1. OUR LOVING GODOUR LOVING GOD I.INTROI.INTRO II. LOVE IS AT THE HEART OF GOD’S CHARACTER  Read 1Jn 4:8-9. III. EVERYONE WHO LOVES IS BORN OF GOD AND KNOWS GOD  Read 1Jn 4:7.

2. IV. THE ONE WHO DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD  John is writing to help struggling believers gain assurance. ~ Read 1Jn 5:13.~ Read 1Jn 5:13.  A secondary purpose: to destroy the false assurance of those who may profess faith in Christ without really knowing Him.

3. ~ 1Jn 1:6~ 1Jn 1:6 ~ 1Jn 2:4~ 1Jn 2:4 ~ 1Jn 2:9~ 1Jn 2:9  In 1Jn 4:8, he makes godly love a test for the true Christian. ~ D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones:~ D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: “John does not put this merely as an exhortation. He puts it in such a way that it becomes a desperately serious matter, and I almost tremble as I proclaim this

4. doctrine. There are people who are unloving, unkind, always criticizing, whispering, backbiting, pleased when they hear something against another Christian. Oh, my heart grieves and bleeds for them as I think of them; they are pronouncing and proclaiming that they are not born of God. They are outside the life of God; and I repeat, there is no hope for such people unless they repent and turn to Him.”

5. ~ The apostle John’s admonition is a solemn reminder that a mere pretension of faith in Christ is worthless. ~ Genuine faith will inevitably be shown by love. ~ After all, real faith works through love (Gal 5:6).  This sort of God-given love is not easily counterfeited.

6. ~ Look at all that is involved:~ Look at all that is involved:  love for God Himself (1Cor 16:22)  love for the brethren (1Jn 3:14)  love of truth and righteousness (Rom 6:17-18)  love for the Word of God (Ps 1:2) and  even love for one’s enemies! (Matt 5:44). ~ Such love is contrary to human nature!

7. ~ Read 1Jn 4:16b.~ Read 1Jn 4:16b. V. THE CROSS IS THE CONSUMMATE PROOF OF DIVINE LOVE  Let’s now take a fresh look at 1Jn 4:8-9.  We would not be doing justice to this verse if we limited our discussion of divine love to abstract terms. ~ God has “manifested” His love, or displayed it in a particular act that can be examined objectively.

8.  Looking at these verses again, we discover that John explains the love of God in terms of sacrifice, atonement for sin, and propitiation: 1Jn 4:10. ~ That word speaks of a sacrifice designed to turn away the wrath of an offended deity. ~ What John is saying is that God gave His Son as an offering for sin, to satisfy His own wrath and justice in the salvation of sinners.

9.  THIS IS THE VERY HEART OF THE GOSPEL. ~ The “good news” is not that God is willing to overlook sin and forgive sinners. ~ That would compromise God’s holiness.  The real good news is that God Himself, through the sacrifice of His Son, paid the price of sin. ~ He took the initiative (1Jn 4:10).~ He took the initiative (1Jn 4:10).

10. ~ Rom 5:7-8~ Rom 5:7-8  Because God is righteous, He must punish sin; He cannot simply absolve guilt and leave justice unsatisfied.  In Christ’s death on the cross, there is the highest possible expression of divine love. ~ He, who is love, sent His precious Son to die as an atonement for sin.

11.  The cross of Christ also gives the most complete and accurate perspective on the balance between God’s love and His wrath. ~ At the cross His love is shown to sinful humanity – fallen creatures who have no rightful claim on His goodness, His mercy, or His love. ~ And His wrath is poured out on His beloved Son, who had done nothing worthy of any kind of punishment.

12.  “God is love.” ~ That is the very heart of the gospel, and it holds forth the only hope to those in bondage to their sin: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31). ~ And this is the love that we celebrate every time we celebrate Christmas.