GOD IS LOVE 1 John 4:8 He was willing to give His only begotten Son to redeem sinful man – John 3:16; 1 John 4:9 What kind of love would do such a thing? AGAPE- good will toward others Deep, tender, warm concern for the happiness & well-being of another; Charity toward those who are in need Seeks to give and not to get

AGAPE IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT IS UNIVERSAL Genesis Chapter 1 – God love mankind, His creatures Fatherhood of God is grounded in creation – Malachi 2:10 His goodness or lovingkindness shown from beginning – Psalm 33:5 God’s creative work – Psalm 33:6-9

AGAPE IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT IS UNCONDITIONAL God is not a respecter of persons – Matthew 5:45; Acts 14:17 God does not love us because we have done what He commanded; he loves us in spite of our rebellion – Romans 5:8 Not just for “the elect” – 1 John 2:2

AGAPE IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT IS MORE THAN FEELINGS God’s love is active – John 3:16 Galatians 2:20 “Who loved me and gave Himself for me” Today God’s love continues to teach us what true love really is!

LOVE AND LAW Love is a commandment Love is the law – Mark 12:31 Love is a duty - Ecclesiastes 12:13 Put love into action keeping the commandments Love is the summary of all God’s laws – Galatians 5:22,23

WITHOUT LOVE THERE WOULD BE NO FULFILLING THE LAW Matthew 23:23 “weightier matters of the law” It is “obeyed from the heart” Romans 6:17 Love God & Neighbor - Mark 7:20-23

“GOD IS LOVE” DISTORTED INTO “LOVE IS GOD” “warm, gentle, flexible, unconstrained by the rules and totally divorced from law” Joseph Fletcher – Situation Ethics: The New Morality “Jesus and Paul replaced precepts of law with the living principle of love” Making God in man’s own image- Romans 1:23

OUR LOVE IS A RESPONSE Our love is always a response to God’s love – 1 John 4:19 Love for our fellowman is a response to God’s love for us – Psalm 119:97; 19:7-11 Love for our fellowman, even enemies, is loving response to God’s love – Luke 6:35,36 God’s love for us the motivation for keeping His commandments – John 14:15; 1 John 5:3

GOD’S LOVE DOES NOT EXCLUDE HIS WRATH God is love – 1 John 4:8 God of wrath, vengeance & punishment- Romans 1:18; 2Thessalonians 1:6-9 Who are we to argue against this? Try to understand how these two attributes coexist

WRATH IS A REQUIREMENT OF JUSTICE God executing wrath, vengeance & punishment only in judicial sense God as lawgiver executes judgment, and justice demands one be either vindicated or punished – Deuteronomy 11:26-28; James 4:12 Punishment is retribution – Romans 6:23 “wages of sin” Actions based upon the principle of righteousness – 2Thessalonians 1:6

WITHOUT REWARD & PUNISHMENT THERE IS NO JUSTICE Without justice there is no judgment. Without judgment there is no law Without law there is no lawgiver Without a lawgiver, there is no God Acts 17:31 “judge the world in righteousness” 2 Corinthians 5:10,11 “judgment seat of Christ”

RETRIBUTION THE PRIMARY DESIGN OF PUNISHMENT Too often thought to be remedial Major objective the vindication of law and the satisfaction of justice Christ to be the “propitiation for our sins” – 1 John 4:10 Price for redemption paid, justice was done – God was able to justify those who exercise obedient faith in Jesus – Romans 3:25,26

PUNISHMENT THE REWARD OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS No reason why man cannot keep God law perfectly The Bible makes no excuse for man’s sinfulness Teaches that man has the capacity, but he has not, does not, and will not keep law perfectly Romans 3:20,23 Not forced or coerced – James 1:14,15

PUNISHMENT THE REWARD OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS Free will creatures – Joshua 23:15 Who will be judged – Deuteronomy 32:35; Hebrews 10:30 Punishment “just reward” of disobedience – Hebrews 2:2 Fail to understand God’s character & primary purpose of punishment Fail to appreciate sacrificial death of His Son- John 3:16; 1 John 4:10

HOW WELL DO WE REALLY KNOW THE LORD? True love cares about others, wants to please him, want to make him happy, not wanting to hurt him. What hurts God? Our sins hurt Him! What makes God happy? Our obedience pleases Him

TOO MANY MISCONCEPTION OF JEHOVAH GOD Exaggerates God’s love, goodness, and mercy God is love – 1 John 4:16 Sent His Son to live & die for us – John 3:16,17 Many deluded into believing He will actually save them in disobedience THIS IS A SERIOUS MISTAKE!

PSALM 103:17,18 “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.” 2 Peter 3:9 “not willing that any should perish”

WHO WOULD SERVE SUCH A WEAK & INEFFECTUAL GOD? Who would serve a god who could make laws but could not enforce them? Such a god is not the God of the Bible Such a god is nothing more than an idol in the minds of those who do not want to do what is right and good Old as the ages – Romans 1:25

PERSONALITY THAT LOVES CAN ALSO HATE Mercy exhibited be one who can feel vengeance, wrath & anger 2 Corinthians 5:11 “terror of the Lord” Not a God of anger – but does get angry! Know what makes God angry, avoid painful penalties IF we love Him, we will want to please Him 2 Corinthians 5:10 “good or bad”

“WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD” Acts 20:26-31b Why? He was well acquainted with God love, mercy, and goodness – but also knew of the “terror of the Lord” 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10 Appeal of gospel not only appreciate God’s love, goodness, & mercy – but respect His anger, wrath, & terror as well To enjoy the Lord’s love & goodness one must yield submissively to His word

WITHOUT LOVE – GOD’S LOVE FOR MAN & MAN’S LOVE FOR GOD – THERE COULD BE NO SALVATION!