The Love of God

The Love of God – Matt. 22:36-40

Throughout the Bible God’s children are instructed to love one another.  In fact, this seems to be the repeated theme throughout the new testament- to love God first and your neighbor as yourself.  According to the text, this is the foundation and the sum of every commandment.  And yet, it seems to be the least obeyed in all the Bible. 

In “air war” we were given 3 “loving facts” as an introduction to our morning sermon. Let’s examine these 3 facts more in depth.

1. Love Is the Nature of God

In this we mean that the heart of God flows naturally through the emotion of love.  This is not so with man.  Someone turn quickly to Jer. 17:9. If love flows naturally from the heart of God, according to the text, what flows from the heart of man?

We must not leave this point without making clear that the “nature” of God and the “essence” of God are different.  Does anyone know what attribute of God would be considered the “essence” of God? (Hint: it is the foundation by which all other things flow).

Why is this important? When we realize that man is not holy, we can begin to realize why we cannot love as God commands us to love, except we rely on our new nature.

2. Love is the Response of Man

This is not to suggest that man naturally responds to anything in love or that he ever looks for things to respond to with the heart of love. This is only to suggest that we only show love to God as a response, and never without provoking. (1John 4:19)

It seems that the only way to combat this carnal nature of man is to deny ourselves and fully consider God in all things. 

3. Love Has a Measuring Stick

John 14:15 says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

Wouldn’t it be nice if everything and everyone in life had but one standard of love? With man, our standards change with every new television show.  But with God, the measuring stick of our love to God has always been the same- obedience.  This is in fact how we are to gage our love for God.  If we are obeying Him at all times.

Turn to Matt. 5:17. 

What we see is that the death and resurrection of Christ makes it possible for evil-hearted man to love God. Without the Gospel no man would be fit to glorify a holy God. Praise His name!