02 the love of god 2

The Love of God

Introduction

• The incredible good news of the everlasting gospel is founded on two main truths.

• The first is God’s astonishing love.

• The second is the truth as it is in Christ.• In this study we will examine God’s

astonishing love which explains why God saved sinful humanity.

Introduction

• The ground of our salvation is the love of God.

• The word “love” is used to describe many different feeling and emotions.

• The greatest stumbling block to understanding God’s love is our love.

The Linguistic Problem

• There is no English word equivalent to the Greek word used in the New Testament for God’s love.

• This has created the problem of projecting human ideals of love unto God. When this is done the gospel is misunderstood and perverted.

• God’s love is not only different from human love but the very opposite.

Whom does God love?

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Note: The world (human race) God so loved is the world that has rebelled against Him. Therefore, we are saved not because we deserve it or because we are good, but because God is love. This is the foundation to a correct understanding of the gospel.

Q1:

After Paul shows us that all are sinners by performance and nature deserving God’s wrath, what reason does he give why God redeemed humanity in Christ?

Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;

And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:

Note: Even though the Bible declares that we are all sinners, it also tells us that God loves us infinitely. That is why God made us alive together with Christ, raised us up together, and made us sit in heavenly places in Him, all because of His unconditional love for mankind.

Q2:

Since we are not saved by works of righteousness or right doing, why did God save us?

Titus 3:3-5

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Q3:

Note:

The ground of our salvation is God’s love for sinners. Scripture declares that “God is love” (1John 4:8). This love is not just one of God’s characteristics but is what He is by very nature and therefore all that He does is in the context of His love.

Since we are not saved by works of righteousness or right doing, why did God save us?

Continued……

Q3:

In the time of Christ what were the people being taught?

Matthew 5:43

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

Note: The word “neighbor” here refers to fellow Jews and the word ”enemy” refers to the Gentiles. Human beings know how to love their own, but it is impossible for us to love our enemies, in and of ourselves.

Q4:

In contrast to this human love, what did Jesus say Christians should do?

Matthew 5:44

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Note: It is this kind of love that demonstrates true Christianity to the world. Such love reflects the love God has for sinners. It is the greatest proof of the power of the gospel and the fact that we are followers of Christ (see John 13:34,35).

Q5:

How far reaching is God’s love?

Matthew 5:45

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Note: God’s love extends beyond all barriers. It is the opposite of human love. God even loves and cares for those who are His enemies by supplying all their needs. God’s love is unconditional; it does not depend on our goodness. Therefore, in understanding God’s love for us we must never attribute our human ideals of love to God. This is where many go wrong.

Q6:

What four conditions were we still in when God demonstrated His love for us and reconciled us to Himself by the death of His Son?

Romans 5:6-10

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Q7:

Note:

1. Without strength

2. Ungodly

3. Sinners

4. Enemies of God

This passage tells us that while we were incapable of saving ourselves, wicked people, still sinners, and even enemies of God, he redeemed us through the death of His Son. Such love is beyond our comprehension, but it is real because God says so and demonstrated it on the cross of Christ.

What four conditions were we still in when God demonstrated His love for us and reconciled us to Himself by the death of His Son?Continued……

Q7:

John 21:15-17

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (16) He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (17) He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

How many times does the word “love” appear in your Bible, in this passage? Q8:

John 21:15

John 21:16

John 21:17

Note:

Unfortunately, our English Bibles fail to bring out the real significance of this dialogue between Christ and Peter. The reason being that the English language has only one word for love. But in the Greek, the language of the New Testament, the Bible writers had about four words to choose from. In the first two questions: “do you love me?” Jesus used the word agapao which is unconditional love. Peter’s answer both times was phileo which means human affection, which, incidentally, is unreliable. (Keep in mind, Peter promised he would never deny Jesus.)

LOVE – The Linguistic Problem

Continued……

Q8:

Note:

In his answer, Peter was admitting that he did not have unconditional love towards Christ. In Jesus’ third question, He used the word phileo and Peter was “grieved” because this third time, Jesus used the word phileo instead of agapao. Peter answered by saying, in effect: “Yes, Lord you know everything. You know that all I’m capable of is this unreliable human love.” But unlike Peter, Christ’s love for us is unconditional and never fails.

