““True True Love!”Love!”

11stst John 4:7-12,19 John 4:7-12,19

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

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

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

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

11 - Dear friends, since God so loved us, 11 - Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. – we also ought to love one another. –

12 - No one has ever seen God: but if 12 - No one has ever seen God: but if we love one another, God lives in us we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. – and His love is made complete in us. –

19 - We love because He first loved us.19 - We love because He first loved us.

Romans 3:10-17Romans 3:10-17“There is no one righteous, not even one; “There is no one righteous, not even one;

there is no one who understands, there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned no one who seeks God. All have turned

away, away, they have together become worthless; they have together become worthless;

there is no one who does good, not even there is no one who does good, not even one. one.

Their throats are open graves; Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. their tongues practice deceit.

The poison of vipers is on their lips. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and Their mouths are full of cursing and

bitterness. bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways ruin and misery mark their ways

and the way of peace they do not know.“and the way of peace they do not know.“

1st John 3:11st John 3:1 “How great is the love “How great is the love

the Father has lavished on the Father has lavished on us, us,

that we should be called that we should be called children of God! children of God!

And that is what we are!”And that is what we are!”

““eros”eros”

Romans 5:6-8Romans 5:6-8“While we were still powerless, “While we were still powerless,

Christ died for the ungodly. Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die Very rarely will anyone die

for a righteous man, for a righteous man, though for a good man though for a good man

someone might possibly dare to die. someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates But God demonstrates

His own love for us in this: His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners While we were still sinners

Christ died for us.”Christ died for us.”

““agape”agape”

1.1.True Love True Love HopesHopes

Philippians 2:15Philippians 2:15“...that you may become “...that you may become

blameless and pure, blameless and pure, children of God without children of God without

fault, fault, in a crooked and depraved in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you generation, in which you

shine like stars in the shine like stars in the universe...”universe...”

Hebrews 12:6Hebrews 12:6

“The Lord disciplines“The Lord disciplinesthose He loves.” those He loves.”

Romans 12:10Romans 12:10

“admonish “admonish one anotherone another

in love.”in love.”

J. B. PhillipsJ. B. Phillips: :

“Love one another “Love one another enoughenough

to keep each other to keep each other on the right road.”on the right road.”

Deuteronomy 32:47Deuteronomy 32:47

… “are not just … “are not just idle words for you... idle words for you... they are your life. they are your life. By obeying them By obeying them

you will live long.” you will live long.”

2.2.True Love True Love DelightsDelights

Zephaniah 3:17Zephaniah 3:17“The Lord your God...“The Lord your God...

will take great delight in will take great delight in you, you,

He will quiet you with His He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over love; He will rejoice over

you you with singing.” with singing.”

Psalm 17:8Psalm 17:8

“the apple of His “the apple of His eye.“eye.“

Lewis SmeadesLewis Smeades: : “It may be a very bad thing “It may be a very bad thing that I needed God to die for that I needed God to die for

me, me, but it is a wonderful thing but it is a wonderful thing

that God thinks that God thinks I am worth dying for.“I am worth dying for.“

Larry CrabbLarry Crabb: : “God delights in our status “God delights in our status

as forgiven children as forgiven children welcomed to the dining welcomed to the dining

table, table, and He delights and He delights

in what we will become in what we will become as we eat more of the food as we eat more of the food

He provides.“He provides.“

3. True Love 3. True Love Gives Gives

1st John 3:16-181st John 3:16-18“This is how we know “This is how we know

what love is:what love is: Jesus Christ Jesus Christ

laid down His life for us. laid down His life for us. And we ought And we ought

to lay down our lives to lay down our lives for our brothers.” for our brothers.”

Ephesians 5:25Ephesians 5:25

“Husbands, “Husbands, love your wives love your wives

as Christ as Christ loved the church loved the church

and gave Himself up and gave Himself up for her.”for her.”

LIFE-CHANGE LIFE-CHANGE QUESTIONSQUESTIONS::

1. What is “True Love”?1. What is “True Love”?

2. Why would anyone trust 2. Why would anyone trust someone in this day and age?someone in this day and age?

3. How will you show “True Love” 3. How will you show “True Love” to someone beginning today?to someone beginning today?