Christian Church 24.7 Ministry Community Group
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Before I begin this message, I didn't think I would feel up to it and it's rather coincidental I guess that is message is on love, which I have had some issues with both pro and con the past few weeks. Nonetheless, here we go.
If I would ask "what love is or asked you to define "love:, I am sure there would be many different answers .
One of the identifying characteristics of a Christian is love. Read John 13: 34-35
Another great writer about love was the great Apostle Paul. He wrote the "Love Chapter of 1 Cor. 13.
If we take a look at history, we see many things in this world have changed. All of the Great Civilizations that we read about in our History books and the Bible, speak of Persia, Babylon, Egypt, Rome and Greece yet, all the great leaders, philosophers, orators, and teachers of these civilizations are dead. They are no more!!!!!!
The great coliseums, the Senate houses of Rome, all gone. They are no more!!!!!!
I used to work for a printing company who printed and mailed a magazine called Psychology Today. I read where there was a survey taken among young men and women as to who the "ideal man of History was"! It will surprise you that their answer was "Jesus Christ".
It's a shame that we only think of love maybe 3 times a year. Valentine's day of course, Christmas and Easter. If you really stop and think, everyone loves to be loved.
There a 3 basic kinds of love today that Psychologists say we as man deal with. Eros love, Philio love and, Agape love.
A. Eros love is sexual love and attraction. This is where we derive the word erotic.
B. Philio love is a love that we have for things, family, pets, homes, things around us in the physical
C. Agape love is God's love that is unconditional. A spiritual love
It's amazing to know that man is not born with love. We must learn it from experiencing it in our infancy. When we feel love or experience love, we return it the same way. This is why when young people do not experience love at home when small, they have a misconception of what love really is, when they grow older and have a hard time accepting it or showing it.
I'd like to share 3 things about Christ's love for mankind.
1. Christ's love is Unconditional:
Most people have a hard time understanding this because we feel we have to do something to deserve love or to be loved. Our entire society has this mindset that if you do what I like, act like I want you to and do what I want you to, then I will love you. This is placing conditions on love and Christ does not do that with His love for us.
Many people has trouble even loving themselves. This may be cause by some past sins, some past habits, something from childhood or from some traumatic experience. We as humans have a defense mechanism called "walls" and, when we feel threatened or hurt, we throw up these walls for security and protection from hurt.
I have built many of these walls in my lifetime.
Some people are very insecure in life and they feel they have to earn God's love and acceptance. Some people try to hide these insecurities with money, clothes, prestige, positions, social status, etc.
NEWS FLASH: God does not love you because of what you have or what you don't have, or what you do or do not do. God loves you because that is His Nature to love and we need to just accept the fact that "you are accepted even though you are unacceptable!!!!!!!!!
11. Christ's love is Unrestricted:
If we show love to others, we are to do it in word and deed. It's easy to say "I love you" but, what and where is the basis of that statement? Christian love is demonstrated by doing for others, serving others. The greatest Servant who ever lived was Christ Himself.
We are to accept people with all their faults, failures and querks. Just as God accepts us. God may not love what we do or how we act but, He loves us anyway. The old saying is "God hates sin but, loves the Sinner".
111. Christ's love is uninhibited: vs-9
The word Manifested means made known or " come to be known". The Crucifixion of Calvary was the manifestation of God's love for us a mankind. John 3:16
Propitiation is another word used that confuses people sometimes. It means " satisfying God's Law" this means that something was done that satisfied God's Law and that was that we were made acceptable because of what Christ done, not on what we do. God did something to make us acceptable. It's not what we do, it's what He has already done. Salvation is of God, not of man. We can never, ever save ourselves.
God loved you and I enough, to send His son Jesus to die on the Cross and pay our sin debt. "IN FULL".
So, the question is this. "Will you receive it"?
Maybe you have never felt true love. maybe you have forgotten God"s love for you.
All of the great civilizations, cultures, philosophers, orators, past times are no more and are silent. Jesus' love for you and I is still as great and as powerful and as wonderful as it has always been.
Christ's love is unconditional--He accepts you, just as you are.
Christ's love is unrestricted--there is nothing held back from you
Christ's love is uninhibited--Open and made public to the world when He gave His life on Calvary
Christ's love is inexhaustible--it is never used up or wastes away.
Do you know Christ's love today?
Do you show Christ's love today?
Will you receive Christ's love today?
