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LOVE in depth
LESSON #5
THE TRUE NATURE OF LOVE
MEMORY VERSE: 1COR 13:2
THE UNIQUE NATURE OF GODS LOVE
READ JOH 3:16
GODS LOVE IS SO UNIQUE AND FOREIGN TO THIS WORLD THAT WE HAVE DIFFICULTYCOMPREHENDING IT. THE NON-BELIEVER IS AT AN EVEN GREATER DISADVANTAGE IN UNDERSTANDINGGODS LOVE
(ROM 3:11) BECAUSE IT IS TOTALLY OPPOSITE FROM WORLDLY LOVE.
1. THE UNCONDITIONAL NATURE:
HUMANLY SPEAKING, WE WITHHOLD LOVE FROM THOSE WHO HURT US, WHO FALL SHORT OF OUREXPECTATIONS, OR WHO ARE UNLOVELY. GODS LOVE IS JUST THE OPPOSITE. WE AREUNCONDITIONALLY LOVED EVEN WHEN WE REJECT AND DISOBEY HIM.
2. THE UNDEMANDING NATURE:
HUMANLY SPEAKING, WE EXPRESS LOVE EXPECTING THE PERSON TO RETURN THAT LOVE IN SOME WAYOR OTHER. GODS LOVE IS JUST THE OPPOSITE. HE HAS GIVEN US FREE WILL TO RETURN HISLOVE OR NOT. OF COURSE, WE ARE INVITED TO RETURN THAT LOVE, BUT ALL MEN ARE NOT COMMANDEDTO FEEL LOVE FOR GOD. GOD KNOWS YOU CANNOT COMMAND FEELINGS, YOU CAN ONLY COMMAND ACTIONS.MAN HAS TRIED TO LEGISLATE LOVE BUT IT NEVER WORKS. (CIVIL RIGHTS, ANTI-HATE LAWS ETC.)
3. THE NATURE OF GRACE:
HUMANLY SPEAKING, WHEN WE GIVE A GIFT WE EXPECT SOME KIND OF APPRECIATION OR Return BECAUSE USUALLY THERE IS A MOTIVE BEHIND THE GIFT. GODS LOVE IS JUST THE OPPOSITE.SALVATION IS FREE, OFFERED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. THERE IS NO SELFISHMOTIVE BEHIND GODS LOVE. HE RISKED EVERYTHING. WHAT IF NO MAN WOULD EVER ACCEPT THISGIFT?
4. THE NATURE OF PAYMENT:
HUMANLY SPEAKING, WHEN WE GIVE A GIFT, WE PAY FOR IT AFTER FIRST CONSIDERING THE EXTENTOF THE COST. WE USUALLY NEVER GIVE A GIFT THAT COSTS US TOO MUCH OR PUTS US AT ADISADVANTAGE. GODS LOVE IS JUST THE OPPOSITE. JESUS WAS WILLING TO PAY EVERYTHING,EVEN HIS LIFE, FOR HIS GIFT OF LOVE.
IT PUT HIM AT A GREAT DISADVANTAGE. HE WOULD
FOREVER HAVE A BODY MARKED BY CRUCIFIXION.
THE IMPORTANCE OF GODS GREAT LOVE—HIS PURPOSE:
A. IT GIVES MEANING TO LIFE
GOD GAVE HIS GIFT OF LOVE TO THIS WORLD IN THE FORM OF JESUS CHRIST TO GIVE MANMEANING AND PURPOSE TO HIS LIFE. WITHOUT MEANING AND PURPOSE TO LIFE, MANS LIFEIS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE ANIMALS.
WHAT ARE THE TWO REASONS GOD HAS CALLED US TO BE CHRISTIANS THAT GIVE LIFE MEANING?(MAT 22:37)
1.
2.
LOVE IS THE HEART OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. WITHOUT IT YOU CANNOT BE A CHRISTIAN. (1JO2:5) WHY IS LOVE SO IMPORTANT TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE?
1. JOH 13:35
2. JOH 15:1-14
3. EPH 3:19
4. COL 3:14
B. IT CONTRASTS WITH THE WORLD SYSTEM.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT GODS LOVE IS TOTALLY OPPOSITE FROM THAT OF THE WORLD. IT ISWHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN THE WORLD SYSTEM, THAT WE BEGIN TO SEE HOWGODS KINGDOM IS DIFFERENT AND OPPOSITE.
READ 1COR 13:1-8
| THE WORLD SYSTEM: | GODS LOVE IN THE CHRISTIAN: |
| APPEARS TO BE RELIGIOUS (1) | SUFFERS INJUSTICE WITHOUT NOTICING. (4) |
| APPEARS TO HAVE GREAT EDUCATION, WISDOM, AND KNOWLEDGE (2) | DOES NOT DESIRE WHAT BELONGS TO ANOTHER. (4) |
| APPEARS TO DO GREAT MIRACLES (2) | DOES NOT GLORIFY THE PERSON MAKING HIM PRIDEFUL. (4) |
| APPEARS TO BE GENEROUS (3) | ALWAYS SEEKS THE BEST FOR OTHERS (5) |
| APPEARS TO TAKE A STAND FOR THE RIGHT (3) | IS ALWAYS TOLERANT OF OTHERS FAULTS (5) |
| DOES NOT LIKE TO GOSSIP ABOUT OTHERS FAILURES. (6) | |
| SEEKS TO COVER THE SINS OF OTHERS WITH FORGIVENESS (7) | |
| GIVES PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. (7) | |
| ENDURES THE PROBLEMS CREATED BY OTHERS. (7) | |
| NEVER GIVES UP ON A PERSON. (8) | |
| ALWAYS THINKS THE BEST OF OTHERS. (5) |
DISCUSSION: WHAT IS BIBLE STUDY SUPPOSED TO DO FOR THE CHRISTIAN?
HOMEWORK
1JOHN 2:18-29
APPLICATION OF LOVE..in depth:
WHAT ASPECT OF LOVE FROM 1COR 13 DO YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST IN YOUR LIFE?
WHAT SPECIFIC THINGS CAN YOU DO THIS WEEK THAT WILL IMPROVE THIS ASPECT OF LOVE?
WRITE THE NAMES OF 2 PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE TOUCHED BY GODS LOVE THROUGH YOU.
PRAY AND ASK GOD TO OPEN THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO IMPROVE THE ASPECT OF LOVEYOU MENTIONED ABOVE BY SHOWING THIS LOVE TO THE TWO PEOPLE WHOSE NAMES YOU WROTE.
PREPARATION FOR 1JO 2:18-29
READ 1JO 2:18-29
SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT YOU BELIEVE AS LONG AS YOUARE SINCERE.
WHY WOULD JOHN DISAGREE WITH THOSE PEOPLE?
WHAT ARE THE THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF A FALSE TEACHER?
1.
2.
3.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE WORD “ABIDE” MEANS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE? (28)
WHY WOULD SOME CHRISTIANS BE ASHAMED AT JESUS COMING?
WHY WOULD A NEW TESTAMENT JEW WHO SINCERELY WORSHIPED JEHOVAH GOD STILL NOT BE SAVED?
MEMORY VERSE: 1JOHN 2:25
