We Love, Because He First Loved Us

Introduction:

Someone has said, our nature is so constituted that we are never really happy until we love God. We CAN love Him! I believe we are never quite at ease until we place our love in Him. Phil. 4:4-7 – Paul…peace that surpasses all comprehension… In 1 Jhn. 4 – we find that love to God is set down as being a necessary mark of the new birth. Read 4:7-21.  it’s clear that we can see the need to love God.  W/o it, we are destined to leave a life w/o a sense of purpose; and display a certain anxiety about the future.

I.  How can we develop a love for God?

A.    First, it’s important to look at how God has manifested Himself to develop the emotion of love w/in our hearts.

1.     in works of creation, God manifests Himself as the loving creator.

B.    By realizing the way He has created us.

C.    BY pondering our own rebellion against God & His standard.

D.     Consider His tremendous grace in forgiving us – Psa. 103:10-12

E.     Acts 17:22-28 – by seeking Him; groping for Him. 

II.  Love to God is essential to the Christian life.

A.    God is not satisfied unless He obtains our love.

1.      do we have this kind of relationship w/the Father? Deut. 10:12

B.    Rom. 1:18-21 – why was God displeased?

1.     God wants us to recognize our dependence upon Him.

C.    Love is essential because obedience w/o it is a waste of time. 1 John 2:3-6

1.     we must serve w/unquestioned obedience!

2.     Mt. 22:36-37 – what does God want of us?

3.     Our love for Him – is THE foundation of our faith!

D.    Hos. 6:6 – Didn’t God command sacrifices?  Certainly!

1.     But action = only PART of the sacrifice!

2.     Pro. 21:27; Isa. 1:13; Jer. 6:20; Mal. 1:8-10

E.     Applications for us to consider:  Do we fully give ourselves to Him?

F.     He wants our heart!

1.     He does not want baptisms; the church; etc; until I have first given Him myself!

III.  It is because of our love for God that we love each other.

A.    Love is from God.  God is INTO loving relationships!

1.     closer people get to God – the more loving they become.

2.     it is utter deceit to claim to know God & not love!

B.    What kind of love must we have for one another?

1.     sacrifical; unselfish love.  John 3:16; Lk. 23:34

C.    4:11 – if God loves everyone of us that much – we ought to love one another!

D.    4:12 – this does 2 things:

1.     it allows God to live continually in us.

2.     it allows God’s love to become complete in us.

E.     4:20 – it is impossible to love God & hate a Christian.

F.     4:21 – Christian who loves God should love bro/sis in Christ.

Conclusion:

A.    1 John 4:19 – How much do you love God?  Is it clearly seen in your life?

B.    It all starts w/beginning a relationship w/God!