MASTERED BY LOVE

How We Know We Belong to God: Part 3

1 John 4:7-21 (ESV)

What is wrong?—We withhold love from others because it is messy, inconvenient, time-consuming and costly. We distance ourselves

from the needs of others, moving toward them only when it is

to our benefit. We are afraid that, if we give, we will lose.

What is true?—God loves us with a costly love.

What to do?—Since He does, we are

to love others in the same way.

Why?—Because, when we do,

it shows three truths:

I GOD CAPTIVATES US BY HIS LOVE (1 John 4:7-10)

1. He Sends His Spirit to Give Us New Birth (vv. 7-8)

7 ‘Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God.’

2. He Sends His Son to Give Us New Life (vv. 9-10)

9 ‘In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.’

II GOD OBLIGATES US BY HIS LOVE (1 John 4:11-15)

1. To Honor the Father’s Presence (vv. 11-12)

11 ‘Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.’

2. To Honor the Spirit’s Power (v. 13)

13 ‘By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.’

3. To Honor the Son’s Purpose (vv. 14-15)

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

III GOD COMMITS US TO HIS LOVE (1 John 4:16-21)

1. He Comforts Us (vv. 16-19)

2. He Commands Us (vv. 20-21)