January 16th, 2005, Sunday Morning

"GOD Is Love"
To be truly a Christian is to demonstrate love as God does


OPENING: 1 John 4:7-21


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1 John 4:7-21: These verses are the measurement by which you can verify your salvation

If we believe our salvation (being saved) really happened, we demonstrate our belief in our outward actions toward others

• Not just words of kindness but deeds of kindness through meeting others' needs
  
  
• Not by how you dress for church or how loudly you sing hymns or go to every Sunday School but how you act outside the church doors

1 John 4:18: Because there is no fear in love, Christian love and get along with complete strangers and those who don't trust or like them

• The evidence of Christ within you is equal love shown to friends, strangers and enemies, just as Jesus demonstrated

1 John 4:7: Our love shown to others is the proof that you truly know God

• Jeremiah 17:9: By nature, our heart knows wickedness--we are not born knowing patience or kindness
  
  
• Therefore, it's only by God that our heart is permanently changed to that of natural love, patience and kindness

1 Corinthians 13:4-7: The definition of love (which is GOD because GOD is love, per 1 John 4:7)

Love is patient The test lies in how you respond to people forgetting you or not doing what you ask Love is kind Making others more important than yourself; otherwise, no humility = tendency to be mean You're looking to help others and meet their needs How you speak to strangers in the supermarket or in traffic It does not envy 1 Corinthians 12:26: You're happy for another's promotion It does not boast We would like to drive the best car, live in the best house, raise the best kids but our purpose in life is to serve and bring glory and honor to God--not ourselves (John 3:30) It is not proud Ecclesiastes 10:12: A wise man keeps his words to a minimum It is not rude To act unbecomingly is to lose self-control It is not self-seeking It is not easily angered Proverbs 16:32: Per the Bible, it's better to be slow to anger than quick to anger and conquer the entire city Numbers 20:7-12: Because Moses lost his temper and disobeyed the Lord by striking the rock instead of speaking to it, God forbid Moses from entering into the Promised Land with the rest of Israel It keeps no record of wrongs It means not even reminding others of what you've forgiven them for Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth It always protects Always trusts, hopes and perseveres

Why are we (the saved) supposed to love?

• 1 John 4:10: Because God first loved us and demonstrated that love by sending His only Son to be the acceptable sacrifice for all the sins of the worlds--all of yours and mine
  
  
  • Isaiah 64:6: God had to send His perfect Son because no amount of "good" deeds we do in this world will amount to being counted worthy of Heaven, on our own merit
  
  
• TESTIMONY: Matthew 18:23-35: Jesus' parable of Heaven like a "certain king, which would take account of his servants"
  
  
  • One servant owed him 10,000 talents
  • The servant couldn't pay so the master ordered he and his family be sold, to repay the money
  • The servant fell before the master's feet, praying to give him another chance to pay
  • The master not only freed the servant but forgave him the debt completely
  • This forgiven servant shook down another of his friends for the 100 talents owed him
  • This forgiven servant would not forgive his friend and had him thrown into prison until he could repay
  • The master found out and subsequently threw his forgiven servant to his tormentors until he could repay every talent
  
  
• God, moved by His love and mercy for you, has already forgiven you for all that you have done and didn't do--to your last day on Earth (assuming you're saved) and as His emulators/ambassadors (Christians), we should display the same to others around us
  
  
• John 3:16: Just as God offered salvation to the entire world, Christians should not pick-and-choose their friends but love all, equally

2 Corinthians 6:2 Those who believe they're not good enough or will never reach Heaven aren't answering God's telephone call of salvation (being saved) which is ringing this very moment!


CLOSER

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Christianity is not about doing your duty (feeling compelled to go to church, sing good, sit through the sermon) but through the genuine demonstration of love, per God's description of love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

The world is starving more for love everyday

1 John 4:20: The challenge: equal kindness and love for both stranger and brother

• If you cannot love all others, God is not within you and you do not know God