God’s Love for Us
1 John Bible Study, Part 10
1 John 4:7-12
Introduction
- For us, there can be no test greater than how we handle the word of God
-- It is where our promise is; and where we must be prepared to lead others to
- Who is within us?
-- Romans 8:9, “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.”
- Who is in the world?
-- 1 John 5:19, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”
- The anti-Christs and false prophets are cut from the same pattern
-- IMP: They are from the world, but we are from the Lord!
- Read 1 John 4:7-12 / Pray
∆ Point 1 – Love comes from God
- Love is a pivotal lesson that each of us must be able to demonstrate
-- Re: It is not a feeling; but it is an action – even to those unlovable
- Love alone, however, does not mean that someone belongs to God
-- Those who are not children of God can definitely show love for one another
-- We have been created in the image of God and so the trait of love is possible
- However, true love, love that includes loving God is Christian possessed only
-- It is a fruit – a byproduct – of the Spirit that resides inside of us
- So as John continues … anyone who does not love is not of God
-- Since God is love, this one trait would be abundant in those who are His
-- Not only created in His image, but those who love as He loved us
-- APP: How could someone who has received the Spirit not have love?
- A person saved by love (Christ’s love for us) must be able to show love
-- We may have trouble loving perfectly, but there is a difference between:
• Loving perfectly, and,
• Not loving at all
- TRANS: Because of His love, God had to act where we could not …
∆ Point 2 – What Did God Do?
- If we need to love as God loved, we could wonder how it is that He loves
-- 1 John 3:16, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
- From the Father’s view, we get the same thing in 1 John 4:9
-- God has shown us how He has loved us … we have been given the Son
-- Jesus was sent, knowing how He would be treated, by a God who loves us
- Turn to and read Isaiah 53:1-10
- Fortunately, God’s gift to us was not His response to how we treat Him
-- This gift was initiated by God; not dependent on how we would or will respond
- This is why it is incredible … even in our worst days we were gifted with Christ
-- Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
- We are put in a position to respond to His promptings, to His call (v11)
-- Preachers all over proclaim this truth; the response is still yours
- Greek word used is “hilasmos” which means atoning sacrifice or propitiation
-- It literally means “an offering to appease (satisfy) an angry, offended party
- The issue we have is there is no other way to a loving God but by Christ
-- When God provided; he solved the issue – and now the rest is on us to respond
- It has always been about what God has done; and from this we can respond …
∆ Point 3 – Responding to God
- What God did was set the standard for what love looks like for us
- Since we are His children, we should love other people; esp fellow believers
-- We should love others just as God has loved us … with mercy and with grace
- If you want to know what God is like; you merely have to see how He acts
-- The love He has is made visible within our lives and our response to others
- We have never seen God; He has never been seen by humans and lived (v12)
-- However, we have seen how He has acted, and how He acts towards us
-- He has given us forgiveness; given us mercy; given us grace to be live better
- He has showed us all that is required for a relationship with Him
-- We must know His Son and in that; introduce Him to those around us
-- God’s love is made complete in John’s words in John 3:16 … “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
- If we have eternal life, why do we not live like there is something better ahead?
∆ Big Ideas
- Challenge: The way the world sees God’s love is shown through His people
-- It is the true mark of the faith when we demonstrate love to one another
-- Sure, we will get angry and frustrated … but how long do we hold onto that?
-- Read verse 13
- God has given us His Spirit (v13) to dwell within us forever
-- The Spirit loves those who are unlovable; we just respond to His calling
- APP: Our ability to love is dependent on the Spirit He has given us
-- God exercises His love for others through His Spirit within our hearts
- How much energy do we waste holding onto anger and malice?
- Pray
