Sermon Central
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This Is Love
Contributed by Larry Grant on Feb 9, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: “The defining act of love is revealed solely in the rituals of sacrifice.” by C. Kimble
1 John 4:8-11
THIS IS LOVE
February 9, 2025
The Apostle John tells us about a great God with a great love for the world. Let us begin with 1 John this great letter of love. Love is mentioned 46 times in 105 verses. Pastor Crawford Kimble wrote in his book called “Adventures in Love” that, “The defining act of love is revealed solely in the rituals of sacrifice.”
I. THIS LOVE IS DESCRIBED IN THE FATHER Our text says, He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. What is love? Pastor Chip Ingram defines it in this way, “Love is giving someone what they need the most, when they deserve it the least, at great personal cost.”
Love is Unselfish - 1 John 4:19- We love him because He first loved us!
Love is Unmerited - Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Love is Unending - Jeremiah 31:3 - I have loved you with an everlasting love!
Love is Unconditional - 1 Corinthians 13:7 – Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things... Love never fails!
II. THIS LOVE WAS DEMONSTRATED IN THE SON Our text says, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” John is clear that we did not come to our senses on our own. We did not come to Jesus without His direct call on our lives. We are here today because He loved us first! What is PROPITIATION? Propitiation expresses the idea that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for sin which a holy God demanded of man the sinner. It is the atoning death of Jesus on the cross, through which He paid the penalty demanded by God because of man's sin, thus setting mankind free from sin and death. Propitiate comes from an old English word, which means "to appease." Thus, our Father is satisfied because Jesus paid it all and all to Him we owe!
III. THIS LOVE IS DISPLAYED IN THE SAINTS Our text says, Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another! When the love of God is present in the life of a believer, it will be visible:
1. In our Love for the Savior (John 14:15)- If you love me keep my commandments!
2. In our Love for the Scriptures (John 5:39) - Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
3. In our Love for the Sanctuary (Psalms 122:1)- I WAS GLAD WHEN THEY SAID UNTO ME, LET US GO INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD!
4. In our Love for the Saints (1 John 4:21) - And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. Jesus said in Matthew 22:39- You shall love your neighbor as yourself! And that, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends...” Jesus also said in, John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
There is a song written many years ago with these lyrics…
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
Do not forget that “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” John wrote in his gospel (John 3:16), “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus died on Calvary’s Cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb and arose from the dead on the third day because God loves you. And God will never love you more than He loves you right now. And God will never love you less than he loves you right now. So place your trust in His only begotten son, Jesus our Christ, so that you might live through Him. Jesus said in John 10:10 I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Place your trust in Jesus today, so that you might live through Him in love.
