Sunday 2 - 7-21 Calvary Baptist Church

February – How the greatest demonstration of love is changing you.
God’s love for you is such a powerful force that, once you have received it,
it changes the way you see people, how you treat people.
If you have experienced Christ’s love for you in salvation,
you cannot help but grow in love for others.

1 John 4:7-19 – God is Love
Where does real love come from?
1. Love originated with God (7-8)
a. Loving others is evidence we have been born of God (7)

v. 7. When we love others, we show that we have been born of God.
When put our faith in Jesus, we are born again, regenerated.
Our spiritually dead and selfish hearts are united with God,
So that His life becomes our life, and His love becomes our love.

b. Loving others is evidence we know God (8)
v. 8. People who have born again love others – and that love shows that they know God.
They don’t just know about God, they know God intimately and personally.

2. Love is seen in the atoning death of Jesus Christ (9-10)
v. 9. It is God’s nature to love – to give and to sacrifice
a. God sent his Son that we might live, and he might die (9-10)
It is one thing to talk about love. It is something else to show love.
“God’s love was manifest” – revealed, made clear, put on display.
God took the initiative. He loved first. He stepped out and pursued us.

“live through him” – that we might have fellowship with God, forgiveness, walk in light.

v. 10. “propitiation” – An offering that turns away the wrath of God.
Sin is serious. God hates sin. It is a serious offense against a holy God.
Yet in his love, God provided the offering to turn his wrath away.

“The gospel is that Jesus lived the life you should have lived and died the death you should have died, in your place, so God can receive you not for your record and sake but for his record and sake.” – Tim Keller, Preaching to a Post-Modern City.

3. Love is perfected in us when we love others (11-12)
If you are born of God, if you know God,
if you have experienced God’s love in the sacrifice of his Son, love people.

v. 12. Shocking: No one can see God in his unveiled, glorious essence.
But we can see God through the lives of those who demonstrate His love to others.

“The unseen God, who was once reveled in His Son, is now revealed in his people… when they love one another.” – John Stott, The Letters of John

4. Love is evidence that we have the Spirit (13-16)
If the Holy Spirit lives in you, then you will grow in love for others.
The Holy Spirit indwells believers. His presence in you is God’s presence in you.
God’s presence in will produce love for others.

5. Love gives us confidence even in the judgment (17-18)
Because God loved us first, we have no fear that he will reject us on that day.
“There is no fear in love”

6. Love reflects God’s character (19-21)
Why do we love? Because God took the initiative, not us.
He loves us and the love that abides in us is God’s love that overflows in words and actions to others.


1. Love originated with God (7-8)
2. Love is seen in the atoning death of Jesus Christ (9-10)
3. Love is perfected in us when we love others (11-12)
4. Love is evidence that we have the Spirit (13-16)
5. Love gives us confidence even in the judgment (17-18)
6. Love reflects God’s character (19-21)