1. GOD IS
LOVE
Title Slide—GOD IS…LOVE

2. Correct Understanding
1 John 2:5
Does this mean that God is “only” love?
Hebrews 12:29
Love is one of His divine attributes.
John did not say, “Love is God.” The terms are not interchangeable.
All of God’s dealings with men proceed from His love.
Deuteronomy 6:24
Romans 8:28
John’s assertion that God is love (1 John 2:5) must not be interpreted to mean that He is “ONLY” love. The Bible also says He is a “consuming fire.” (Heb.12:29)
Love is one of His divine attributes.
John did not say, “Love is God.” The terms are not interchangeable.
This truth assures us that all of God’s dealings with us proceed from His love, for God always does that which is best for our eternal interest. Therefore, God’s commands are always good for us. (Deut.6:24; Rom.8:28)

3. Free Will Unless love is a free response, it cannot be called love.
Free choice and free response from the heart.
For men to love God, they must have free will.
Providence
Matthew 5:45
Acts 14:16,17
Unless love is a freely given response, it cannot be called love.
Love must, of necessity, must be a free choice and free response from the heart.
For men to love God, in the real sense of the word, they must have free will.
Good explanation of providence. (Matt.5:45; Acts 14:16,17)

4. World’s Order God could have determined only order and law.
He could have created the universe, wound it up, set it in motion, and left it.
He could have used it as nothing more than a machine to be fixed only when it was broken.
Explanation of Redemption
Not just law and justice.
God could have determined only order and law.
He might, so to speak, have created the universe, wound it up, and left it.
He could have used it as nothing more than a machine to be only when it was broken.
It is the explanation of redemption. If God were only law and justice, He would simply leave men to suffer the consequences of their sins. This can help us understand life beyond. If God were no more than Creator—man would live his life span and then die forever. Gnostics believed and taught that God was immaterial spirit and light. They did not believe that God is love. Of course they were wrong!

5. God’s Actions
All of God’s judgments and actions, in both the Old and New Testaments, were motivated by justice and love.
Love not only seeks to warn and save the sinner, it also protects others when the sinner refuses to repent.
1 John 4:9
1 Corinthians 5:1-7
All of God’s judgments and actions, in both the Old and New Testaments, were motivated by justice and love.
Love not only seeks to warn and save the sinner, it also must protect others when the sinner refuses to repent. (1 Jno.4:9; 1 Cor.5:1-7)

6. Self-Giving and Unselfish
God is concerned for the well being of His creation—He is self-giving and unselfish.
He cares whether we are truly happy and fulfilled.
He does not treat us with indifference or ignore us.
He loves us even more now that we are sinners.
Genesis 1:26
Matthew 16:26
Romans 5:8
God’s love is best defined as “self-giving and unselfish.”
He in unselfishly interested in us for our own sakes; He cares if we are truly happy and fulfilled. God is concerned because we are His creatures.
Would He have created us to treat us with indifference and ignore us?
Now that we have become sinners, He loves us even more. God loves me in spite of who I am, whether I am rich or poor, have external accomplishments, or whatever I might or might not attain in this life. See Matt.16:26. We are more valuable because we were created in His image (Gen.1:26). He loves us even though we may only have body and soul. (Rom.5:8)

7. Love Is From God Love originates with, and springs from, God. “Agape”
1 John 4:7
Love originates with, and springs from, God.
“Agape”
The word “love” characterizes Christianity.
God is the source and origin of love, and all true love derives from Him.
God’s nature is loving; and ultimately, love originates with God.
1 Jno.4:7. Love originates with, and springs from, God.
(Agape and Agapao—Greek ) word used for love in the New Testament. A new concept for the ancient world.
The word “love” characterizes Christianity.
God is the source and origin of love, and all true love derives from Him.
Every expression of love, therefore, for God or man, emanates from God. Apart from the revelation, man would not know what love is. All love has its roots in God. To love is to be like God. Every expression of sacrificial and unselfish love can be traced back to God! Even when unbelievers manifest unselfish acts, by their actions they demonstrate that they were made in God’s image. Without God’s revelation (1 Cor.2:9-13) and its universal influence in the world, man would never have learned what constitutes true love!

