God wants you to know truth, love, and assurance in salvation. In this message from 1 John 4:7-21, Pastor Kevin reminds the church that God does not simply show love. God is love. Unlike false gods Baals, Ishtar, and Molech that lead Israel toward destruction, the one true God gave His Son as the sacrifice for our sins. Because God first loved us, believers are called to love one another, walk in truth, and rest in the assurance that Jesus paid for our sins.
God is the Origin of Love
Everything we know about true love comes from God. Love did not begin with us, it began with God. God created life, gave us breath, and made us to know him. God is the source of real love (1 John 4:7-8).
Hate cannot charaterize a Christian. Love is part of the new nature of a believer because love is God’s nature. The love of God is holy, unconditional, passionate, and sacrificial.
Sometimes we have to love people through hurt, disappointment, bad choices, and difficult seasons. That does not mean sin is ignored, but it means love keeps pointing people back to Christ (1 Peter 4:8).
God is the Originator of Love
God didn’t just define love, he showed it by sending his only son Jesus into the world so that we might live through Him (1 John 4:9; John 3:16-17)
Propitiation (1 John 4:10) means Jesus is the payment for our sins. Jesus went to the cross and paid the price we could not pay. We are sinners, separated from a holy and righteous God, but God had a plan. He sent Jesus to live a perfect life, fulfill the law, and become the perfect sacrifice once and for all.
God is the Orchestrator of Love
Because God loved us, we are called to love one another. Love takes work and there are times where is it easier to quote, hold a grudge, or walk away. But God fights for love (1 John 4:11). He gave His very best through Jesus Christ, and now He calls His people to reflect that same love.
No one has ever seen God, but when believers love one another, God abides in them and His love is perfected in them. Our love becomes a testimony that God is at work in our lives (1 John 4:12).
We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). If someone claims to love God but hates his brother, John says that person is a liar. Love for God must show up in love for others.
God’s Love Verses False Gods
Pastor Kevin compares the love of the one true God with the destruction connected to false gods and idols.
Israel fell to 3 spirits of gods with a little “g”
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- Baals – also known as Zeus as a Greek god. Baal has obsession with greed (2 Chronicles 28:1-2)
- Ishtar – also known as Asheroth or Aphrodite as a Greek god. Aphrodite is connected with sexual pervision and corrupted love (Judges 6:25-27).
- Molech – Molech is connected with child sacrifice (Leviticus 18:21).
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Examples of modern idols we see today in our society: money, pleasure success, acceptance, sexual gratification, additsions, abortions, work, comfort, self-fullfillment, self-obession and many more.
The contrast is clear. These false gods promised prosperity, freedom, and fulfillment, but they led to death, destruction, and self-destruction. They demanded blood and sacrifice from their followers.
The One True God Contrasts Satan
The one true God is completely different:
False gods demand that we give our children as sacrifices. He gave His Son as the sacrifice for us.
False gods take life. The true God gives life.
False gods destroy. The true God saves.
False gods enslave. Jesus sets people free.
This is the difference between Satan’s deception and God’s love. God is love. God gives truth. God provides assurance of salvation. And through Jesus Christ, we can know the love of the one true God.
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