The story and eventual plays and movies that were made about it drew the attention of theologian G. K. Chesterton. This is what he said about it; “The great lesson of the tale of
“Beauty and the Beast” is that a thing must be loved before it is loveable. A person must be loved before that person can be loveable. Some of the most
unlovely people I have known got that way because they thought that nobody
loved them.” He went on to say; “The Bible says something startling. It says that God loves and accepts us “just as we are." Therefore, we can love and accept ourselves because He first loved us!
Text: I John 4:9-10 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
God’s Love is Powerful
God’s love is so powerful that there has never, ever been a sinner that He could not save! No matter how terrible the depth of sin they had sunk to, if they truly repent and put their faith and trust in Christ they are transformed into a child of God! John 1:12 says; “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
Understand that any person that gets saved, or receives Christ I should say, it’s God’s power that does the work, we just simply turn from our sin and trust Him for salvation. He is the only of salvation! There is no other way!
The power of God’s love is beyond human comprehension. It is too wonderful to even be compared to any earthly love we've ever known. King David said thinking about how God knows all about him and loved him. Psalm 139:6 “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” (David was saying I can't even comprehend it)
But not only does God have this great power to save and forgive any sinner, but He also has the unique power of loving His children forever and ever and nothing can come between you and God! says; Romans 8:37-39 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,”” Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Boys and girls there is nothing that can separate you from God’s love. It is physically and spiritually impossible!
Illus: In literature we have Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. How many of you have heard of Romeo and Juliet? Okay, good. Well in this play Romeo and Juliet were in love but their families were sworn enemies that hated each other and were forbidden to see each other. But, according to the play, their love was inseparable so much so that they were even willing to die together instead of being separated!
Now understand boys and girls that may make for a good play, but in reality, the only One that has an inseparable love is God. And He has that love for you!
God’s Love is Perfect
God’s love is perfect because it is unconditional. There is also safety in God’s perfect love, it says in I John 4:18 says; “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:...”
God’s love is not based on what we have done for Him but rather He loves us because that’s who He is. God is love! John 4:16 says; “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
Illus: There is nothing on this earth that is perfect. This last week I was trying to find a different vehicle because I sold my truck. And let me tell you, ads online with pictures can make a car or truck look about perfect. But when you actually see it in person there are many flaws that they failed to tell you about. It can be very aggravating and disappointing.
But when we see Jesus, we will be made perfect by His love for us! There won't be any aggravations or disappointments when we see Jesus!
B. God's perfect love is the only perfect love that has ever, or will ever
existed!
So that’s why there’s no fear in His perfect love.
Other loves and people may let you down, but Jesus never fails! His love is absolutely perfect!
God's Love is Personal
God wants you to know, He wants all of us to know, that His love is so very personal for each individual person as if you are the only person on earth!
The Bible says he has the very hairs numbered; He knows exactly how many you have!
To say God’s love isn't personal would be the biggest understatement of all time! God’s love is strong and personal for each and every one of us in this room! He cares for you. It says in; I Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Look at the last four words (*point) He careth for you!
B. Here’s the most amazing thing about God’s perfect love for you. God loved you just as you are even before you were saved. He loved you the Bible says in Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
God demonstrated that personal love for you by dying for you! And He did that even while we were still in our sins, He loved us just as we were!
Illus: I used to work with a man named Bret, he and his wife adopted a little boy from Russia about 20 years ago. His name is Alex. Alex was an orphan in Russia and lived in a home. I'm not sure he ever knew his birth parents, but Bret and his wife, through a lot of expense, and effort, and a very long wait adopted Alex and he became their son. Alex has grown into to be a fine young man he has won many high-level awards in competitive swimming and now he is in the U.S. Merchant Marines. This was Alex graduating from the academy about two months ago. But the point is had Bret and his wife not shown Alex that unconditional love he wouldn't be the young man that he is today. As great as their love is for their son Alex it pales in comparison to God’s personal, unconditional love for you! No matter what happens in your life or wherever you go…Never forget God loves you!
God’s Love is Permanent Slide
Who can tell me what the word permanent means? That’s right. Something that never ever changes. That is how God’s love is permanent and never ever changes!
Jeremiah 31:3 says; “...Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
The best thing about something being permanent like God’s love is you don't have to worry about it. It’s settled, it's secure and you can totally rest on it.
God never ever changes His love for you today is just as strong for you today as it was yesterday, and tomorrow it will still be just as deep and strong. Hebrews 13:8 says;“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
God and His love are really the only permanent thing we’ll ever know. Everything else on earth has a beginning and ending, or it simply wears out or deteriorates.
Illlus: Several years ago, we used to have an old station wagon and that thing was built like a tank and it seemed like it was almost indestructible. But after it broke down and quit running, I parked out near the woods and figured I would fix it someday. But do you know what boys and girls one day I walked out there to look at that car and open the hood and squirrels had chewed up all the wires and anything plastic inside there! That car was now totally worthless, and I had a man come haul it to the junkyard.
B. The point is that it was just manmade, and it couldn't possibly last forever. Nothing on this earth can.
But God’s love, heaven, anything God has to do with is everlasting and will never ever deteriorate or fade away!
It is permanent!
John 3:16 says; how many of you can quote John 3:16? It says: Slide 19# “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Conclusion: So, God’s love is Powerful, Perfect, Personal, and Permanent and the greatest thing is if you're saved here this morning then you can never be separated from God’s love. But if you never repented of your sins and trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior then God’s love is still there for you, but He can only save those who come to Him in repentance and faith. Hebrews 7:25 the Bible says, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
If you’re not saved here this morning when we go to prayer in a moment turn to Jesus in repentance and faith today and you too can be sure of an eternity with God.
Invitation and Closing Prayer.
