Enduring Love
2 Corinthians 5:14
“For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”
God loves each one of us, as if there were only one of us. St. Augustine
I. God Loves Me; I Must Love Him Back: John 14:15
“If you love me, you will obey what I command.
1. Unconditional . 1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.
2. Unending . Jeremiah 31:3
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
3. Unchangeable . James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
II. God Cares About Me; I Must Show Compassion for Others: John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
1. His love calls us from darkness to light . 1 John 1:7-9
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
2. His love calls us from impurity to sanctification . 2 Peter 1:3
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”
3. His love calls us from selfishness to sacrifice . 1 John 4:8 “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
III. Gods Love Is Consistent; I Must Remain Faithful: Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
1. His love enriches the church. 1 Cor. 12:1-3 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
2. His love edifies the believer. 1 Cor. 12:4-7 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
3. His love unifies the body. 1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”