Loving the Unlovable
1 John 4:7-12
8-30-15
I. Love Comes From God
A. He is creator of the
capacity for love
4:7 for
love comes from God
3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called
children of God
B. He is the model of
sacrificial love
4:16
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
C. He brings perfect love:
-
completes us 4:12 - God lives in us and his love is made complete in us
-
conquers our fear 4:18 - There is no fear in love, perfect love drives out
fear, because fear has to do with punishment The one who fears is not made
perfect in love.
II. Love and Command of God
A. Love one another as a
command
3:11
This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
4:21
And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother
B. Love because God loves us
4:11
Dear friends, since God so love us, we also ought to love one another
C. Love maintains our
relationship with God
4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
D. We rely upon His love
4:16
And so we know and rely upon the love God has for us
III. Loving Difficult People
A. Learning the Appropriate
Distance
B. Intervening with the Truth
3:18 Dear children, let us
love not with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
C. Involvement on Healthy
Levels
D. Prepare to Love
Unconditionally
