Living 3:16 - It's All About Love - March 16, 2008

Sunday School Lesson – Living 3:16 – It’s All About Love – March 16, 2008

This is lesson three (3) in our series of study.

Our scripture is John 3:16, 1 John 3:16-20; 4:15-18; 5:2-5.

The Greek language had three (3) definitions for the word love:
- Agape – Self-giving love. This is a love that does not demand anything in return. This is the love GOD and CHRIST have for all mankind. The love a parent has for a child or many married couples have for each other. This type of love comes from being committed to each other and working through the many situations and circumstances that life throws at us.
- Philia – is brotherly love and carries the idea of commitment. It includes the emotional or personal attachment characteristic. Unfortunately many married couples stop at this level of love and never experience agape love in their marriage.
- Eros is erotic love. Our world seems to embrace erotic love, which pleases the flesh and has no depth to it at all. It is for the moment.

When we say I love you, it can mean many different things. Often, when a guy tells a girl that he loves her, in her mind it is at least philia and at best agape. But girls be very careful. Often in a guy’s mind he is saying, I Eros you and when I have my way with you I am through with you. Please do not let a hot moment ruin your life.

Let’s read John 3:16:

16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His • One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.[10] 1 Jn 4:9–10

John 3:16 is the ultimate love verse. These words were spoken by JESUS and recorded by the Apostle John. GOD, JESUS’ FATHER loved all mankind in such a way that HE allowed HIS ONLY SON to leave heaven and come to earth to live as a human, be tempted in all ways as every human is tempted, yet have to remain sinless, to die for the sins of all mankind. JESUS willingly came to earth knowing all of this because of HIS love of the FATHER and all mankind. CHRIST willingly gave HIS life that all who believe in HIM will be saved from the consequences of their sin and death. Every human who will accept this great gift and sacrifice through faith will be given the gift of eternal life. It is faith that makes each believer righteous in the sight of GOD. When we are righteous we can approach GOD. This is simply the miracle of rebirth. Every believer becomes a child of GOD through faith.

The Apostle Paul puts it in such a beautiful way in 2 Corinthians 5:21: 21 He made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

It is very difficult for us as humans to comprehend the ultimate love of GOD. Salvation is so simple. We cannot earn it. All any human has to do is believe. We think there must be something else we must do. Can we really trust this simple act to get us to heaven? YES!!! This simple act cost GOD’S SON HIS LIFE!

When we begin to comprehend GOD’S love then our obedience to HIM becomes easy and we see why we need to build a relationship with HIM.

Let’s read 1 John 3:16-20:

16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need but shuts off his compassion from him—how can God’s love reside in him? 18 Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth; 19 that is how we will know we are of the truth, and will convince our hearts in His presence, 20 because if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things.

The writer of First, Second and Third John is the same John that wrote John and Revelation. It is the Apostle John. He wrote John first because he repeats some of the same things in his other writings.

JESUS is our example for showing perfect love. HE laid down HIS life for the sins of all mankind therefore all believers should lay down their lives or yield their wills to GOD to serve HIM as HE directs believers to minister to others. Believers should not hold anything back because CHRIST made the ultimate sacrifice for each believer. GOD did not make humans for time but for eternity.

Once we see and comprehend HIS love for us then HE wants us to put into action what we have received. John uses a term of endearment or speaking as a shepherd to his sheep by referring to his readers as “little children.” Putting our faith into action confirms in our own hearts that we are children of GOD. The HOLY SPIRIT also confirms the fact that we are GOD’S children as well in Romans 8:16: 16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

Let’s read 1 John 4:15-18:

14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses[8] Or acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. 16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; for we are as He is in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment.[9] Or fear has its own punishment or torment So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love.

The Apostle John reminds his readers that the Apostles witnessed the life, death, resurrection, ascension and return of the HOLY SPIRIT. Confessing that JESUS is the Son of GOD equals salvation and GOD is in every believer that confesses CHRIST.

Often believers have to be reminded of the fact they have been born-again. Earlier we discussed the simplicity of salvation. As a believers get closer to knowing and serving our LORD through obedience and building more intimate relationships with HIM, they also see how sinful they were and are. One may question how can such a righteous GOD forgive me of all I have done? That is a tool Satan uses to shift our focus away from the love of GOD. If we have sinned then we need to confess our sin. Otherwise we need to focus on the simplicity of the gospel. CHRIST in you makes you a Christian.

Do you fear that you will miss heaven? Have you asked CHRIST to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart? If the answer is yes, then you have been born-again and have eternal life.

Seek the relationship with HIM and the more you get to know HIM the more you will love HIM and be filled with HIS love to reach out to others.

John recorded the words of JESUS in John 5:24: 24 “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

JESUS assures every believer that simple faith results in salvation and eternal life.

Let’s read 1 John 5:2-5:

2 This is how we know that we love God’s children when we love God and obey[1] Other mss read keep His commands. 3 For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden, 4 because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. 5 And who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Another way to know you are growing and maturing in CHRIST is reflected in your love for GOD and your desire to be obedient to HIM. Again, we come back to our relationship with HIM. We cannot in our own strength or human effort build this type of love. We must come to HIM as we are and ask HIM to help us to get to know HIM more each day. We read and study HIS Word. As we get to know HIM, HE will give us opportunities to serve HIM. As we serve HIM and learn that we can trust HIM, it builds our confidence in HIM. We learn to walk with HIM and respond to HIS command without hesitation. For most of us this is a process. I know it has been a process for me and my journey with HIM.

I wanted to do it my way and I had to run into a few brick walls before I learned to wait upon HIM. HE will let us run on our own just to see what the end result will be. But keep in mind that HE loves us and has nothing but the best for us in mind.

HIS commands are not a burden. In my opinion this can happen only when we have the relationship with HIM because HE is carrying the load. It is HIS power that moves the mountains. Most often we run out and start digging with our shovel and HE lets us dig until we turn to HIM.

Faith is the power. JESUS put it best. It only takes faith the size of a mustard seed. It is our faith in GOD that all things are possible. We as humans try to do it ourselves and it is a burden. Let HIM carry the burden. Trust HIM, knowing that HE loves you so much that JESUS gave HIS life for you. If you had been the only person in all eternity to accept JESUS as your SAVIOR, then JESUS would have died just for you. That is personal. That is why we must come to HIM as an individual.

As we approach Easter, there is no better time to accept JESUS as your SAVIOR or to rededicate your life to HIM. HE loves you with infinite love.