Week 33: Love  

• Key verses: John 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; 1 John 3:16-17
• God’s immense love for us
• What is love?
• A visible proof of your salvation
• Parting thoughts

Key verses

John 3:16-17 (NLT)

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1 John 3:16-17 (NLT)

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

God’s immense love for us

God loves us despite the fact that we are sinners so much so that he sacrificed his only son to give us a path back to him. This flies in the face of people saying, “how can a loving God let that happen?” This world is broken. We are broken. God is loving AND just. He is perfect. We are not.

He loves us so much that he figured out a way to satisfy justice, a way that didn’t compromise who he is. We could never approach him let alone call him Father without this incredible act of love. He made an unthinkable sacrifice to bring us back to the family. Doesn’t this prove his love beyond a shadow of a doubt?

This world sucks! Look at me. I have ALS. The world is broken, but God is still holy and loving. He loves me and has given me hope. He will fix the world too, but it requires a full demolition and rebuild. Until then I choose to live in his love. With hope and gratitude.

What is love?

1 Corinthians 13 is often referred to as the love chapter or something like that. Paul dissects what love is and isn’t. I have chosen the verses that specifically call out what love is.

If you are a Christian, these characteristics represent how we are to love fellow believers and how we bring God’s love into the world around us. I encourage you to flip the script on these attributes and see where you stand. Are you a loving Christian or not so much. Here are some things to contemplate:

• Were you kind when someone cut you off?
• When someone shared something good with you, did you try to “one up” them?
• Are you always welcome at that restaurant or are you remembered for being rude?
• Do you give people another chance after they wronged you?

I implore you to love like Jesus! Make the world a better place because you are in it.

A visible proof of your salvation

John states it bluntly. If you are a Christian, you will be known by your love of fellow Christians! John saw and participated in this in the early church as shown in Acts. They consolidated their funds to take care of those in need. I want to look at this from two different perspectives – individual and corporate.

Individually, every believer is expected to love our brothers and sisters. We are all part of the family God. We should act like it. This love is not trivial or emotional. It’s active. Loving with words is not enough. We need love with actions. I think James’ letter complements John’s letter. Faith without works is dead, and our love for our fellow believers demonstrates our faith.

Corporately, a church full of loving people is where people want to be. To be clear, love is not tolerance. The love we demonstrate is wrapped in truth. We are all sinners. Broken people choosing to accept the gift of love from God himself through Jesus Christ. As a church of loving people, we will naturally love people. Do people experience love in your church? Do you make people want to join or leave the church?

Parting thoughts

How do I show love? How do you show love? Are we really willing to give up everything for a fellow believer in need? This is easy to point out the faults in others. Ironically, when we point out how someone did not love us, we are not demonstrating love ourselves. “[Love] keeps no record of being wronged.” Love, not being loved, is the goal!

Pastor Ben Webb is doing some sermons on Core 52 topics. Check out his sermon on love to dig deeper.