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The Power of His Great Love # 15
1 John 4: 17-21
There are three words we never tire of hearing: I love you.
No doubt we all have spoken those words many times in our lives, and I am sure we have been sincere, hopefully most of the time.
I do fear there are times when words are empty though.
There can be no doubt though concerning the love God has for us.
His great love was displayed for the world to see as Christ hung on the cross of Calvary.
In the past two weeks, We have discussed How we are Defined and have been delivered by the Love of God and How we can live a life pleasing to God because the same love that saved us lives in us.
Our text this morning deals with how love affects our lives and the way it is expressed toward others.
The Power of God’s love is amazing.
Have you ever stopped and considered some of the magnificent ways you have been blessed by the power of His love?
This list is not original nor is it exhaustive.
• Through Christ, I am dead to sin (Rom 6:11).
• Through Christ, I am spiritually alive (Rom 6:11; 1 Cor 15:22).
• Through Christ, I am forgiven (Col 2:13; 1 John 2:12).
• Through Christ, I am declared righteous (1 Cor 1:30; 2 Cor 5:21).
• Through Christ, I am a child of God (Rom 8:16; Phil 2:15).
• Through Christ, I am God’s possession (Titus 2:14).
• Through Christ, I am blessed with all spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3).
• Through Christ, I am a citizen of heaven (Phil 3:20).
• Through Christ, I am free from the law (Rom 8:2).
• Through Christ, I am crucified with Him (Gal 2:20).
• Through Christ, I am an heir of God (Rom 8:17).
• Through Christ, I am free from the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:24).
• Through Christ, I am declared blameless and innocent (Phil 2:15).
• Through Christ, I am a light in the world (Matt 5:14–15; Phil 2:15).
• Through Christ, I am victorious over Satan (Luke 10:19).
• Through Christ, I am cleansed from sin (1 John 1:7).
• Through Christ, I am set free from the power of sin (Col 2:11–15).
• Through Christ, I am secure in Him (1 Pet 1:3–5).
• Through Christ, I am at peace with God (Rom 5:1; Phil 4:6–9).
• Through Christ, I am loved by God (1 John 4:10).
(Thomas and Wood, Gospel Coach, 71–72)
God’s love is so powerful that it took wicked blasphemous sinners like You and I, and made us children of God.
And those who possess God’s great love will revel its power in the way they live their lives.
With that being said I want to consider the power of His great love.
The First thing we see about this power of is that....
I.
It Gives Confidence to Face Our Journey
(17-18)
The argument John has built up to from verse 7 to this point is powerful.
It runs something like this:
A child of God loves others (vv.
7, 11–12),
A Child of God possesses the Spirit (v.
13),
a Child of God confesses the Son (v.
15),
and Children of God have a mutually abiding in God and His love (vv.
15–16)
Having these brings God’s love to its full and intended goal,
to its perfect purpose in our lives.
There are Two wonderful purposes of that goal:
1.
They are confidence for when I stand before God on judgment day (v.
17)
2. the complete absence of fear when I do.
(v.
18).
How is this possible?
The answer is simple, on that day when you and I stand before God He will see us as He sees His dear Son.
The love of God will have done its perfect work as it is applied to that day when we stand before God.
Experiencing and possessing the love of God has a positive impact on our lives.
It gives us confidence to face each day without fear of what is to come.
Notice that in gives you:
A. Confidence For the Future
(17a) – 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
We experience the love of God the moment we are saved, but as we grow in Him our love matures; it is made perfect.
Love has an intended goal.
The word “perfected” carries the idea of completion, being brought to maturity.
Abiding in the love of God gives us “confidence,” boldness, for the judgment day.
Judgment day is something every person should consider with healthy seriousness.
It is real, and it is coming.
No one spoke more often or more vividly of judgment than Jesus.
The word “hell” is used 12 times in the New Testament;
all but one occurrence comes from the mouth of Jesus (cf.
Jas 3:6).
John says we can not only be ready, but we can be confident.
That doesn’t reveal arrogance or pride, but rather faith and assurance.
God’s love was proven as Christ bore our sin.
We are now made acceptable to God in Christ and no longer fear standing before Him in judgment.
my perspective of the future changed when my relationship with Christ changed.
Why?
(17b) – because as he is, so are we in this world.
In Christ we realize that just as Christ is perfect, so are we in the eyes of God
We have been pardoned in Christ, forgiven of our sin, our debt being paid in full.
As God views us, He sees us as He sees His Son.
We have not yet made it to heaven, but we are viewed as righteous as Christ our Lord is righteous.
There is an aspect of John’s teaching we must not miss.
As Christ was in the world, so are we expected to be in the world.
That doesn’t imply we will achieve the perfection He enjoyed or possess the ability to love as He loved, but we are to strive for that.
Our lives are to be a representation of Christ in every way, including our love for one another!
We are here to maintain a consistent witness for Christ our Lord.
So we have confidence for the future, and with that comes...
B. Confidence without Fear
(18) – 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.
Along with having great confidence for the future, we can enjoy that confidence without fear.
Verse 17 states this truth positively, and verse 18 states it negatively.
When God’s love has reached its intended goal and accomplished its perfect work, fear before God is driven out and the dread of punishment is vanquished.
This is one of the joys and blessings of knowing God as Father.
This holy and righteous Judge is also our Abba, Father.
Now In contrast, those who do live in fear of future punishment give evidence that something is wrong,
they evidence that God’s perfecting work of love has not done its work in their lives.
(Akin, Daniel L. Bible Commentary Exalting Jesus in 123 John)
Consider with me the
1.
The Principle for this confidence
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