God's Love Loving (1 John 4:1-12)
Gary McManus, 06/13/2021Part of the God's Love; Beyond Belief series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
June 13, 2021. The Third Sunday After Pentecost
God’s Love for Us; 1 John 4:1-12, 1 John 4:19. See also:
Romans 8:37, Ephesians 5:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:16.
Ephesians 3: 17-19: “. . .know this love that surpasses knowledge. . .”
It is really an impossibility;
to KNOW Messiah’s love that is beyond knowing?
Should we not try to understand this divine love?
The Apostle states that he PRAYS that we GET IT!
We DO have Jesus’ definition of love. (John 15:13, John 3:16)
We have the Apostle’s definition of love. (Ephesians 2:4, Romans 5:8)
In our culture.. hate makes headlines.
Just try finding the word “love” in trending news.
Dr. Harold Koenig, “You Are My Beloved, Really?”:
“God IS real and God really , really loves you and wants
you to love him so that God’s power can flow through you
to those whom God puts in your path.”
Dr. Koenig writes about God’s love in Jesus through
other people.
1 John 4:19 is a mission statement.
Pastor’s hometown Christians missed it.
All understood that Jesus was friend of sinners and
understood amazing grace ONLY when it was applied
to US/ME.
But we are empowered to love by the Holy Spirit
based on God’s love for us when God adopted us.
Some have LEFT hate groups because of others;
love.
How to love people we don’t care for?
1. Understand and remember; God’s love is unconditional. One qualifies for God’s love by being a sinner. God loves the sinner. Jesus loved the sinner. We also are called to love the sinner.
2. But love everyone?!
Kindness is a good first step; Matthew 19:42.
( Also: Mark 9:41, 1 Corinthians 13:4, Galatians 5:22).
Kindness is also a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
You have been given the Holy Spirit to be KIND
in Jesus’ name.
Is it so hard?
Re-read 1 Corinthians , chapter 13.
It is often read at weddings but was not intended
for married couples only!
Maybe you are thinking that loving everyone isn’t
reasonable. You are right. Loving everyone is not reasonable; it is spiritual.
The love that changes people didn’t come from the
people’s friends. See Dr. Koenig’s book, location 948,
at 49% of the book.
Let God’s love grasp you.
Amen.
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