Pure Love In An Impure World

John reveals somethings about his audience in these verses of scriptures…

In verses 12-14. John is writing to "little children” of God.

In verses 12 and 13 he uses two different words for “Little children”.

(1) First in Verse 12 refers to all believers as the words “Little children” means literally "born ones." That is these are young converts that recently have been born into the Kingdom of God.

• That is to enjoy living in this life physically, we have to be born in this life

• To enjoy living in the kingdom of God spiritually, we have to be born in the Kingdom of God.

This is why God’s Word teach “Ye must be born again 'if you are going to live in God’s Kingdom.

2)Secondly, in Verse 13 he uses a different word for “Little children” to describe those just starting out in the Christian life. They have been born again but they are immature in the faith. So, John is addressing a congregation of young converted immature Christians.

To all of God’s children, in whatever stage of spiritual development they are in, John gives a strong warning!!!

Look at verse 15. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

In verse 15 the word LOVE is used 3 TIMES in 3 different ways.

Have you ever thought about HOW IMPORTANT THE WORD LOVE IS TO US CHRISTIANS?

Is there anything more important than LOVE?

• What would it be like to live in a world where there is NO LOVE!

I WOULDN’T WANT TO LIVE IN SUCH A WORLD.

• What would it be live in a home where there is NO LOVE!

I WOULDN’T WANT TO LIVE IN SUCH A HOME.

• What would be like to attend a church where there was NO LOVE!

I WOULDN’T WANT TO BELONG TO SUCH A CHURCH

There is not anything more important than LOVE!!! Nothing!!!

Illus: All the problems in the WORLD, in our HOMES, in our NEIGHBORHOODS AND IN OUR CHURCHES mostly come from a…

(1) LACK OF LOVE

(2) MIS-UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT LOVE IS

In this IMPURE WORLD we need to make sure we really know what the word LOVE REALLY MEANS?

The apostle John agrees with me and this is why he is addressing these young converts.

Why?

As new born babes in the Lord we all have different meaning of the word LOVE.

Illus: For example, teenagers develop a definition of the word love as a teenager when they fall in love. ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU CANNOT TELL THEM ANYTHING ABOUT LOVE, THEY KNOW ALL ABOUT LOVE!!!

They know more about love than their parents and grandparents put together…THEY THINK!!!

Most of the time their love is an EMOTIONAL LOVE, not a PURE LOVE.

Illus: For example they can believe in this kind of emotional love and have ten different girl friends in ten months.

To know what love is we have to know God, because the Word of God tell us…

I. GOD IS LOVE

Here is the proof…

Look at Romans 5:7-8 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Illus: I was talking to a policemen who just got out the marines. On his first assignment he was assigned to go to a church and makes sure everything was secure.

When he got there, he met a tall man that told him he was there cleaning one of the buildings.

Everything seem to be alright, so he headed back to his car to leave. However, he looked behind him and this man was charging him and cursing him. He immediately called for help. But by the time help arrived this tall man had beaten him badly.

After help arrived they put him in hand-cuffs and placed him in the car.

After this policeman had been taken care of one of the policemen walked over to him and told him this guy that beat him up wanted to know if he would drop the charges.

He said he told him, “Heck no, that man has beaten the devil out of me, I want him arrested!”

Listen, when the Lord saved us the Bible tells us we were still sinners. BUT YET HE SAVED US!!!

Listen, God love is an everlasting love

JEREMIAH 31:3 “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.'”

Illus: God loves me today and I do not have to wonder if God will love me tomorrow. GOD IS LOVE!!!