How Great Our Father’s Love

How Great Our Father’s Love

September 30, 2007 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: God’s love for us surpasses anything we can imagine

Focus Passage: I John 2:27- 3:2

I. Manner of Love

a. The word “manner” as used in our text would speak of something that we are not accustomed to and that which is beyond the ordinary in our life. In Matthew 8:27 and Mark 4:41 we find the disciples using the word when they saw the Lord Jesus still the storm and raging sea. They exclaimed, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” What they saw the Lord do amazed them. They had never seen anyone do what they saw Him do. His ability and power was not of the ordinary.

b. Behold! (stop and minute, think about it until it sinks in)

II. Messenger of Love

a. Who is the messenger of love? The Father

God is known by many names in the Bible:

1. Elohim –“THE STRONG ONE”

2. Jehovah -“LORD”

3. El-Shaddai –“THE ALL-SUFFICIENT ONE”

4. Adonai –“OWNERSHIP”

5. Jehovah –Jireh –“THE LORD WILL PROVIDE”

6. Jehovah-Nissi –“THE LORD OUR BANNER”

7. Jehovah Shalom –“THE LORD IS PEACE”

8. …but when Jesus taught us to pray, it was not…

a. Our Elohim

b. Our Jehovah

c. Our Adonai

d. …Our Father which art in heaven…

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III. Method of Love (Becoming children of God)

3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:

John not only reminds us of the greatness or extent of God’s love, but the way ... the manner ... in which God has loved us ... to place us into the "Family of God!"

3 ways to get into a family:

1. THE LIFE PRINCIPLE

YOU CAN BE BORN INTO THE FAMILY IN THE USUAL WAY, WHEREBY THE LIFE OF THE PARENT IS PASSED ON TO THE OFFSPRING.

2. THE LAW PRINCIPLE

YOU CAN BE ADOPTED INTO A FAMILY THROUGH A LEGAL PROCESS WHEREBY PAPERS ARE DRAWN UP AND LEGALLY EXECUTED AND THE NEW FAMILY MEMBER ENTERS INTO ALL THE RIGHTS AND PROIVILEGES ENJOYED BY A NATURAL BORN CHILD.

3. THE LOVE PRINCIPLE

YOU CAN BE MARRIED INTO A FAMILY WHEREBY ONE FALLS IN LOVE AND MARRIES A PERSON AND BECOMES THEREAFTER A MEMBER OF THE OTHER’S FAMILY.

TO MAKE TRIPLY SURE THAT WE ARE REALLY AND TRULY PLACED IN HIS FAMILY, GOD EMPLOYS ALL 3 PRINCIPLES:

1. THE LIFE PRINCIPLE

JOHN 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

2. THE LAW PRINCIPLE

ROMANS 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"

3. THE LOVE PRINCIPLE

ROMANS 7:4 So, my brothers, you also have become dead to the law by the body of Christ so that you should be married to Another, even to Him raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit to God.

FREDERICK LEHMAN-

THE LOVE OF GOD IS GREATER FAR

THAN TONGUE OR PEN CAN EVER TELL;

IT GOES BEYOND THE HIGHEST STAR,

AND REACHES TO THE LOWEST HELL;

THE GUILTY PAIR, BOWED DOWN WITH CARE,

GOD GAVE HIS SON TO WIN;

HIS ERRING CHILD HE RECONCILED,

AND PARDONED FROM HIS SIN.

COULD WE WITH INK THE OCEAN FILL,

AND WERE THE SKIES OF PARCHMENT MADE,

WERE EV’RY STALK ON EARTH A QUILL,

AND EV’RY MAN A SCRIBE BY TRADE;

TO WRITE THE LOVE OF GOD ABOVE

WOULD DRAIN THE OCEAN DRY;

O LOVE OF GOD, HOW RICH AND PURE!

HOW MEASURELESS AND STRONG!

IT SHALL FOREVERMORE ENDURE,

THE SAINTS’ AND ANGELS’ SONG.

Invitation: