God's Love

Definition of love: It is an intense deep affection

Biblical View of love: Love is patient Love is kind Love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not dishonor others It is not self-seeking It is not easily angered It keeps no record of wrongs Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects , always trusts, always hope, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. (1CORINTHIANS 13:4-8NIV)

There are several Ancient Greek word used to differentiate modern word for love.

The three most frequent words used for love:

1. Eros- which means passionate love ( this kind of love is different from the love for our relatives)

2. Philia – is the love brotherly ( until something happen the love turn to hatred)

3. Agape- is unconditional which is the love of God ( and that is the love I want to focus on tonight)

Some scholars said John is a Prophet, some scholars said he is an Evangelist and the author of this book, he was the preacher in the wilderness and the man that baptized Jesus. Reading the Gospel of John over and over it is like reading for the first time WHY? Every text is worded to let the power of the original thought come through in todays language. The result is that you find not only more understanding in reading the book of John but more joy, as the meaning of Scriptures becomes more transparent, more love of God shines through.

If I ask the question tonight about giving up your only son or daughter to die, or for adoption the answer would most likely be no, but God gave His only begotten Son to die on the cross to redeem humanity from sin, that is to show us how much God loves us.

One song writer said Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us that we should be called the Sons of God

This paragraph can be found in 1John 3:1 I am going to paraphrase, In this verse I personally think John was concerned because he probably thought who would give up their only son to die?

Here is another similar situation where Abraham was tested with his only son Isaac to take him to the region of Moriah and sacrifice him for a burnt offering this story can be found in Genesis 22.

The Old Testament Covenant depends upon man but thanks be to God that the New Testament Covenant we are living under dispensation of grace which is love of God.

The Love spoken of throughout the bible is Agape love which is the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. We did nothing to earn it, He loves us unconditionally.

According to 1CORINTHIANS 13:13 it is said and now these three remain Faith, Hope and Love, But the greatest of them all is love God is amazing!

Myles Munroe wrote a book called the Purpose Power of Love and Marriage. He said to know love (Agape) is to know God because God is love, he also said one of the greatest truths ever revealed to mankind is the truth that God loves us.

God did not said He loves when we are good said, He loves us with an everlasting.

I am going to summarise John 4:20: if anyone says that they love God and hate their brother the truth is not in them, the unsaved man or woman would see nothing wrong but we as Christians when we hate our brothers and sisters but confess that we love God He is not pleased with us, even the ones that crucified Him. What did He say? He said Father forgive them for they know not what they do, there was a passion of love right there.

Sometimes I buy things online and will ask customer service if it can be personalised, we can also personalise Bible Verses to reflect our need or situation for eg John 3:16 we can say for God so love Dazia that He gave His only begotten Son.

A Song writer said Jesus loves me this if know. The song writer didn’t the mill & boo most us love to read when we were younger, the writer didn’t say Muhammad How do we know? It is written in the Bible. The love Jesus have for us He died on the cross for you and I to have life more abundantly. The bible clearly reveals that God’s love for us, one thing it does not reveal is why He loves us, there is no love with “why” Love with a “Why” is love with conditions, God loves us unconditionally.

Gods love is global, it has no width, it has no length or depth, He loves all people. He loves every race whether you are black or white. He loves us regardless of our gender. He loves the prisoner. He loves the prostitute. He loves the drug addict. He loves the rapist and the murders. It doesn’t matter what goes on in our lives He loves us. What God hates is all sins and all selfish actions of sin, including ours.

For God so loved the world, that phrase “so loved the world” demand our attention I am a living testimony, I should have been dead long time ago but Jesus love me in spite of my situation and character there was never a time God stopped loving us, His love is constant, His love is infinite, God love is sacrificial He gave His only Son to die for our sins.

I want to bring your attention to some mighty man of valor in the Bible they mess up but God still love them.

1. Moses I wouldn’t say he was disobedient I would say he was insecure telling God he can’t talk his tongue is tied. Exodus 4:10

2. David a womaniser trick Uriah got him killed and took his wife 2nd Samuel 11:1-14

3. Abraham lied and said that Sarah was his sister Genesis 20:1-2

4. Noah drank until he didn’t know himself went and laid naked in his tent Genesis 9:21

5. How can we forget a thief like Jacob instead of protecting his brother he robbed him, story can be found in Genesis 27

6. Jonah was a Prophet called by God, who gave him direction to go to Nineveh the people instead he went his own way God had prepared a wale to swallow he was in the wake belly for three days God still love him story can be found in Jonah 1

Bible Verses on Love ( 1CORINTHIANS 13:1-8 NIV)

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

If i give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

( Short but sweet) Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14 NIV

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.(1Peter 4:8 NIV)

God’s Love and Ours 1 John 4:7-21 NIV

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 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. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

I will acknowledge that it was very interesting to see how God addresses us as dear friends in (John 4:7-21 NIV)

I believe that like God says, we should love one another as He loves us because He considers us friends so we should love each other accordingly.

Have a Wonderful Day