'JOHN 3:16 #3-GOD SO LOVED' JOHN 3:16



"JOHN 3:16 #3-GOD SO LOVED" JOHN 3:16

INTRO; Love is a word we hear very often in our society today. It is a word that is used and very often misused. There is a vast selection of songs about love. Any bookstore you go to has a section called Romance where you can find out all you need to know—according to the world's standards—about love, being loved, and how to love. In the self-help section you can find books on how to love, how to make love, how to love yourself, and how to let others love you.

But if you want to know the true meaning of love you need to go to the Scripture. One of the most quoted passages of Scripture dealing with love is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8—"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in inequity, but rejoiceth in truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." This verse gives us a wonderful description of love. Our text, John 3:16, shows us the gracious love of God for sinful mankind. I want you to note the words—"For God so loved..." Friends, the love of God is one of life's greatest realities! As we continue our study on John 3:16 I want us to pause and reflect on those words that are at the beginning of this verse—"For God so loved...". Please note three things with me today...

(1) THE DESCRIPTION OF LOVE

JOHN 3:16a— "For God so loved...."

A. LOVE REDEEMS. 1 John 4:16 tells us—"And we have known and

believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." Friends, it was God's great love that sent His only Son to die for us who where lost in trespasses and sins. Not that we loved God but that He loved us! Earlier in 1 John 4 beginning in the last part of v8-10 we read—"...God is love. 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. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent how Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

B. LOVE IS REAL. Friends, if a person claims to love but yet fails to show that love then that person's love is not real. 1 John 4:2O-21 says—"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this is the commandment we have from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." If there is one thing that should set us apart from others it is the love in our lives. We cannot go through life not showing love to other believers, not showing love to lost sinners, and not ' speaking of the wonderful love of Christ, and think others will see God in us. Jesus said in John 13:34-35—"A new commandment I give you, that ye love one another. By this shall all men know you are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

We have considered THE DESCRIPTION OF LOVE but let us also see...

(2) THE DEMANDS OF LOVE

JOHN 3:16b—"For God so love the world, that he gave his only begotten Son..."

A. LOVE'S ACTIONS. Love is more than just feelings, emotions, desires, or thoughts. Love makes demands on us. God proved His love for us by giving the best—Jesus Christ! In other words, God showed His love by His actions. Love makes requirements of us also. What are some of these requirements:

1. LOVE MUST BE TRUE. Romans 12:9-10 tells us—"Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another."

2. LOVE MUST BE TOTAL. 1 Corinthians 16:14 says—"Let all things be done with charity." I want you to note the words "all things". This refers not only to the things we do but also the way we do things. If we love in part then we are not showing love as we should! (Colossians 3:14).

3. LOVE MUST BE TESTED. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 8:24— "Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf." Real love will be tested and will pass the test! (Hebrews 1O:24).

4. LOVE MUST BE OUR TESTIMONY. There are many Scriptures which show the reality of our faith by the love we display (Ephesians 5:2; 1 Timothy 1:5; 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 John 3:11; Hebrews 13:1; 1 Peter 4:8).

All these requirements of love require us to act beyond mere sentiment and desire. For others to see that we have this love we must get off our couches, leave our pews, and go to a Christ-less world and love people! Our love will never be realized unless our actions show it to others!

B. LOVE'S ABILITY. What enables us to love the way that God desires us to love? 1 John 4:19 gives us the answer—"We love him, because he first loved us." Friends, the beginning of all love is God. Separate from God there can be no love! In order for us to love any one we first must be loved by God. How are we able to love? By the aid of God's Spirit who lives within us (Romans 5:5).

We have considered THE DESCRIPTION OF LOVE and THE DEMANDS OF LOVE but let us lastly consider...

(3) THE DIMENSIONS OF LOVE

JOHN 3:15c— "For God so loved THE WORLD that he gave his only begotten Son..."

A. LOVE COMPASSES. This well-known and well-loved verse of Scripture found in John 3:16 explains to each of us that God's love for mankind has exceeded all boundaries, hopes, and all thoughts. Friends, God simply doesn't feel for us. He doesn't just have emotions toward us. He doesn't merely sit on the throne and look down on us wishing us well. His love is not mere words or thoughts but His love is seen in His actions for us and

toward us. He left His throne, left the majesty of heaven and came into our world. In the form of man, he lived a life of love that demonstrated love in action. Ephesians 2:4-5 tells us—"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved;)."

B. LOVE COMMITS. Not only does God's love compass us but in love He is committed to us. In the Old Testament book of Hosea, God told Hosea to take a wife. It is interesting to note the woman God told Hosea to marry. Hosea 1:2 tells us—"The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And The LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD." The outcome of such a union was what you might expect. As Max Lucado points out, "She had the fidelity code of a prairie jackrabbit, flirting and hopping from one lover to another. She ruined her life and shattered Hosea's heart. Destitute, she was placed for sale in a slave market (Max Lucado. 3:16. p. ).

The story of Hosea and Gomer shows us the level of commitment that God has for us. But the real question today for every believer is, "to what extent do I love God? Am I committed to Him?" All of us from time to time play the role of Gomer in our love and commitment to God. Friend, may I ask you this day, "Are you a faithful lover to God? Do you look to see where God is, what God loves doing, and then join Him there? Do you study His Love Letter—The Bible—to you so that you will know Him better and then look for opportunities to do things for Him that shows your love for Him?"

CLOSING: Many people talk about showing love for God by following the

Golden Rule and that is good. But friends, the best way to show others we love God is simply by loving Him and obeying Him.

Friend, let me ask you today, "what is the extent of your love for God? How much time do you spend with Him? How fervent are you to please Him? Do you love Him enough to lay aside your wants, wishes, desires, ambitions, and affections to focus on His wants and wishes? Are you willing to lay aside selfish love and love His way?"

PREPARED BY BROTHER BRYAN L. BROWNING, PASTOR OF BEECHMONT BAPTIST CHURCH, BEECHMONT, KY FOR SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 2, 2007.

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