I John 4:7-21I John 4:7-21 7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

I John 4:7-21I John 4:7-219This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

I John 4:7-21I John 4:7-2111Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

I John 4:7-21I John 4:7-21 13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

I John 4:7-21I John 4:7-21

I John 4:7-21I John 4:7-21

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

I John 4:7-21I John 4:7-2118There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

I John 4:7-21I John 4:7-21

21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

I John 4:7-21I John 4:7-21

God is Love-Responding to God’s Love

I John 4:7-21

You might not understand God’s love if:

• you feel insecure • you use the Daisy-petal method• God for you is a Cosmic Cop• God is only a Parental Hangover• you feel “I’m a Nobody”

Everyone on earth needs to know how much God loves

them• Those who have attempted suicide• The person who has been in trouble with the

law• All “personal failures”• The person who has had an abortion• The teenager with self esteem issues• The adult having difficult times at work

God is Love - I John 4:7-21

God’s love demonstrates (4:7–11, 14, 19–21)

Our love for God is demonstrated by our love for one another (4:7–8, 11, 19–21)

God’s love for us was demonstrated by the sacrificial death of Christ (4:9–10, 14)

God’s love produces (4:12–13, 15–18)

God is united with us (4:12, 15–16)

We are united with Him (4:13)

We are given confidence (4:17)

We are delivered from fear, guilt and shame (4:18)

Knowledge of God’s love:

• Will drive out every fear we have• Means there will be no fear of God

Himself– “There is no fear in love, but perfect love

casts out fear” I John 4:18

– “You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship and by Him we cry Abba Father.” Romans 8:15

God gave a choice

Love ---Trust---Freedom Fear---Mistrust---Slavery

Adam and Eve

Take Aways

• God is love• The Cross of Christ• The compelling power of the

cross

Believe this and be transformed

What our Father showed us in the gift of His son is that He was unwilling to settle for the indentured servitude of fearful slaves. He prefers instead the intimate affection of sons and daughters. He knew love would take us deeper into His life than fearful obligation ever would. It would teach us more truth, free us from our selfishness and failures and make us fruitful in the world.

Nothing fulfills our Father’s purpose more than when His love overwhelms us, then transforms us and then leads us through the rest of our lives as a reflection of His glory in the earth.