authority

In Ephesians 5, husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loves the Church. And wives are commanded to be submissive to their husbands as the Church is submissive to Christ (submission being an act of love). Look what Jesus, God’s demonstration of love, has said about His relationship to the Father (and how it serves as our example):
Luke 22:42 NASB95
saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
John 14:31 NASB95
but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.
British Weekly
To one who asked him the secret of his service, George Mueller said: “There was a day when I died, utterly died;” and, as he spoke, he bent lower and lower until he almost touched the floor—“died to George Muller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will—died to the world, its approval or censure—died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends—and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.”
Are we willing to die to every way we think love is shown in order to love the way God wants us to?
Do you show love to your spouse, children, friends, co-workers, etc. the way God shows love to you?
Love is from God
Love is sacrificing for another’s well-being
Love does not discriminate
Love is submissive to authority
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