The Love Of GodThe Love Of God

1 John 4:7-211 John 4:7-21

The Declarations God’s The Declarations God’s LoveLove

John 3:16 John 3:16 Declares the Declares the DEGREEDEGREE of God’s love. of God’s love. He “so” loved …John 3:16 He “so” loved …John 3:16

“houtoos” in this manner, thus, so: “houtoos” in this manner, thus, so: (Thayer)(Thayer)

He Gave His Son. He Gave His Son. Phil. 2:5ff; Mt. Phil. 2:5ff; Mt. 27:27-5627:27-56

The Declarations God’s The Declarations God’s LoveLove

This is how a husband loves his wife. This is how a husband loves his wife.

Eph. 5:25Eph. 5:25 This is how a mother loves her child. This is how a mother loves her child.

Tit. 2:4Tit. 2:4 This is how a soldier loves his This is how a soldier loves his

country. country. 2 Tim. 2:2-32 Tim. 2:2-3

The Declarations God’s The Declarations God’s LoveLove

Rom. 5:8 Rom. 5:8 declares the declares the OBJECTSOBJECTS of God’s love.of God’s love. John 3:16 John 3:16 He loved the world.He loved the world. Sinners. Sinners. cf. Eph. 2:1-2cf. Eph. 2:1-2

Sin defined. Sin defined. 1 John 3:4; James 4:171 John 3:4; James 4:17 What sin does. What sin does. Isa. 59:1-2Isa. 59:1-2 Sin carries the death penalty. Sin carries the death penalty. Rom. 6:23; Rom. 6:23;

Rev. 20:14Rev. 20:14 What Christ did. What Christ did. Isa. 53; 2 Cor. 5:21; Isa. 53; 2 Cor. 5:21;

1 Pet. 2:24; Heb. 2:9-101 Pet. 2:24; Heb. 2:9-10

The Declarations God’s The Declarations God’s LoveLove

Rom. 8:35-39 Rom. 8:35-39 Declares the Declares the CONSTANCY CONSTANCY of God’s love.of God’s love. Nothing can separate us from Nothing can separate us from

God’s love.God’s love. But we can separate ourselves But we can separate ourselves

from a relationship with God. from a relationship with God. Isa. Isa. 59:1-2; cf. Rom. 10:2159:1-2; cf. Rom. 10:21

The Declarations God’s The Declarations God’s LoveLove

1 John 4:9-10 Declares the 1 John 4:9-10 Declares the DESIGNDESIGN of God’s love. of God’s love. That we might have life. That we might have life. cf. Gal. 3:21, cf. Gal. 3:21,

10, 11; 10, 11; cf. John 5:40; 10:10; 20:31cf. John 5:40; 10:10; 20:31

He became a ransom. He became a ransom. Mt. 20:28Mt. 20:28 He became our propitiation. He became our propitiation. 1 John 1 John

2:22:2

The Declarations God’s The Declarations God’s LoveLove

1 John 4:9-10 1 John 4:9-10 Declares the Declares the DESIGNDESIGN of of God’s love.God’s love.

God’s love provides:God’s love provides: Life for the spiritually dead. Life for the spiritually dead. (cf. Luke (cf. Luke

15)15) Redemption for those enslaved to sin. Redemption for those enslaved to sin.

Rom. 3:23-26 Rom. 3:23-26 Freedom from the bondage of sin. Freedom from the bondage of sin. Rom. Rom.

6:16ff; 8:1-2 6:16ff; 8:1-2

The Declarations God’s The Declarations God’s LoveLove

1 John 3:1-3 1 John 3:1-3 Declares the Declares the REWARDREWARD of God’s love. of God’s love. We are changed:We are changed:

From sinners into sons. From sinners into sons. 1 John 3:1.; 1 John 3:1.; Rom. 8:14ff; Rom. 8:14ff;

Citizens of the kingdom of darkness Citizens of the kingdom of darkness into citizens of the kingdom. into citizens of the kingdom. Col. 1:13-Col. 1:13-1414

Promised a changed body. Promised a changed body. 1 John 3:2; 1 John 3:2; Phil. 3:20-21Phil. 3:20-21

Motives Of LoveMotives Of Love

AdmirationAdmiration. . This was not what motivated God’s This was not what motivated God’s

love for man. love for man. Gen. 6:5; cf. John Gen. 6:5; cf. John 14:2114:21

This is a motive that causes us to This is a motive that causes us to love God. love God. 1 John 4:191 John 4:19

Motives Of LoveMotives Of Love GratitudeGratitude..

This was not what motivated God to This was not what motivated God to love us. love us. Rom. 3:23Rom. 3:23

Man’s love for God should be Man’s love for God should be motivated by what God has done for motivated by what God has done for us. us. Rom. 1:21; Col. 3:15Rom. 1:21; Col. 3:15

Ps. 118:19,21,28,29Ps. 118:19,21,28,29 Ps. 136:1,2,3,26Ps. 136:1,2,3,26 Ps. 138:1,2,4Ps. 138:1,2,4 Ps. 139:14Ps. 139:14

Motives Of LoveMotives Of Love

PityPity.. This was a motive for God to love This was a motive for God to love

us. us. Prov. 14:12; Isa. 55:8-9; Titus 3:5; Prov. 14:12; Isa. 55:8-9; Titus 3:5; Eph. 2:1-10Eph. 2:1-10

It is not a motive for our love for It is not a motive for our love for God.!God.!

Obligations Of LoveObligations Of Love

God is not obligated to man. God is not obligated to man. Eph. Eph. 2:42:4

What obligations must we assume if What obligations must we assume if we love God?we love God?1. We must live for Christ. 1. We must live for Christ. 2 Cor. 5:14-2 Cor. 5:14-

15; Gal. 2:20; Mt. 6:3315; Gal. 2:20; Mt. 6:33

2. We must love one another. 2. We must love one another. 1 John 1 John 4:11; 20-214:11; 20-21

3. We must obey his commandments. 3. We must obey his commandments. John 14:21-24John 14:21-24

Conclusion:Conclusion:

The Love Of GodThe Love Of God.. Should obligate those outside of Should obligate those outside of

Christ to obey the gospel.Christ to obey the gospel. Should obligate those “in Christ” to Should obligate those “in Christ” to

be faithful in service and worship.be faithful in service and worship.

God first loved us. God first loved us. 1 John 4:191 John 4:19 Do you love HIM? Do you love HIM? John 14:15John 14:15