God’s Great Circle of Love

1 John 4:10-11

First John Series

INTRODUCTION:

John the Disciple of Love

1. Saw himself as the recipient of Christ’s love
2. Called for believers to love one another.
3. Refused to love the world or the things in the world.

John reveals the reach and rationale for love in the Christian life.

1. God loved us first.
2. We ought to love one another
3. The circle of love: from God to us to others

I. WHERE LOVE STARTS (v. 10)

A. Love starts with God

1. God is love (v. 8)

2. God loves us all (John 3:16)

B. We have not sought God (Rom. 3:11)

1. He has sought us

2. God is the original seeker.

3. Finally seeking God is but responding to His love.

C. Love from the foundation of the world

1. Chosen in Him (Eph. 1:4)

2. Redemption planned (1 Peter 1:18-20)

3. The Lamb slain (Rev. 13:8)

II. WHAT LOVE SPENDS (v. 10)

A. “The propitiation for our sins”

B. Propitiation refers to the death of Christ on the cross.

1. Propitiation demanded full payment for our sins.

2. Jesus paid that price for us (Isaiah 53:5-6)

C. Propitiation was God settling our sin problem.

D. H.A. Ironside on propitiation: “In those hours of darkness God was dealing with His Son about that awful question, and there He bore in His inmost soul the judgment that you and I would have to bear ourselves for all eternity if left without a Savior. Thus He became the propitiation.”

III. WHERE LOVE SENDS (v 11)

A. Receiving love brings responsibility

1. God loves us.

2. We are therefore to love one another.

B. We are sent to all believers with love (3:14-17)

1. This love goes beyond words

2. We are to love in deed and truth

3. This love produces compassion for those in need

C. God’s love also send us to sinners with the Gospel

CONCLUSION:

Have you thanked your Lord today because He love you?

Have you received Christ, the Gift of His love?

Are you carrying God’s love to others?