Transformed By Love: Understanding God's Sacrificial Gift 1 John 4:10-11 Series

Transformed by Love: Understanding God's Sacrificial Gift 1 John 4:10-11

Introduction:

Today, we gather to delve into the transformative truth of God's love as revealed in His sacrificial gift. Our focus will be on 1 John 4:10, which serves as a cornerstone for understanding the depth and breadth of God's love. Let us open our hearts and minds to receive this divine truth.

Point 1: The Nature of God's Love

1 John 4:10 (NLT) "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."

Here, John beautifully articulates the essence of God's love. It is not merely a response to our love for Him but originates from His own nature. God's love is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional. He demonstrated this love supremely by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).

Charles Spurgeon eloquently reflects on God's love, saying, "God's love is not drawn out by our merits but wells up from His own heart."

Romans 5:8 (NLT) "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

In this verse, the apostle Paul underscores the extraordinary nature of God's love. It wasn't prompted by our goodness or righteousness but manifested while we were still steeped in sin. Despite our unworthiness, God demonstrated His love by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. This sacrificial act reveals the depth of God's love and His desire for reconciliation with humanity.

C.H. Spurgeon once remarked, "God's love is not drawn out by our merits but wells up from His own heart."

Point 2: The Purpose of God's Sacrifice

1 John 4:10 (NLT) "...he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."

The sacrificial death of Jesus Christ was not arbitrary but purposeful. It was to atone for our sins and reconcile us to God. Through Christ's sacrifice, the barrier of sin that separated us from God was removed, allowing us to experience restored fellowship with Him.

Billy Graham aptly states, "God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, 'I love you.'"

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT) "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin so that we could be made right with God through Christ."

Here, Paul elucidates the central theme of atonement and substitutionary sacrifice. Jesus Christ, being without sin, took upon Himself the penalty of our sins, thereby making it possible for us to be reconciled to God. Through Christ's sacrificial death, we are offered righteousness and forgiveness, bridging the gap between sinful humanity and a holy God.

The theologian John Stott beautifully expressed, "The essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man."

Point 3: Responding to God's Love

1 John 4:11 (NLT) "Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other."

In light of God's overwhelming love for us, John exhorts believers to respond by loving one another. Our love for others becomes a tangible expression of our gratitude for God's love demonstrated to us through Christ's sacrifice. As we extend love to others, we mirror God's character and fulfil His greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37-39).

Matthew 22:37-39 (NLT) "‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’"

Jesus, in response to a Pharisee's question about the greatest commandment, encapsulates the essence of true devotion and righteousness. He emphasises the primacy of loving God with one's entire being, acknowledging Him as the ultimate priority and source of all love. Furthermore, Jesus extends this love ethic to include loving one's neighbor as oneself, highlighting the interconnectedness of love for God and love for others.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a prominent theologian, echoed this sentiment, saying, "The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them."

Conclusion:

In summary, these verses underscore the foundational truths of God's love demonstrated through Christ's sacrificial death and the imperative of reciprocating that love by loving God wholeheartedly and expressing it through our relationships with others.

Let us be transformed by the truth of God's sacrificial love. May we embrace the reality of His love for us, understand the purpose of Christ's sacrifice, and respond by loving others as He has loved us. As we go forth from this place, let love be our guiding principle in all we do, reflecting the transformative power of God's love to a world in need.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen