21/8/17 CCP SERIES STUDY WEEK 10 – GOD IS...LOVE

COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY AND DAILY STUDIES BASED UPON OUR PREACHING SERIES AT COMMUNITY CHURCH PUTNEY

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COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY STUDY

Edward VIII abdicated from the throne of Britain because of his love for Wallis Simpson. On the 11th December 1936 he broadcast his reasons,

"I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.” 

Whatever the rights and wrongs of this affair, it is a fact that Edward gave up the crown for the woman he loved. Love sacrifices. It’s the most powerful force on earth. It’s an attribute we share with God, who is love.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR GOD TO BE LOVE?

God, as we have seen, is the majestic, infinite, sublime King of kings; but He is also love. All of the attributes of God must be held together. His being love can be over or under emphasized.

Read 1 John 4:7-12 and discuss:

Ø How does knowing that God is love affect our relationships?

Ø What does lack of love reveal about us?

Ø How has God demonstrated His love most eminently?

Ø How will meditating on the gospel make us more like God?

Ø Here, John says something amazing to God - ‘God is love’, how could this phrase be misused?

Ø How would a church or Community Group be transformed if we all lived this passage?

Ø Why is it vital to know God’s is love, and how has this truth helped you?

This phrase is often misused by people to simply mean, ‘don’t tell me what to believe or how to live because my god doesn’t put any restraints on me’. But, as C.S Lewis wrote, ‘God loves us too much to leave as we are’; He wants to improve us and use us to express His love to others.

LET’S RESPOND TO WHO GOD IS

The way we worship reveals how much we have understood God’s love.

What does Luke 7:36-47 teach us about:

Ø How we become when we don’t continue to realise God’s loving grace?

ØHow we become as we remember our salvation through Jesus?

Ø How we can become ever more loving worshippers?

GOING DEEPER PERSONAL DAILY STUDIES

Monday: God’s love is expressed in our being chosen (election)

Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love…

Our salvation is due to God’s grace (free undeserving gift) as He chose us. Paul, previously a murderer of Christians, and we, who know our sinfulness, should know that we are Christians because of God’s loving kindness alone. 

‘The love of God is uninfluenced. By this we mean that there was nothing whatever in the objects of His love to call it into exercise, nothing in the creature to prompt it. The love which one create has for another is because of something in them; but the love of God is free, spontaneous, uncaused. The only reason God loves any of is found in His own sovereign will (Deuteronomy 7:7-9).’ (A. W. Pink. The Nature of God. Page 92)

This love of God is eternal. He chose us ‘before the foundation of the world’.  His love for us has always existed in His heart. As Jeremiah says,

"I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3

Tuesday: God’s love is expressed in our adoption into His family

Ephesians 1:5 In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

God could have left us as forgiven people, but He makes us members of His family in adoption. Why has God done this you and me? Because He is love! 

Wednesday: God’s love is expressed in the death (blood) of Jesus for us

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

Our salvation and adoption have been made possible because Jesus was cursed, rejected and died for us. The eternal, omnipotent God has died for us! No one took His life, as if that were possible! Jesus gave Himself for us by grace, in love. 

Thursday: God’s love is expressed in His faithfulness to complete His work in us

God has saved us by grace. But His grace is at work in us to make us more like Jesus. He will complete this work at the end of history when we will be perfected (or glorified).

Ephesians 1:9-10 He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Our salvation will be complete when Christ returns, restoring creation and perfecting us,

Philippians 1:6 He who began a good work will bring it to completion.

We will enjoy God and His love forever. 

Friday: Take comfort in His love

People who know God’s love say things like this, 

Psalm 36:7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.

‘He loved not because we were lovable but because He is love’ C. S Lewis

Let’s make it a daily (and throughout the day) practice to remember and thank God for His love toward us. It is true, and confessing truth honours God and lifts our spirit.

Saturday: God is love... this is how…

Our studies this week have been inspired by John’s famous words that ‘God is love’. But these words are incomplete and are explained by what follows, 

1 John 4:8-10 ...God is love. 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. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

God’s love is most clearly seen in the giving of His Son for salvation. It’s not sentimental weakness as many suppose. God is love in that He hates sin and all are under His wrath for their sin! And yet He died in our place to redeem the undeserving – God is love! 

So let’s also live a life of love

Those who see God’s love for them see that though they are unworthy, Jesus has shown them grace; such people will freely offer love to others (1 John. 4:7-8, Ephesians 5:1-2). We are told by Jesus to love our enemies. This is never easy, but it is easier for those who know that God has loved them whilst they were His enemies!

So let’s Share the message of the God of love

There is nothing anyone needs more than the love of God. Each heart is hungry for God even if they think that they hate God! Our souls will never be at rest until we have been reconciled to our heavenly Father and live in the love He has for us.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

If one has come to know the God who is love, if we are enjoying Him, we will have deep compassion for this broken world. There is nothing more compassionate and courageous than to get over our fear and pride and talk about Jesus. 

Isaiah 63:7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us … according to his compassion and many kindnesses.