God Bless you all.
Oldbiker
If I would ask "what love is or asked you to define "love:, I am sure there would be many different answers .
One of the identifying characteristics of a Christian is love. Read John 13: 34-35
Another great writer about love was the great Apostle Paul. He wrote the "Love Chapter of 1 Cor. 13.
If we take a look at history, we see many things in this world have changed. All of the Great Civilizations that we read about in our History books and the Bible, speak of Persia, Babylon, Egypt, Rome and Greece yet, all the great leaders, philosophers, orators, and teachers of these civilizations are dead. They are no more!!!!!!
The great coliseums, the Senate houses of Rome, all gone. They are no more!!!!!!
I used to work for a printing company who printed and mailed a magazine called Psychology Today. I read where there was a survey taken among young men and women as to who the "ideal man of History was"! It will surprise you that their answer was "Jesus Christ".
It's a shame that we only think of love maybe 3 times a year. Valentine's day of course, Christmas and Easter. If you really stop and think, everyone loves to be loved.
There a 3 basic kinds of love today that Psychologists say we as man deal with. Eros love, Philio love and, Agape love.
A. Eros love is sexual love and attraction. This is where we derive the word erotic.
B. Philio love is a love that we have for things, family, pets, homes, things around us in the physical
C. Agape love is God's love that is unconditional. A spiritual love
It's amazing to know that man is not born with love. We must learn it from experiencing it in our infancy. When we feel love or experience love, we return it the same way. This is why when young people do not experience love at home when small, they have a misconception of what love really is, when they grow older and have a hard time accepting it or showing it.
I'd like to share 3 things about Christ's love for mankind.
1. Christ's love is Unconditional:
Most people have a hard time understanding this because we feel we have to do something to deserve love or to be loved. Our entire society has this mindset that if you do what I like, act like I want you to and do what I want you to, then I will love you. This is placing conditions on love and Christ does not do that with His love for us.
Many people has trouble even loving themselves. This may be cause by some past sins, some past habits, something from childhood or from some traumatic experience. We as humans have a defense mechanism called "walls" and, when we feel threatened or hurt, we throw up these walls for security and protection from hurt.
I have built many of these walls in my lifetime.
Some people are very insecure in life and they feel they have to earn God's love and acceptance. Some people try to hide these insecurities with money, clothes, prestige, positions, social status, etc.
NEWS FLASH: God does not love you because of what you have or what you don't have, or what you do or do not do. God loves you because that is His Nature to love and we need to just accept the fact that "you are accepted even though you are unacceptable!!!!!!!!!
11. Christ's love is Unrestricted:
If we show love to others, we are to do it in word and deed. It's easy to say "I love you" but, what and where is the basis of that statement? Christian love is demonstrated by doing for others, serving others. The greatest Servant who ever lived was Christ Himself.
We are to accept people with all their faults, failures and querks. Just as God accepts us. God may not love what we do or how we act but, He loves us anyway. The old saying is "God hates sin but, loves the Sinner".
111. Christ's love is uninhibited: vs-9
The word Manifested means made known or " come to be known". The Crucifixion of Calvary was the manifestation of God's love for us a mankind. John 3:16
Propitiation is another word used that confuses people sometimes. It means " satisfying God's Law" this means that something was done that satisfied God's Law and that was that we were made acceptable because of what Christ done, not on what we do. God did something to make us acceptable. It's not what we do, it's what He has already done. Salvation is of God, not of man. We can never, ever save ourselves.
God loved you and I enough, to send His son Jesus to die on the Cross and pay our sin debt. "IN FULL".
So, the question is this. "Will you receive it"?
Maybe you have never felt true love. maybe you have forgotten God"s love for you.
All of the great civilizations, cultures, philosophers, orators, past times are no more and are silent. Jesus' love for you and I is still as great and as powerful and as wonderful as it has always been.
Christ's love is unconditional--He accepts you, just as you are.
Christ's love is unrestricted--there is nothing held back from you
Christ's love is uninhibited--Open and made public to the world when He gave His life on Calvary
Christ's love is inexhaustible--it is never used up or wastes away.
Do you know Christ's love today?
Do you show Christ's love today?
Will you receive Christ's love today?
God Bless you all.
Oldbiker
thanks my dear friend, i know it has been a sad week for you, but you gave from your heart of love this message about love and it really is what i needed to hear today! bless you always!!!!