Sermon Outline: 1 John 4:7-21
I. Introduction:
On June 25, 1967 the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) commissioned the Beatles to write a song for the United Kingdom’s contribution to a T.V. show, called Our World, which was the first live global television link. The Beatles were asked to write and perform a song that would contain a simple message to be understood by all nations. What was the song that they wrote? “Love is all you need.” And with that song the Beatles struck a nerve that was felt around the world, as it hit home in the heart of over 400 million television viewers. After playing this song to over 400 million viewers, they quickly released it in the UK, where it soared to the top of the charts to number 1, and then after that they released the song in the US where it also reached number 1 on the billboard charts.
The concept of love reaches down into the deepest part of almost every human being’s heart and soul. It has such an appeal to the human race that Amazon has over 245,000 books with the word “Love” in its title. If you do a Google search on the word “love” you will find that it has over 474 million entries on it. Brittney Spears had a number 1 hit a few years back with a love song that’s chorus appealed to the love-starved masses: “My loneliness is killing me. I must confess, I still believe. When I’m not with you I lose my mind. Give me a sign. Hit me baby one more time.” And so for Brittney Spears, and millions who worship the concept of love with her through this song, it seems that being hit by someone is how she knows she is loved.
Even though there is so much interest in love, and so many ideas about what love is, it sure seems as if the world has truly missed the mark in understanding love as well as in defining love, and most importantly in practicing and experiencing love. And the reason I bring this up this morning is because we are going to be moving into a section of scripture today that sheds light on this somewhat evasive and abstract subject called love.
II. Revelation/Application: Why God’s Love Matters
In the last 15 verses in 1 John 4:7-21 the word “love” is used 29 times, over 2 times more than any other chapter in all of Scripture. This passage of Scripture also emphasizes the fact that God is love, and that each Person in the Godhead plays a part in making God’s love known to us. 1. God the Father showed His love by sending His Son for us (read 4:9). 2. God the Son showed His love by laying down His life for us (read 4:10). 3. God the Spirit affirms His love by dwelling in us (read 4:13)
The question I want to answer in this study is: “Why does God’s love matter so much”?
“Why does God’s love matter so much”?
“Why does God’s love matter so much”?
1. Because God is the Source of Love (4:7-8)
We are called to love one another because “love is of God” (4:7). In fact, God is the source of true love. He is the initiator of love. He is the example of love, and He is the Creator of love. By loving one another we establish that we have been “born of God”, and that we “know” God (4:7b). Whoever does not love others does not “know” God (4:8).
In this passage we see why Love is important. The reason love is important is because God is love, the very source of love. And because God is the source of love, all that are impacted by Him, will become conduits of His love. Because God is the source of all love, it is essential that His children display God’s love to the world. We are going to see in this next passage of Scripture that God uses us to make His love known to the world. In other words, God’s love is identifiable through us!
The Greek word John uses for us “loving one another” is agapao while the word he uses to describe the “love from God” is apage. Agapao is a verb in the present tense. It is the verb for the noun agape, which is God’s unconditional, unwavering love for us. In this verse, the Bible is telling us that because God is Agape, we as His followers must display Agapao. In English: Because God is love we must live our lives by Loving others. This is essential to the faith. In fact, the Bible tells us here that showing agapao (love in action) towards others is what proves that we have been “born of God”, and that we “know God”.
“Why does God’s love matter so much”?
2. Because God’s Love is Identifiable (4:9-12)
Many people believe that love is a “feeling”. They unknowingly attribute the warm fuzzies one experiences after watching Hollywood’s version of a love story, or the overwhelmingly emotional fulfillment that takes place the moment we “fall in love” with someone. However, these emotional feelings are not love. They are in many cases the benefit or reward of experiencing love. But they are not love. Because God is love, and the source of all love, we must look to Him in order to define love. When looking at God’s Word we begin to realize that love is a choice, which produces action that benefits others. We also begin to realize that love is not a “recipient”. Meaning, love never receives it only gives.
Let me give you an example. My wife daily shows me that she loves me in practical ways. However, each and every time she does something to express her love for me in word and in deed, I receive the benefit of her love. I feel better. I get blessed. I get warm fuzzies. But, when I am experiencing all of the physical or emotional benefits of her loving me, and the emotional fulfillment that comes from that – if I am not in return doing the same to practically show her love – then in truth I am receiving the benefits of love, but am not loving her in return. Do you understand what I am saying? Love only gives, it never receives. But here in (v.7-8) we see that we can identify what love is. Not only is love identifiable, but more importantly, God’s love is identifiable through Jesus Christ (4:9-10), and through our Love for one another (4:11-12)
Why does God’s love matter so much”?
3. Because God’s Love is Experiential (4:13-16)
We can experience God’s Love in our lives. We can be assured of God’s love, while at the same time experience God’s love through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Just as the Holy Spirit is grieved by our sin, causing us to grieve (Eph. 4:29), so to do we experience God’s love in our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Just as John says in (v.14) that they have “seen and testify” of how God has sent Jesus, so too have we experienced God’s love through the way we have “seen” Him moving in our lives and given us a testimony for Jesus. Whoever confesses Jesus as the Son of God and confessing that He is the Savior that we are able to experience God’s love (4:15).
We “know” personally what the love of God feels like (4:16), because He has poured His love out into our lives through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5)
Why does God’s love matter so much”?
4. Because God’s Love gives us Assurance (4:17-19)
God’s love gives us assurance on the Day of Judgment (4:17). God’s love gives us assurance to overcome fear (4:18). Because it is Unconditional (4:19). God’s love to the believer is unconditional. We can never be separate from God’s love (cf. Romans 8:39). God’s love to the unbeliever is conditional (John 3:16 – whoever believes in Jesus).
III. Conclusion: How can we apply this
Even though there is so much interest in love, and so many ideas about what love is, the world has truly missed the mark in understanding what love is, and how it is supposed to be. And that is why it is so crucial for us as the Body of Christ to be Ambassadors for Christ, who love God with our whole heart, and love one another as Christ has loved us. Jesus tells us that it is when we do this that the world will know we are His disciples, and they will know what love truly is, and why God’s love matters!
