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TITLE: God Is Love
By Durelle Rutledge
10/10/06
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God Is Love

Read: I John 4:7-12 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not knows not God, for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us.

Focus: I John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone that loves is born of God and knows God.

Reference: I John 4:8 He that loves not knows not God, for God is love.
Matt. 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?

Key Word: Is

Key Word Definitions:
(Hebrew): none available
(Greek): to be born, be by nature, to produce.
(English): 1) be, was, were, been, being; to equal in meaning, have the same connotation as; to have identity with; to constitute the same class as, to have a specified qualification or characterization; to belong to the class of; 2) to have an objective existence; to have reality or actuality; to have, maintain or occupy a place, situation or position; to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted; 3) to take place, to come or go.

Connective Words: symbolize, live, occur, belong, and befall.

There is no love with God! Yes, I know that is a bold statement to make, but its true! When you read the above verses, you will see that they attest to this truth. So you see, without God there “is” no love.
God “Is” love. He was “is love” when He sent Jesus. He was “is love” when He created the universe. He was “is love” when He created man. He was “is love” during 911 and Katrina. And He “is love” everyday in our lives.
Utilizing the Greek definition above, God is (by nature and produces) love. And utilizing the English definitions, we can see that God is in everyway and every circumstance and situation the epitome and all encompassing realization of what love, “truly” is.
In I John 4:7, we are told that “everyone” that loves is “born” of God and “knows” Him. We know that God has created every one of us, so the word “born” in this verse does not refer to our physical birth, but rather our spiritual “rebirth”. Through this rebirth, we come to “know” God in a very personal way. Because He is love, we can feel His love all around us, we can see His love at work in our lives and we experience His love through praise, worship and deliverance. This love is not from or of the “world”. Love, before we know God has limitations, requirements, standards, restrictions, is obsessive and possessive, is easily broken, can be turned to hate, is manipulative, can be vengeful and many other things that God’s love is not. His love is none of these things! In fact, His love is just the opposite!
This verse also tells us to, “love one another, because God is love”. Notice that it gives us a reason why we should love each other. When we love each other, we show that we have God in our hearts, that we “know” Him and that we are His. How can we witness and testify to others about the salvation of Jesus because of His love, if we don’t exhibit it in ourselves?
And this love, God’s love, the only “true” love is not meant to be specific or particular to only family, friends and those we “like”. It is meant for that homeless person you see on the corner, on your way to work. It’s meant for that neighbor that gets on your “last nerve”. It’s meant for that cashier at the store that “always” seems to have a bad attitude. It’s meant for your boss or co-worker that you “just can’t stand”. It’s meant for that church member that “talked” about you. It’s meant for that person that “lied” on you or to you and on and on. There is no end to God’s love, it is infinite.
In I John 4:8, the writer tells us that if we don’t love, we don’t “know” God! Maybe those of the world may not understand the true meaning of God’s love, but those of us that have received salvation because of that love, should have no excuse; save that we have not allowed His love to permeate our hearts.
Matt. 7:11 says God wants to “give good gifts to those who ask”. Did not God send His Son to exchange His life for our sins? Is that not love? Did not Jesus volunteer to suffer and die for us? Is that not love? How many of us have ever prayed for someone to love and to love us? Did God answer that prayer? Was that not a “gift” of His love? How many of us have ever prayed for a blessing, or an answer to a prayer? Did not the Father give that blessing or answer that prayer? Is that not love? So, if we pray for God to fill our hearts with His love, will He not do it?
Now that we “know” that God “Is” love, what can prevent us from sharing and spreading His love? So let’s “love one another” in the true meaning of love and show others that we “know” God.
Amen and God bless.
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