Scripture: John 13:34-35 (King James Version)
"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another".
1 John 4: 7-13 (King James Version)
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit."
The ancient Greeks whose way of life revolved around architecture and decorative arts said, "God is beauty". The Romans led by the Caesars who boasted in great military success said, "God is strength". The Jews looking to Moses, the great law giver said, "God is law".
But, John having laid his head upon the bosom of Jesus, our Savior and communed with Him says, "God is love". The very nature of God is LOVE. His Spirit is a Spirit of LOVE...a loving Spirit. Note carefully the scripture (verses 12-13) above; in particular, "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dweller in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit".
If we had to make God love us we would finally give up in despair.
But, it is the fact that God does love us, even though we are unworthy and undeserving. This fact gives us hope! God does not love us because we are good or because we merit His love...He loves us whether we are good or bad. God can't help loving us...because...God is LOVE. When our lives please Him and we are doing right, He loves us with a love that makes Him glad. When our lives do not please Him, He loves us with a love that makes Him sad. Our disobedience, rejection and refusal, break His heart...but, He loves us with a broken heart. He longs for us to turn to Him.
The Bible also says that "God is Light". The sun can not shine upon the just and not upon the unjust. The sun is light and it can not hep but shine. God can not love one and withhold His love from another. God is LOVE. He can not help loving; His very nature, Spirit and disposition are LOVE. So...if anyone goes to eternal damnation...they will go there in spite of God's LOVE for them, refusing to be affected and moved by it.
The apostle John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit tells us very clearly that is was God's LOVE that gave Jesus to be our Savior and die on the cross in our stead. He died for us. There is no greater manifestation of LOVE than that which was demonstrated at the Cross of Calvary. It was there God laid your sins and mine; the sins of the whole world upon His Son - the pure and spotless one. He laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. The scripture in Romans 5:8 says, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us".
But, John having laid his head upon the bosom of Jesus, our Savior and communed with Him says, "God is love". The very nature of God is LOVE. His Spirit is a Spirit of LOVE...a loving Spirit. Note carefully the scripture (verses 12-13) above; in particular, "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dweller in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit".
If we had to make God love us we would finally give up in despair.
But, it is the fact that God does love us, even though we are unworthy and undeserving. This fact gives us hope! God does not love us because we are good or because we merit His love...He loves us whether we are good or bad. God can't help loving us...because...God is LOVE. When our lives please Him and we are doing right, He loves us with a love that makes Him glad. When our lives do not please Him, He loves us with a love that makes Him sad. Our disobedience, rejection and refusal, break His heart...but, He loves us with a broken heart. He longs for us to turn to Him.
The Bible also says that "God is Light". The sun can not shine upon the just and not upon the unjust. The sun is light and it can not hep but shine. God can not love one and withhold His love from another. God is LOVE. He can not help loving; His very nature, Spirit and disposition are LOVE. So...if anyone goes to eternal damnation...they will go there in spite of God's LOVE for them, refusing to be affected and moved by it.
"If that isn't LOVE, the oceans are dry,
If that isn't LOVE there's no stars in the sky".
Dottie Rambo
There is no way to preach the LOVE of God without preaching about Christ on the cross, the substitute for sinners...your sins and mine. As God proved His love to us by dying on the cross in our place, so, in return, the greatest proof that we love God is when we manifest love for one another. Please note again the scriptures that were referenced at the beginning...
*"for he that liveth not knowers not God".
*"for love is of God".
*"if we love one another God dweller in us".
*"and His love is perfected in us".
*"if God so loved us we ought also to love one another".
*"beloved let us love one another".
*"ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another".
Are you going your own way; hardening your heart against God's LOVE?
If you are...but, now you desire to come God's way...you want to open your heart to His great LOVE...you want to put your life into His hands and receive forgiveness and salvation...then, Jesus is standing with arms outstretched, ready to welcome you into His LOVE, and give you eternal life.
