“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. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” I John 4:9-11
1. God is love (I John 4:8) “...because God is love.” *Love originates in God
2. What is love? “This is love…”
A. There is the love of God.
B. There is our love *Loves conception (Genesis 2:18-25) “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.”
*Loves corruption (Genesis 3:8-16) “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
*Loves confusion (I John 4:10) “...not that we loved God, but that he loved us…”
3. Love is revealed by God’s love of sinners. This is the Christmas story. (I John 4:10) “...He loved us and sent his Son…”
*God sent His son to save us
*God sent His son to free us from condemnation
4. Loves ultimate sacrifice (I John 4:10) “...sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
*God demonstrates His love by sending His son
5. Loves ultimate result (I John 4:11) “...we also ought to love one another.”
*We can love one-another. Love is evidence that we are in Christ. It makes sense—if we have God dwelling in us and love is from God, then we should be loving. Our love for one-another is a testimony to others that we belong to God.