8. Only Begotten Son
God’s Son was the sole representative of the being and character of the One who sent Him.
1 John 4:9
Thus, we see how much God loved us. He gave us the best He had to give.
It was not because we were loveable, but because He loved us!
Romans 5:7,8
1 Jno.4:9—Thayer tells us the word “begotten” means single; the only one of its kind; only—MONOGENES)
Jesus was the sole representative of the being and character of the One who sent Him.
God showed deep affection by sending the one who was of the same nature as He was.
God gave to man the very best He had—His Son!
He loved us and sent His Son to rescue us, not because we were, in any sense, loveable, but because He loved us.
The greatness of His love is seen in the costliness of His sacrifice for those who are undeserving (Rom.5:7,8). God did not just send anyone to die for our sins; He sent the only one of His kind, the one who was most precious and unique.

9. It Was Not That We Loved God— He Loved Us!
1 John 4:10
Here is ultimate evidence of the error of the false theories which teach that God was angry with man.
He loved completely, holding nothing back.
His love for us was totally undeserved and unmerited.
Do we dare to offer Him the bare minimum of our time, talent, and prosperity?
This verse shows the error of the false theories and creeds which teach that a vengeful God was angry with man and that He sent Jesus to appease His wrath. (1 Jno.4:10)
We see two things about God’s love:
He held nothing back. God gave up the one who was dearest to Him. There can be no greater sacrifice.
God’s love for us was totally undeserved and unmerited. There is no higher form of love. It was not the love of the creature, but the love of the Maker for that creature.
In view of these truths—how can we believe it’s okay for us to give God the bare minimum in time, talent, and prosperity. How can we be stingy with God when we see the type of love He gave to us? Does this demonstrate true love for God?

10. Our Love for Others
Must we wait for requests for help before we help those who are truly in need?
How about our enemies?
Matthew 5:46-48
Ephesians 2:1-5
Titus 3:3-5
2 Corinthians 12:15
God does not just tolerate people—He loves them fervently.
How can we be stingy when we have such a loving God?
How can we hold a grudge?
How can we argue against helping others unless they first request our help? Like God, we need to take the first step, even toward our enemies (Matt.5:46-48; Eph.2:1-5; Titus 3:3-5).
God does not just tolerate people. He loves them fervently!
God’s love for us is unmotivated. He considers no sacrifice too great if it will enrich the lives of people who did not ask for or even oppose it. (2 Cor.12:15)

11. Warmth of God’s Love God also has tender affection for mankind.
John 16:27
Analogies of God’s relationship with His people:
Father-child analogy (Psalm 103:13)
Mother and infant (Isaiah 49:15; 66;13)
Husband-wife (Hosea 2:1-20; Ephesians 5:23-25)
Shepherd and flock (Psalm 23; Isaiah 40:11; John 10:11)
The warmth of God’s love.
God also has a tender affection for mankind, Jno.16:27.
God’s relationship with His people is pictured in great Biblical analogies:
FATHER & SON—Psa.103:13; Matt.6:9.
Adopted children—Rom.8:15.
MOTHER & INFANT—Isa.49:15; 66:13. HUSBAND & WIFE—Think especially about the book of Hosea. Even though Israel depicted as a shameless adulterous wife—God still loved her, Hos.2:1-20
The same kind of love is described in the NT (Eph.5:24-28).
SHEPHERD & FLOCK—Psa.23; Isa.40:11; Jno.10:11.

12. God’s Affection He made His people to be in fellowship with Him.
Surely these analogies teach us that God’s love is warm, tender, and deeply personal.
They help us understand the depth of His passion for us.
Isaiah 30:18
Jeremiah 31:20
Hosea 11:8
Matthew 23:37
How can one say God has no affection for His creatures—whom He made to be in fellowship with Him (1 Cor.1:9).
Does a father have feelings for his son?
Does a mother have an emotional attachment to an infant daughter?
Does a husband have a deep attachment to his wife?
Surely we can see that God’s love for us is warm, tender, and personal!
Feel the depth of the passion He feels when He seeks to encourage the rebellious to come home.
Read—Isa.30:18—Jere.31:20—Hosea 11:8—Matt.23:37.
Can we doubt His genuine concern for our well-being and His desire for our salvation? (2 Pet.3:9; 1 Tim.2:4)

13. Concluding Thoughts
God’s love reached out to us while we still sinners.
How could anyone ever match the love that God has shown and continues to show us?
No man has ever witnessed or experienced greater love.
What are you doing with God’s love?
Summary—Invitation