Loving God

September 18, 1988 PM

1 John 4:7-21

Introduction:

With all the labels we place on each other, it is increasingly difficult to identify what a "true" Christian is supposed to be. There are liberal Christians and conservative; fundamentalists and born-again Christians. There are all shades of all kinds of labels.

How do we describe what we mean by an experience with God that brings freedom from guilt and sin, and that fits us to walk with Jesus, in His fellowship, with His people, and get to heaven?

Perhaps some of our terms might be more descriptions than labels. If we told about our walk with God, instead of just subscribing to a particular school of thought, or theological party, we might be more effective.

• Consider the question (1) 'Do you KNOW the Lord?' Being a Christian is, in some measure, coming to know Jesus Christ as a real Person!
• Or, Consider a pertinent follow-up question (2) 'Do you LOVE the Lord?' Being a Christian means to LOVE God as He is revealed in His Son.
• Or, How would you reply if someone asked you (3) 'Are you SERIOUS in your walk with God?' Not sour, not long-faced— but is your walk with God the most important thing in your life?"

I would focus on just ONE of these descriptive inquiries into the personal areas of our Christian faith: To be a Christian is to LOVE God! WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "LOVE GOD?" [One answer might be the book Chuck Colson has written. It is a practical answer! It is the life of holiness!]

I. WE CANNOT LOVE WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW...

• Can we love God when we don't know ANYTHING about Him at all?
• What CAN we know about God?
• How can we love such a BIG BEING?

... BUT GOD INCREASINGLY REVEALS HIMSELF: [This passage tells us some clear truth about God:] A STATEMENT ABOUT GOD

1. GOD IS TRANSCENDENT

   "No one has seen God at any time ... (v 12)" God must be Self-revealed.

2. GOD IS SELF-REVEALING!

   "God is love...(v 16)" — pure love; NOT human-centered and patronizing and indulgent, spoiling all it touches; but caring and protecting; finding the very best for all

3. GOD DEMANDS THAT HIS CHILDREN LIVE IN LOVE
   1. We come to know God by loving Him! To LOVE Him is to KNOW Him. ... to step out on His promises that seem too good to be true ... and step by step come to see that He is GOOD!
   2. We cannot be God's favorites! God demands that we love ALL His children! If we don't love, we aren't His children.

II. WE CANNOT ALWAYS CONTROL THE WAY WE FEEL ABOUT PEOPLE...

• Can we love God and NOT love God's people? (No— we've seen that!)
• What do we know about the relationship between loving God and loving each other?
• How can we love the un-loving? (One dour Scot scolded the secretary of the church for mentioning that this week was his wife's and his 50th wedding anniversary!) ...BUT GOD'S LOVE IS DEEPER THAN EMOTION: [and this passage gives us:] A STATEMENT ABOUT GOD'S PEOPLE

1. A. THE NORM FOR GOD'S PEOPLE (11) the norm for God's people is to love one another.
2. B. GOD'S PEOPLE FIND SUPERNATURAL HELP! (18) fear is excluded by love.
3. C. GOD'S PEOPLE DO NOT HATE/BEAR GRUDGES (20) hatred is incompatible with Christian love.

III. GOD NEVER COMMANDS WHAT HE DOES NOT ALSO ENABLE!...

• Does this need to love everyone 'doom' us all? Is love the same as "being IN love with?"
• Where does all this "LOVE" originate? [With GOD of course!]
• How can we be "serious" Christians, coming to "know the Lord" and truly "loving Him?" ... IF WE LEARN TO LOVE GOD, WE WILL REFLECT HIS LOVE TO OTHERS!

[Yes this is a command, but:] A COMMAND, BUT WITH PROMISE

1. LOVE! for with God it is possible! This doesn't mean you have to agree with or like all the cultural/ sociological aspects.
2. WE DON'T 'STRIVE TO LOVE' BUT WE OPEN UP TO LOVE ... LET GOD LOVE THROUGH US MAKE GOD "AT HOME" IN MY HEART— SEE HOW HE LOVES ME—AND HE WILL MAKE HIS LOVE REAL ...
3. Mother Teresa was asked how she can love the very un-lovely people with which she works. (She spends hours in private prayer!) She said: "I have said a (dynamic) YES to Jesus!" And love becomes her very LIFE!

This is grace! Grace to forgive... and grace to receive forgiveness!

Conclusion:

How do you label yourself, as a Christian? Why should anyone take your faith seriously?

• Can you say: "I know the Lord!"?
• Can you honestly say: "I love the Lord!"?
• Are you serious about the matter of your walk with God?
• Are you showing that love by loving those around you?

One of the most beautiful scenes in the Bible is in John 21, where Jesus took Peter aside, and restored him to full fellowship. It is almost too private to look in on; and yet the Holy Spirit has had John write it for our edification.

Jesus takes Peter aside and asks him: DO YOU LOVE ME? Not, 'Do you believe Me?' or "Will you obey Me?" or "Are you sorry you let Me down?"

Just "DO YOU LOVE ME? DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN ANYTHING OR ANYONE ELSE?"

Can you say with Peter: "Lord, You know all things! I DO LOVE YOU!" ??

#243 I'll Live for Him ("My life my love, I give to Thee..")