Encountering God's Transformative Love 1 John 4:7-8 Series

Encountering God's Transformative Love

Introduction:

Today I want us to explore the profound depths of God's transformative love.

God’s love has the power to change hearts, renew minds, and restore lives.

As we delve into the Bible and consider God's Word, may His transformative love grip our hearts and lead us to a deeper understanding of His grace.

Four points:

1: The Truth of God’s Transformative Love

2: The Nature of God's Transformative Love

3: Experience of God's Transformative Love

4: Living Out God's Transformative Love

Point 1: The Truth of God’s Transformative Love

In 1 John 4:7 the apostle John imparts to us a timeless truth about love, "Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God."

Here, John addresses the believers as "dear friends," emphasising the intimate bond shared within the community of faith.

He urges them to persist in their love for one another, underscoring the continual nature of this commandment.

Love, John asserts, originates from God Himself.

It is not merely a human sentiment or emotion, but a divine attribute bestowed upon His children.

John emphasises that those who demonstrate love are not only acting in accordance with God's will but also manifesting their identity as children of God.

Love, therefore, becomes a defining characteristic of the believer's relationship with God and with fellow believers. It serves as evidence of one's knowledge of God, reflecting a deep intimacy and communion with Him.

Charles H. Spurgeon beautifully captures the essence of 1 John 4:7, saying, "Love to man is the offspring of love to God... The more we dwell in love, the more near we come to God, and the more of God there is in us, the more we love our brethren."

Romans 5:5 (NLT) provides further insight into the source and nature of love: "And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love."

In this verse, Paul underscores the role of the Holy Spirit in filling believers' hearts with God's love.

It is through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that believers are empowered to love as God loves, with a selfless and sacrificial love that transcends human limitations.

Each of us should cultivate a lifestyle of love by seeking to emulate God's love in every interaction and relationship.

We need to pray for a deeper understanding and experience of God's love and allow His love to flow through us to others.

Point 2: The Nature of God's Transformative Love

1 John 4:8 (NLT) - "But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

The essence of God's character is love. His love is not merely an emotion or a sentiment but a fundamental aspect of His being. It's a love that transcends human understanding, encompassing perfect grace, mercy, and compassion.

Charles Spurgeon beautifully reflects, "The love of God is so deep that it cannot be measured. It is so wide that it cannot be crossed. It is so high that it cannot be scaled."

In Romans 5:8, the apostle Paul reveals the essence of God's transformative love: "But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

Here, Paul articulates the divine initiative of God's love towards humanity. Despite our inherent sinfulness and rebellion against Him, God demonstrated His incomparable love by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us.

This act of sacrificial love stands as the pinnacle of divine grace and compassion, surpassing human understanding.

The timing of Christ's sacrifice is crucially significant. Paul emphasises that God's love was not dependent on our righteousness or worthiness but was extended to us while we were still steeped in sin.

It underscores the unmerited nature of God's love and His willingness to reconcile humanity to Himself at our lowest point.

Point 3: Experience of God's Transformative Love

Ephesians 3:17-19 (NLT) - "Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."

When we open our hearts to Christ, His transformative love takes root in us. It's a love that surpasses knowledge, filling us with spiritual strength and enabling us to comprehend the vast dimensions of His love.