1. GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD-How do we love?
1 JOHN 3:14-18
GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD-How do we love?

2. Do you really love anyone except self?
The greatest proof of salvation is LOVE 
What is love?
Newly married individuals—What is love?
What are the proofs of love? 
. Do you really love anyone except self?
2. The greatest proof of salvation is LOVE
3. What is love
a. Sensual love—Eros—not found in the New Testament
b. Friendship—Phileo—being friendly affectionate
c. God's love—Agapao—reaches beyond human nature to God's ability to love
1) Spiritual love
2) Expression of likeness to God
4. If a person possesses God's nature, he will have God's love
5. Newly married individuals—What is love?
‑‑love is a commitment‑‑
‑‑feelings follow love but do not lead love‑‑
6. What are the proofs of love?

3. Love Proves our New Likeness to Christ 14‑15
14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:14–15 (ESV)
1 John 3:14–15 (ESV) — 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

4. What is the infallible test of Christianity?
Is it being an evangelical?
Is it being a fundamentalist?
Is it church attendance and good living?
The criterion is LOVE
1. Is it being an evangelical?
2. Is it being a fundamentalist?
a. Many fundamentalists are vindictive and harsh
b. Truth known but not practiced is destructive
3. Is it church attendance and good living?
4. The criterion is LOVE
a. We expect Christians to answer with chapter and verse but do not ask for evidence of love
B. Example given in 1 Corinthians 12:28-13:13
1 Corinthians 12:28–13:13 (ESV) — 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

5. THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.
True Love is expressive, definite, active and concerned about the other person.
True love shows true Christianity
Scorn and withering criticism is very destructive
It seems that the highest spiritual attainment in life is the least sought after.
2. True Love is expressive, definite, active and concerned about the other person.
3. True love shows true Christianity
4. Scorn and withering criticism is very destructive
At the height of his prominence as art critic, Ruskin took savage delight in attacking the work of persons he knew. He wrote to a friend saying that he hoped his unsparing criticism of his friend's painting would make no difference in their relationship. His friend replied: "Dear Ruskin: Next time I meet you I shall knock you down, but I hope it will make no difference in our relationship."

6. Love proves our New likeness to God 16‑17
Compare John 3:16 with 1 John 3:16
True love is demonstrated
"It is one of the beautiful compensations in life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”
1 John 3:16–17 (ESV) — 16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
A. Compare John 3:16 with 1 John 3:16
1. John 3:16‑‑God sent His Son to die for us
2. 1John 3:16‑‑Because Jesus died for us, we ought to die for our brethren
B. True love is demonstrated
1. Example of Husband and wife‑‑
2. Love is a sacrifice
It is also a satisfaction
"It is one of the beautiful compensations in life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."

7. Laying down our life for the Brethren
 Christ died for us‑‑Paid the penalty for us
 Christ literally took our penalty
 He willingly took my punishment
 We are to literally take the weight and sin of others.
1. Christ died for us‑‑Paid the penalty for us
a. Christ literally took our penalty
b. He willingly took my punishment
2. We are to literally take the weight and sin of others

8. Communion Self Examination Bread—Body took my beating
Blood—Paid the penalty for my sins
Self Examination
Bread—Body took the beating
Blood—Paid the penalty for our sins

9. Proof of our love‑‑give world's good
Not just to the rich who have goods
Meeting the needs of others
Having this world's good
"A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small package.”
1. "good" Not goods‑‑v. 17
a. Living, life, ‑‑Used in other passages
b. Pride of "life"‑‑I John 2:16
2. Not just to the rich who have goods
3. Meeting the needs of others
"one another"s in the Bible
4. Having this world's good
a. Financial Help
‑‑food, clothing, etc.
b. Spiritual help
c. Emotional help—loss of loved ones
d. Mental help‑‑
5. There is no exception to giving to the needs of others.
6. "Shutteth up his bowels of compassion on him" KJV
‑‑hardeneth his heart
"A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small package."

10. What is the evidence of your salvation?
 Do you demonstrate your love for others?
 Are you demonstrating Christ's love for others?
 Prayer for others
2. Do you demonstrate your love for others?
3. Are you demonstrating Christ's love for others?
Prayer for others
Offering
Songs

12. Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18 (ESV)
Elders Fund Offering for Donna Brewer