Do You Truly Love God?

(Mat 22:35-40) - originally by Mike Cornwell

 

FILING INFORMATION:

1999045

Subject: attitude; love

Preached Originally: 08/08/99 - Rapid City, SD

INTRODUCTION:

A. Bumper sticker:  Smile….God loves you.

1.    Many believe that God loves them.  Certainly He does.

2.    Many claim that they love Him.  But…never make the commitment to come to Him in obedience.

3.    I serve Him…but I just don't go to church much…

4.    Christians:  I love God; I hate sin; but never transform their lives into the kind of life that would be pleasing to Christ.

B. You might think that this is an unnecessary to ask. If one is a Christian then one loves God!

1.    When asked the question .. "Why do you love God?" ..

a.    Many will respond because He first loved us.

b.    They may even use the scripture (1 Jhn 4:19) as there authority. (They would be right.)

2.    But the question today is ... "Do you truly love God?"

C. What does loving God involve? 

D. Are you demonstrating your love for God by your actions?

 

I. There Are Many Reasons Why All Of Us Should Love God.

A. 1 Jhn. 4:19 ... "We love him, because he first loved us."

1.    Js. 1:17 - There is a reason for this "reciprocal" love

2.    When we view the sunshine and the rain we should be reminded of  God's love.

a.    The mountains .. the lakes .. the rivers .. the oceans .. the trees .. the birds .. the beauty of God's creation is "Love."

3.    Gen. 1:28-31 - He has given these signs of love to man to "have dominion over" them and care for them

B. Jhn 3:16 - The best demonstration of God's love is seen in the sending of His Son to this world to die for our sins that we might be reconciled to God

1.    1 Jhn. 4:8 - His love is a determining factor in the nature of God.

2.    Ecc 12:13 - We are placed here on earth, as God's creatures, made in His image,  to glorify Him

a.    Notice the purpose of our being placed on the earth.

b.    We can be either vessels of mercy or wrath - Rom. 9:22-23

c.     We start process of becoming a vessel of mercy by our love for Him!

3.     If God loves us - we MUST love God.

 

II. Consider what is involved in loving God.

A.   Most people completely overlook the other teaching God has given on this subject.

1.    God shows what true love for Him will do in our lives.

B.   Just because someone says he loves God doesn't make it so.

1.    God shows that many who claim to love Him do not love Him at all.

C. God gives us simple tests by which we can determine if we really love Him.

 

III. 1 Jhn. 4:20-21 - Do You Love Your Brother?

A.   If we are children of God - we are in the same family with all of God's children.

1.    1 Jhn. 5:1 - If we love the Father .. we will also love the children of the Father

B.   Jhn. 13:34; 15:12 - This is more than just "proof" of our love for God - it is a requirement for that love

C. 2 Cor. 5:10 - We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ

1.    Christ pictures that judgment scene in (Matt 25:34-40).

2.    Love demands service - if we love our brothers and sisters - we will serve them.

D. 1 Cor 13:4-7 - The Apostle Paul shows the characteristics of love in

1.    Unselfish ... long-suffering ... without jealousy ... looks for good instead of bad .. etc.

2.    These things must be in us as regards to our brother .. if we love God.

 

IV. Lk. 10:29-37 - Do I Love My Neighbor?

A.   Some still strive to love their brothers .. but they think they owe little or nothing to others.

1.    The leaders of the Jews were somewhat like that in Jesus' day.

2.    They felt little concern for the "Gentiles" around them.

3.    Jesus showed that to love God .. we must also love our neighbor.

B.   The lawyer tried to justify himself by asking .. "Who is my neighbor?"

1.    Some today make the same argument which Jesus answered in this story.

C. Gal. 6:10 - This story effectively shows that every person of every race is a neighbor to be loved .. if we would love God.

D. Certainly to love God demands that we love and serve our brothers in Christ.

1.    Our responsibility does not end there .. To love God .. we must also love our neighbors .. and serve them.

 

V. Mt. 5:43-46 - Do you Love Your Enemy?

A. What is your reaction when someone "cheats" you? .. "Lies" to You? "Curses" you?

1.    How do you react to someone who is constantly bitter toward you?

a.    Jesus said .. "Love them!"

B.   Looking down from the cross .. after being beaten .. scourged .. hearing the words "Crucify him, crucify him!" .. having nails driven into his hands and feet

1.    Lk. 23:34 - Jesus said ... "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"

C. Jesus loved us .. went to the cross to die for us (Rom 5:8-10).

1.    Now he tells us .. "Love your enemies .."

D. We are encouraged to follow the steps of Jesus (1 Pet 2:21-24).

1. This involves an attitude that leads to a life of true love (Phil 2:5).

E.   Instead of seeing the ugliness and evil in the lives of others ... let us learn to see a soul for whom Jesus died on the cross!

1.    Rom. 12:14-19

2.    Paul writing to Christians who were in midst of persecution….etc…

3.    1 Pet. 4:12-19

4.    That will change our attitude toward them ... and we just might become the means of winning them to Christ and changing their lives for eternity.

 

VI. 1 Jhn. 5:3 - Do You Fully Obey God?

A.  True love demands service .. if we love God .. we will serve Him.

1.    Those who teach that we are saved by "faith only" try to change the wording of the Scriptures to make Him say that obedience is a proof of love.

2.    Love is more than an emotion that prompts us to do something

3.  "it is the power that acts."

B.   Keeping the commandments of God is more proof of our love .. it IS love.

C. Jhn. 14:15 - Obeying God is loving God

D. To love God as Jesus said in (Mat 22:37) means doing what He tells us. (1 Jhn 3:18)

 

CONCLUSION

A.   When One Is Led By the Teaching Of God .. Nothing Is Too Grievous To obey.

1.    He believes Jesus to be the Christ (Jhn 8:24) ... He willingly repents (Luk 13:3) ... and just as willingly is baptized into Christ (Mrk 16:16).

2.    He loves God with all his heart .. mind .. strength .. and soul (Mrk 12:30).

B.   Some think God's requirements are too strict .. that is because of a lack of love on their part (1 Jhn 5:3).

C. Because we love God .. we surrender our will to His will and live for Him.

D. Let's examine ourselves ... (2 Cor 13:5) ... "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves ..."

1.    Do you really love God? .. he wants us to love Him unconditionally!

E.  I N V I T A T I O N