Today, we continue learning the Source of God's love. Then, next week we will look at the other 4 points I want to make:
- Source
- Subject
- Substance
- Substitution
- Story
John 3:16 declares God is a lover.
This goes against the prevailing notions of God. Many people think God is angry. We correctly view God as a God of wrath, but we misinterpret that wrath in terms of our humanness rather than His holiness. Thus, we view God as a tyrant, a cosmic killjoy, an angry parent sitting in His heavenly living room with His divine belt in hand waiting for the disobedient sinner to come through the door. Others view God as indifferent. They think God does not and cannot care about the world or anyone in it.
Others view God as temperamental. They view God’s love esoterically and spend their lives trying to earn it. This produces a legalism, which results in either despondency or pride, but never reveals the true love of God. John 3:16 stands against all these misinterpretations of God’s attitude toward us and declares God loves us. First John 4:8 says, “God is love.” God personifies love. If fact, if it has to do with God, it has to do with love.
Mercy is God’s forgiving love.
Grace is God’s undeserved love.
Peace is God’s comforting love.
The will of God is, God’s unerring love.
Providence is God’s caring love.
The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is God’s proven love.
Sanctification is God’s nurturing love.
Heaven is God’s rewarding love.
Eternity is God’s unending love.
This goes against the prevailing notions of God. Many people think God is angry. We correctly view God as a God of wrath, but we misinterpret that wrath in terms of our humanness rather than His holiness. Thus, we view God as a tyrant, a cosmic killjoy, an angry parent sitting in His heavenly living room with His divine belt in hand waiting for the disobedient sinner to come through the door. Others view God as indifferent. They think God does not and cannot care about the world or anyone in it.
Others view God as temperamental. They view God’s love esoterically and spend their lives trying to earn it. This produces a legalism, which results in either despondency or pride, but never reveals the true love of God. John 3:16 stands against all these misinterpretations of God’s attitude toward us and declares God loves us. First John 4:8 says, “God is love.” God personifies love. If fact, if it has to do with God, it has to do with love.
Mercy is God’s forgiving love.
Grace is God’s undeserved love.
Peace is God’s comforting love.
The will of God is, God’s unerring love.
Providence is God’s caring love.
The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is God’s proven love.
Sanctification is God’s nurturing love.
Heaven is God’s rewarding love.
Eternity is God’s unending love.
The Old Testament makes it clear God loves Israel. It makes this point so regularly and dramatically that you can misread it to say God loves only Israel. That’s how Israel itself read the Old Testament. So, this statement recorded in John 3:16 absolutely must have blown Nicodemus away. It claims God does not love just certain groups, races or nations. God loves everybody. God doesn’t exclusively love Christians. God loves the world. What a truth!
Romans 5:7-8 says: “For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God loves the world.
Romans 5:7-8 says: “For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God loves the world.
ACTION STEPS: Tomorrow we will discuss the unworthy Subjects of God's love. For today, think about all the ways God loves you. Really, think about not just the stuff, your breath, your bed, but you. How does God love you. Then, be grateful He is love, because WHO He is makes Him able to DO what He does....mainly love us.
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