LOVE – The Linguistic Problem

Continued……

Q8:

What draws us to God?

Jeremiah 31:3

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Note: Most people are running away from God because they think He is out to punish them. But the truth is that God loves us and gave us His only Son so that whoever believes in Him should not be lost but have eternal life. This is what draws us to God.

Q9:

What endearing term does God use for His people?

1 John 3:1, 2

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Q10:

Note:

Not only does God love us unconditionally, but He has given us a new standing before Him. Anyone who is a child of God through faith in Christ need not have a low self esteem. We have become children of the King of kings and this is what gives us hope, security, and a self worth that puts a spring in our step. With heads up, He gives us the ability to face whatever is ahead.

What endearing term does God use for His people?

Continued……

Q10:

On what basis should we rely on God for our salvation?

1 John 4:16

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Note: God not only loves us with an everlasting love but He Himself is love. Every other aspect of God’s character, which is His glory, is unconditional love. There are some things we may not understand but everything He does is in the context of “God is love.”

Q11:

What does perfect love cast out?

1 John 4:17, 18

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Note: Fear is the result of sin. Because all of us have sinned, we are all victims to the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14,15). Only God’s redeeming love can cast out this fear.

Q12:

List the ten things that Paul says cannot separate us from the love of God.

Romans 8:35 - 39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Q13:

Note:

1. Tribulation 2. Distress

3. Persecution 4. Famine or nakedness

5. Peril or sword 6. Angels

7. Principalities 8. Things present or things to come

9. Height nor depth 10. Any created thing

Continued……

List the ten things that Paul says cannot separate us from the love of God. Q13:

Note: Although as Christians we may face many hardships in this world, our joy and our peace come from knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God. God is eternal and therefore His love is everlasting; it is the ground of our salvation. He offers us the free gift of salvation in Christ Jesus purely on the basis of His unconditional love for us. The only thing that can keep us from experiencing this salvation is our own rejection of His saving grace. May this never be true of you.

List the ten things that Paul says cannot separate us from the love of God.

Continued……

Q13:

How God’s Love Was Perverted

In order to fully appreciate the good news of the gospel, it is important to be familiar with how Satan has perverted God’s love, in order to pervert the gospel. Here is a brief history of what happened. The Greek language, in which the New Testament was originally written, had four words for love. They were eros, storge, phileo, and agape. Of these four words, eros was considered to be the highest form of love. As Plato described it, eros was man seeking after God. It was the basis of all pagan religions.

How God’s Love Was Perverted , Continued

The New Testament writers NEVER used this word, eros. This was unacceptable to some of the Church Fathers, who became the leaders of the Christian church after the apostles died. Some of these Church Fathers, who were all of Greek origin, wanted to substitute eros for the word agape, the key word used in the New Testament to define God’s self-emptying and unconditional love. This started the great battle in Church history between eros and agape.


• The first thing Satan attacked in the early Christian church was God’s Agape love. He knew it was the foundation of the Everlasting Gospel.

• He used some of the early Church Fathers to replace Agape with Eros in 1 John 4:8. However, all these attempts failed.

• Finally, Satan used Augustine (4th century) to compromise Agape by synthesizing it with Eros. The result was Caritas, which the Church accepted and plunged Christianity into darkness.

• Today we have three gospels being proclaimed.


It was Augustine, the great Church Father of the 4th century, who settled the issue. By using Greek logic, Augustine synthesized the concept of eros with the concept of agape and produced a new concept of love which he named caritas from which we get our English word charity. This new concept of love was accepted by the Christian Church and, as a result, caritas became the dominant word defining God’s love during the dark ages of Church history. Thus, by modifying the true meaning of God’s love, Satan managed to pervert the pure gospel from being good news to good advice… “I must do my best and God will make up the difference.” Nextis an outline showing the contrast of man’s eros love to God’s agape love and how caritas perverted the gospel:


HUMAN EROS LOVE IS:

A. CONDITIONAL

Depends on beauty or goodness and therefore needs arousing. When this love is attributed to God it perverts the gospel into conditional good news or good advice: Matt. 19:16-27; John 9:14-31

GOD’S AGAPE LOVE IS:

A. UNCONDITIONAL

Is spontaneous, uncaused, and independent of our goodness. This is why God redeemed us: Rom. 5:6-10; Eph.2:1-6, 8, 9; Titus 3:3-5

Human Love .vs. God’s Love


HUMAN EROS LOVE IS:

B. CHANGEABLE

Fluctuates and is unreliable: Luke 22:31-34

(Divorce rate in U.S.)


