Dynamic Life Baptist Ministries - Pastor Victor Clay

Sermon Title: The Intoxication of Godly Love
Sermon Text: 1 John 4:7-16
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to evaluate whether Godly love is being manifested in and through them.
Sermon Proposition: There are 4 eternal reasons why Christians love.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:7-16 (NKJV)

1. The importance of Godly love. v.7-8

   • The view of Godly love. v.7a

   • The vessel of Godly love. v.7b

   • The validation of Godly love. v.7c (John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:18-19

   • The value of Godly love. v.7d (2 Peter 1:4)

   • The verdict of Godly love. v.8 (1 Thessalonians 4:9; John 15:12; Romans 12:9; 1 Peter 1:22)

   
   

2. The illustration of Godly love. v.9-10

   • The visible showing of Godly love. v.9a

   • The visible sacrifice of Godly love. v.9b

   • The visible service of Godly love. v.9c

   • The visible satisfaction of Godly love. v.10

   
   

3. The implications of Godly love. v.11-14 (Matthew 18:33)

   • The mandatory responsibility of Godly love. v.11

   • The mandatory ripening of Godly love. v.12 (John 2:5)

   • The mandatory residence of Godly love. v.13 (Romans 8:11; Romans 5:5)

   • The mandatory role of Godly love. v.14

   
   

4. The incorruptibility of Godly love. v.15-16

   • God is love.

   • Believers must love.

   • Loving one another is evidence of salvation.

   
   

   Conclusion:

   • The first benefit of love is assurance of salvation.

   • The second benefit of love is answered prayer.

   • The third benefit of love is the abiding presence and empowering of the Holy Spirit.