Yes, Jesus Loves Me

“Yes, Jesus Loves Me”

If we had to describe the one true God in one word what would it be? We know so many of his attributes: all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, just… But as John described him, “God is love.” (1 John 4:16) This doesn’t diminish his other attributes, but his love shines through all of the others. When the Lord appeared to Moses on Mt. Sinai, he came in great power, he did speak of his justice in punishing sin—but the overall tone of his statement on this momentous occasion was love.

Exodus 34:5,6 “Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,”

And all throughout Israel’s history, this verse is repeated. They knew that they were rescued from their sinfulness on so many occasions by only one thing: his love.

LA 3:22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

I’m sure that we know the doctrine of the love of God. But it is important for us as believers to understand—to truly realize—God’s great love for us; the supremacy of his love.

I. God intends for us to find peace in his love.

One of the blessings that the prophet Zephaniah revealed God had in store for Israel was: “he will quiet you with his love” (Zephaniah 3:17c)

In our day when so many cry out for acceptance and love, God lavishly pours out his love. We seek love—while love is seeking us.

II. God intends for us to find value in his love.

God does not love us because we are valuable—we are valuable because God loves us.

1 John 3:1a How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

A father is expected to love his children—love is the result of this relationship in human terms. But how much better that the father/son relationship is a result of love. God doesn’t love us because it is his role. He has taken the role of father because he loves us.

More importantly! God does not love us because of our role as children—or our role as anything! He has given us this position, because of his preexisting love for us.

We try to make ourselves loveable—worthy of love. We ask, “What can I do to make Him love me more?” And the answer is “nothing.”

How reassuring to know—he has already decided to love us—we don’t have to prove anything.

Likewise, his love is not based on what other people think of us—our value in the eyes of others. Our value is IN THE FACT that he loves us!

III. God intends for us to find refuge in his love.

Even in hard circumstances—in impossible circumstances—when everything is going wrong—we can cry out to God to rescue us.

But on what basis is it that we can cry out? What gives us the right to cry out?

David in all he went through, understood that it was the love of God. He went through a long list of complaints and then said:

PS 109:26 Help me, O LORD my God; save me in accordance with your love.

IV. God intends for us to find forgiveness in his love.

A. Sometimes we don’t feel loved. Or at least we don’t feel worthy of love—and the main reason for this is sin. If God hates sin and I sin, how can he love me?

B. Satan wants you to ask this question! He wants you to feel condemned, so you will give up and not run back to the arms of love! But:

Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

C. David was caught in a horrible sin—adultery—and he penitently came back to God asking for mercy—on what basis? The love of God!

Psalm 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

D. In fact we know that it is God’s love for us that provided Jesus.

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.

1 John 4:9,10 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

His justice requires payment for sin—but his love compelled him to pay the ultimate price—so that he might restore us to his love.