We Love, Because He First Loved Us

We Love, Because He First Loved Us

Introduction:

Someone has said, our nature is so constituted that we are never really happy until we love God. We CAN love Him! I believe we are never quite at ease until we place our love in Him. Phil. 4:4-7 – Paul…peace that surpasses all comprehension… In 1 Jhn. 4 – we find that love to God is set down as being a necessary mark of the new birth. Read 4:7-21. it’s clear that we can see the need to love God. W/o it, we are destined to leave a life w/o a sense of purpose; and display a certain anxiety about the future.

I. How can we develop a _____________ for God?

A. First, it’s important to look at how God has manifested Himself to develop the emotion of love w/in our hearts.

1. in works of ___________, God manifests Himself as the loving creator.

B. By realizing the __________ He has created us.

C. BY pondering our own ____________ against God & His standard.

D. Consider His tremendous _____________ in forgiving us – Psa. 103:10-12

E. Acts 17:22-28 – by _______________ Him; groping for Him.

II. Love to God is __________________ to the Christian life.

A. God is not satisfied unless He obtains our ________________.

1. do we have this kind of relationship w/the Father? Deut. 10:12

B. Rom. 1:18-21 – why was God displeased?

1. God wants us to recognize our _____________________ upon Him.

C. Love is essential because obedience w/o it is a _________ of time. 1 John 2:3-6

1. we must serve w/_____________________ obedience!

2. Mt. 22:36-37 – what does God want of us?

3. Our love for Him – is THE ___________________ of our faith!

D. Hos. 6:6 – Didn’t God command sacrifices? Certainly!

1. But action = only PART of the sacrifice!

2. Pro. 21:27; Isa. 1:13; Jer. 6:20; Mal. 1:8-10

E. Applications for us to consider: Do we fully give ourselves to Him?

F. He wants our ________________!

1. He does not want baptisms; the church; etc; until I have first given Him myself!

III. It is because of our love for God that we ____________ each other.

A. Love is from God. God is INTO loving relationships!

1. closer people get to God – the more loving they become.

2. it is utter deceit to claim to know __________ & not ____________!

B. What kind of love must we have for one another?

1. _____________; unselfish love. John 3:16; Lk. 23:34

C. 4:11 – if God loves everyone of us that much – we ought to love one another!

D. 4:12 – this does 2 things:

1. it allows God to ____________ continually in us.

2. it allows God’s love to become ______________ in us.

E. 4:20 – it is impossible to love God & hate a Christian.

F. 4:21 – Christian who loves God should love bro/sis in Christ.

Conclusion:

A. 1 John 4:19 – How much do you love God? Is it clearly seen in your life?

B. It all starts w/beginning a relationship w/God!



We Love, Because He First Loved Us Introduction: Someone has said, our nature is so constituted that we are never really happy until we love God. We CAN love Him! I believe we are never quite at ease until we place our love in Him. Phil. 4:4-7 – Paul…peace that surpasses all comprehension… In 1 Jhn. 4 – we find that love to God is set down as being a necessary mark of the new birth. Read 4:7-21. it’s clear that we can see the need to love God. W/o it, we are destined to leave a life w/o a sense of purpose; and display a certain anxiety about the future. I. How can we develop a _____________ for God? A. First, it’s important to look at how God has manifested Himself to develop the emotion of love w/in our hearts. 1. in works of ___________, God manifests Himself as the loving creator. B. By realizing the __________ He has created us. C. BY pondering our own ____________ against God & His standard. D. Consider His tremendous _____________ in forgiving us – Psa. 103:10-12 E. Acts 17:22-28 – by _______________ Him; groping for Him. II. Love to God is __________________ to the Christian life. A. God is not satisfied unless He obtains our ________________. 1. do we have this kind of relationship w/the Father? Deut. 10:12 B. Rom. 1:18-21 – why was God displeased? 1. God wants us to recognize our _____________________ upon Him. C. Love is essential because obedience w/o it is a _________ of time. 1 John 2:3-6 1. we must serve w/_____________________ obedience! 2. Mt. 22:36-37 – what does God want of us? 3. Our love for Him – is THE ___________________ of our faith! D. Hos. 6:6 – Didn’t God command sacrifices? Certainly! 1. But action = only PART of the sacrifice! 2. Pro. 21:27; Isa. 1:13; Jer. 6:20; Mal. 1:8-10 E. Applications for us to consider: Do we fully give ourselves to Him? F. He wants our ________________! 1. He does not want baptisms; the church; etc; until I have first given Him myself! III. It is because of our love for God that we ____________ each other. A. Love is from God. God is INTO loving relationships! 1. closer people get to God – the more loving they become. 2. it is utter deceit to claim to know __________ & not ____________! B. What kind of love must we have for one another? 1. _____________; unselfish love. John 3:16; Lk. 23:34 C. 4:11 – if God loves everyone of us that much – we ought to love one another! D. 4:12 – this does 2 things: 1. it allows God to ____________ continually in us. 2. it allows God’s love to become ______________ in us. E. 4:20 – it is impossible to love God & hate a Christian. F. 4:21 – Christian who loves God should love bro/sis in Christ. Conclusion: A. 1 John 4:19 – How much do you love God? Is it clearly seen in your life? B. It all starts w/beginning a relationship w/God!