The Love of God

March 26, 2023

Preacher: Andrew Bowden

Series: Visiting Preachers

Passage: 1 John 4:7-21

Service Type: Sunday Evening

Introduction

v16 - goes to the very heart of John's experience
- "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." [1 John 4:16]
- A Christian has come to know, rely and dwell on the love of God
- It is something so wonderful
- Example of Bertram Russell
  - Fear is not the basis - far from it
  - The Christmas message is "Fear not"
  - Jesus also said "Fear not"
- The essence of the gospel is love
  - Perfect love casts out fear
  - Song Lyrics: Love Divine
  - God loves us
John has come to know the love of God
How do we know that God loves us
- Scripture reveals this to us - so we are in no doubt
- Love is the most over used and least understood word
- God has come ever so close to tell us He loves us

God reveals His love in:
Scripture
- An eternal love
- A personal love
- A costly/sacrifical love
  - The first sacrifice in the Garden of Eden
  - The last sacrifice at Calvary
- A practical love
- An unconditional love
- There is nothing we can do to make God love us more / less
Through Jesus
- Approachable
- Compassion
- Tenderness
- He is the express image of God's person
On the Cross
- God demonstrates His love in the Christ died whilst we were sinners
- He gave His only begotten Son
Our adoption
- We can be called children of God
- Romans 8
We are loved by Him

We have come to believe/rely on the love
Example of John Pattern
- To accept a free gift
- To believe/rely upon
We must rely upon God
- Eph 3:18-19 – to rely fully upon God's love
- Eph 3:17 – To be firmly rooted and grounded in God's love
- Example of John Owen
The opinions of others can be like a shattered hall of mirrors
- Example of Rapunzel
- Where is out sense of worth?
  - At Calvary and the cross
  - The love of God towards us