Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim

WHERE DOES LOVE COME FROM?
1 John 4:7-12

INTRODUCTION:
A grandparent held their grandchild close, gave them a hug. and a kiss, and whispered in their ear "I love you." The grandchild said "oh I know that and ran away to play."

Taking love for granted is common in some age groups. God's love for us should never be taken for granted. It can lead us to be more loving. When we ask the question "where does love come from the text answers:"

1. LOVE COMES FROM GOD THE FATHER. v 7

2. LOVE COMES FROM GOD THE SON. v 9-1O

3. LOVE COMES FROM LOVING ONE ANOTHER. v 11-12

PLEASE FOLLOW IN YOUR COPY OF THE BIBLE AS WE EXAMINE  THE WORD OF GOD.
 
 

EXPLANATION

A.    THROUGH BIRTH. ". . . is born of God. . . " v 7 a

        1. THIS IS A SPIRITUAL BIRTH.
                a. It cause anyone to become more loving.

B     THROUGH BELIEF. v 7 b - 8 ". . . and knows God. {8} The one who does not love does not
                                                             know God, for God is love.

        1.    THE BELIEF OF KNOWING GOD IS LOVE.
                a. The statement "God is love"
                        1) God is wise Love.
                                a) Wise Love is merciful but disciplinary.
                                b) Wise Love hates evil.
Proverbs 6:16-19
16 There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness <who> utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

                b. The statement "GOD IS LOVE" does not say:
                        1) God loves every action.
                        2) God is mercy. (merciful yes but not mercy)
                        3) God is grace. (gracious but not grace)

The Statement "God Is"    AS FOUND IN OTHER VERSES:

"God Is"     A CONSUMING FIRE ........    DEUT. 4:24; HEB. 12:29

"God Is"     COMPASSIONATE .............    DEUT. 4:31; PS.116:5

"God Is"     GRACIOUS ...........................    2 CHR.30:9

"God Is"     MIGHTY ...................................JOB 36:5

"God Is"     AWESOME MAJESTY ........    JOB 37:22

"God Is"     A RIGHTEOUS JUDGE ......     PS. 7:11; DAN. 9:14

"God Is"     TRUE .....................................JOHN 3:33

"God Is"     SPIRIT ................................    JOHN 4:24

"God Is"     FAITHFUL ...............               1 COR. 1:9. 10:13

"God Is"     HOLY .................................    1 COR. 3:17

"God Is"     GOOD .......................             1 TIM. 4:4

"God Is"     ABLE ...................................  HEB. 11:19

"God Is"     LIGHT .......................            1 JOHN 1:5

"God Is"     LOVE ...........................         1 JOHN 4:8, 4:16
 

ILLUSTRATION:
You know the story of the young man in Singapore. He is to receive a canning because he confessed to a crime of vandalism. I read this week the headline "FATHER OFFERS TO TAKE CANNING FOR HIS SON". My heart immediately went out to this father. Then I thought of God's love for me that He was willing to allow His son to suffer for my sin.

APPLICATION: GOD IS LOVE AND WE CAN LEARN FROM HIM.
 
 

A.    LOVE FROM THE SON IS AN ILLUSTRATED LOVE. v 9
{9} By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

            1.     SENT
                    a. A PERSON,
                    b. To A PLACE,
                    c. For PERSONS,
                    d. For A PURPOSE

            2.    SON
                    a.    For the WORLD
                    b.    WE LIVE THROUGH HIM
 

B.    LOVE FROM THE SON IS AN IDENTIFIED LOVE. v 10 a
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son. . . "
 

C.    LOVE FROM THE SON IS AN INITIATED LOVE. v 10 b
". . .He loved us and sent His Son <to be> the propitiation for our sins."
 

ILLUSTRATION:
A church near the seminary called a student to be their pastor. On his first Sunday the W.M.U. director ask if any one had told him about the 2:00 pm service at the county jail. He replied "no." She then said "every month we have a service at the County jail for women. This Sunday is our Sunday to lead so I'll pick you up at 1:30 pm."

The young preacher had never preached to women prisoners. This thought frightened him. When they got to the jail he ask what they were responsible for and the W.M.U. director said "you lead the singing and then preach." He said "I don't lead singing". She said "today you do." He did the best he could with very little help from anyone of those present.

He then starting struggling through a message only to be interrupted by a prisoner saying " How to I get Jesus into my life?" She came forward and he stopped preaching and knelt with her. As he finished praying with her another prisoner came forward. Finally everyone of the sixteen women came forward and said a prayer of repentance and acceptance of Jesus as her Lord.

On the way home he ask the ladies in the car to tell him about the first lady who came forward. They shared she had been in jail several times because of alcohol and drugs. This time she had tried to kill her husband and herself. Then they said she probably did not really mean what she said today.

This young preacher in telling the story 10 years latter shares that the lady did get saved and lead her husband to the Lord and is now a Sunday school teacher.
 

APPLICATION:

Love comes from God the Son. He changes lives. He can enable all of us to be more loving. Do you need to be more loving? All of us would have to say "yes" to that question.
 
 

EXPLANATION:

A.    LOVING ONE ANOTHER IS PRESCRIBED LOVE. v 11
        Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
 

B.    LOVING ONE ANOTHER IS PICTURED LOVE. v 12 a
        "No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another,  God abides in us,. . . "
 

C.     LOVING ONE ANOTHER IS PERFECTED LOVE. v 12 b
    ". . . and His love is perfected in us."
 

ILLUSTRATION:
Roy Edgeman shares this experience from his service in Japan. On one Sunday morning a young woman came in; she ask if she could stay for a while. Roy told her about the Bible study hour and then the time of worship. He then asked if she would stay and go to lunch with he and his wife. She agreed. Her background was very sinful but she came back on several occasions. As she heard Christians giving their testimonies she ask Roy to share with her how she could know the Lord. She was saved.

This girl was originally from New Zealand and she desired to back home. She made money through interpreting for the 5 languages she knew. She kept in touch and related she was attending a Bible College. She then shared her belief that God was calling her to be a missionary and probably to serve in Japan.

A short time after receiving this message some Christian business men from New Zealand attended the worship service and during a testimony time shared their love for Jesus. Dr. Edgeman said "I want to see you men in my office after the service." He then told the men of this young lady and her desire to go to seminary and asked "what are you men going to do about this." They said through tears of joy "we will see that she has the money to go to seminary." They did and she is now serving as a missionary.

CONCLUSION:

What Dr. Roy Edgeman did was to say to these men "do you really love Jesus?" If you do you will love this sister in Christ and you will do something about her needs. As the text relates ". . . if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.
 

1. LOVE COMES FROM GOD THE FATHER. v 7

2. LOVE COMES FROM GOD THE SON. v 9-1O

3. LOVE COMES FROM LOVING ONE ANOTHER. v 11-12