B. CHANGELESS

Everlasting and never fails: Jeremiah 31:3; 1 Corinthians 13:8; John 13:1; Romans 8:35-39



HUMAN EROS LOVE IS:

C. SELF-SEEKING (U-turn agape)

Egocentric; therefore always ascending, socially, politically, academically, economically, and even religiously: Isaiah 53:6; Philippians. 2:21. (Satan is the originator of this self principle and infected man with it at the Fall.) Ezekiel 28:14,15; Isaiah 14:12-14


C. SELF-EMPTYING (agape)

Selfless; therefore will step down for the benefit of others: I Corinthians 13:5; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:6-8


Agape and The Great Controversy

in Church History

•The battle between Agape and Eros love resulted in Caritas love.

•These three concepts of loves have produced the three gospels comprising today’s world religions.

How many times does the word “love” appear in your Bible, in this passage?

John 21:15-17

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Q:Continued……

THE EROS GOSPELGOD

LEGALISMMAN

SA

LV

AT

ION

BY

W

OR

KS


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

GRACEMAN

THE AGAPE GOSPELGOD

Salvation by Grace Alone through Faith


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

GALATIANISMMAN

THE CARITAS GOSPELGOD

FAITH

+WORKS


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

THE ONLY TRUE LOVE COMES FROM

GOD

We love Him because He first loved us." --1 John 4:19

There is no light in the planet but that which proceedeth from the sun; and there is no true love to Jesus in the heart but that which cometh from the Lord Jesus himself. From this overflowing fountain of the infinite love of God, all our love to God must spring. This must ever be a great and certain truth, that we love Him for no other reason than because He first loved us. Our love to Him is the fair offspring of His love to us.


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

THE ONLY TRUE LOVE COMES FROM

GOD

"I love thee, Lord, but with no love of mine,For I have none to give;I love thee, Lord; but all the love is thine,For by thy love I live.I am as nothing, and rejoice to beEmptied, and lost, and swallowed up in thee."


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

QUESTIONS?

GOD’S LOVE - Questions


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……1 John 4:8

8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. NIV

1 John 4:8


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……John 13:34,35

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." NIV=============================================

Lev 19:18 "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. NIV

John 13:34 - 35


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……Heb 2:14,15

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. NIV

Hebrews 2:14 - 15


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……Matt 19:16-26

16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" 17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." 18 "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'" 20 "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

Matthew 19:16 - 26


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

John 9:14-31 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes," the man replied, "and I washed, and now I see." 16 Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath." But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided. 17 Finally they turned again to the blind man, "What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened." The man replied, "He is a prophet." 18 The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. 19 "Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?" 20 "We know he is our son," the parents answered, "and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself." 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. NIV

John 9:14-31


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

John 9:14-31

A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. "Give glory to God," they said. "We know this man is a sinner." 25 He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" 26 Then they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 27 He answered, "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?“ 28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, "You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from." 30 The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. NIV

John 9:14-31


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……Romans 5:6-9

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. NIV

Romans 5:6-9


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

Eph 2:1-9

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, …..8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. NIV

Ephesians 2:1-9


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……Titus 3:3-5

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, NIV

Titus 3:3-5


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……Luke 22:31-34

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." 33 But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." 34 Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." NIV

Luke 22:31-34


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……Jer. 31:3

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. NIV

Jeremiah 31:3


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……1 Corinthians

13:8

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. NIV

1 Corinthians 13:8


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……John 13:1

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. NIV

John 13:1


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NIV

Romans 8:35-39


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. NIV

Isaiah 53:6


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. NIV

Philippians 2:21


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. NIV

Ezekiel 28:14-15


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! NIV

Isaiah 14:12


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. NIV

1 Corinthians 13:5


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. NIV

2 Corinthians 8:9


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! NIV

Philippians 2:6-9


John 21:15-17


Q:Continued……

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02 the love of god 2

Spiritual

love of god

god love

gods love

word love

human love

great love

unconditional love

gods astonishing love