Love | The Arrival

1 John 4:7-11

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have 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 also ought to love one another.

The first arrival of Jesus revealed the true nature of love.

1 John 4:7-8

The Source of Love

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

“Genuine love cannot be exhibited in any community unless it reflects God’s love, unless it is empowered by an experience of being loved.” - Gary Burge

1 John 4:9-10

The Picture of Love

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 4:9-10

The Picture of Love: God’s Love Pursues Us

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 4:9-10

The Picture of Love: God’s Love Sacrificed for Us

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

To “atone” = to deal with sin so we can be “at one” with God

1 John 4:9-10

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 4:11

The Response to Love

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:11

The Response to Love

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Our love should pursue others

Our love should be sacrificial

Our love should point others to God

“I’ve always said, you know, that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell, or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that, well, it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward… How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe it, and that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.” - Penn Jillette

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

We prepare for the second arrival of Jesus by loving others with his love.

Philippians 1:6

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

When we act in love, it changes our hearts

When we act in love, it changes our hearts

  1. This gives us endurance in our relationships with those who are hardest to love

When we act in love, it changes our hearts

    1. This gives us endurance in our relationships with those who are hardest to love

    2. This shows us that love is central to the purpose of life

The first arrival of Jesus revealed the true nature of love.

We prepare for the second arrival of Jesus by loving others with his love.

The first arrival of Jesus revealed the true nature of love.

We prepare for the second arrival of Jesus by loving others with his love.

When you arrive somewhere, do you bring the love of Jesus?

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Hope | The Arrival