The Love of God

The Love of God

January 18, 2009

Introduction

The Love of God: How important is the love of God? What does the Bible say about the love of God? Where should we begin a study of the love of God? Many have misconceptions about the love of God. We see bumper stickers and little signs that say, “Smile, God loves you,” and we have to ask: Is that saying it right? Do we just give people the idea that they are okay, and that God loves them however they are and whatever they do? So again, what does the Bible say about the love of God? How important is love? How many ways can we say it?

Body

I. How important is love?

A. Let’s start with Paul as he writes to the Corinthians.

(1 Cor 13:1-3 NKJV) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. {2} And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. {3} And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

B. Paul says it is the fulfillment of the Law.

(Rom 13:8-10 NKJV) Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. {9} For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." {10} Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

C. Jesus said basically the same thing.

(Mat 22:36-40 NKJV) "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" {37} Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' {38} "This is the first and great commandment. {39} "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' {40} "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

II. What does the Bible say about the love of God?

A. It is God’s love that gives us our hope of salvation.

(1 John 4:9 NKJV) In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

1. Our hope is based on the love of God.

(Rom 5:5 NKJV) Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

2. Hope, love, and mercy all work together.

(Titus 3:4-7 NKJV) But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, {5} not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, {6} whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, {7} that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

B. We must have the love of God in us. – Jesus said of the Jews:

(John 5:40-42 NKJV) "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. {41} "I do not receive honor from men. {42} "But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.

C. Nothing can separate us from the Love of God.

(Rom 8:37-39 NKJV) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. {38} For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, {39} nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

D. But we can lose the Love of God.

1. The Pharisees missed the love of God.

(Luke 11:42 NKJV) "But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

2. They missed because of their work/righteousness.

(Luke 18:11-12 NKJV) "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. {12} 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'

III. How do we get or gain the love of God?

A. His grace directs our hearts into the Love of God

(2 Th 3:5 NKJV) Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

B. We must act in such a way as to keep ourselves in the love of God.

(Jude 1:21 NKJV) keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

1. How do we keep ourselves in the love of God?

(1 John 2:5 NKJV) But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

2. Keeping His word means being obedient.

(1 John 5:3 NKJV) For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

C. Is there any evidence that we have, or do not have the love of God in us?

(1 John 3:17 NKJV) But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

IV. Paul’s concluding thought for the church at Corinth

(2 Cor 13:14 NKJV) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Conclusion

I. Are you in the love of God?

II. Is your life right with God?

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