The Love Of God

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ.

How much Christ is it because if you know that that knowledge will change your life.

You see that knowledge will empower you joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana. Let's join Pastor Bill Gebhardt now is once again he shows us God's word meets our world is to take for granted two blessings in our lives.

We take our health for granted. We take our economic good fortune for granted. We take our marriages for granted.

We take our freedom for granted and when we do this we lose our appreciation for the very best things that we have. Sometimes I think we need to be reminded about the true blessings in our life. That's what I want to do this morning so we want to say one thing, God loves you. He always asked and he always will.

Somebody might be thinking. I don't know. I don't know how God can love me. I made such a mess of my life to be wrong some of you might be thinking that I know that there was a time when God love me because I could feel his love. I just don't feel it anymore to be disillusioned and for most of us probably the rest of us, we would say I know that God loves me but really what happens is we end up taking their love for granted number problems when it comes to God, loving us is that we often define God's love for us the way we define our love for each other because of that were never really sure some of you have been abused in the name of love. Some of you have been rejected in the name of love Christian philosopher Peter Crist says this, the more important thing is, the more counterfeits there are no counterfeit paperclips. He said that there are plenty of counterfeits when it comes to love counterfeit ideas of love all around. This kindness is often a counterfeit love discipline causes pain which seems unkind.

So parents withholding the name of love, but authentic love will administer discipline to achieve long-term good for the child sex is often misused as a counterfeit of love, causing unmarried couples to be led down a dead-end path of temporary pleasures instead of the harder, but much more rewarding path of long-term marriage commitment. I can give you a precise definition of the love of God. I think that would be impossible. But what I want to do this morning is a reminders I want to try to describe it the best that I can open your Bibles to first John chapter 4 and verse seven he starts out by making us the object of God's love, beloved, let us love one another through love God and everyone who loves is born of God knows God does not love does not know God, God is love. By this, the love of God was manifested in us that God has sent his only begotten son into the world so that we might live through him.

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. The very first way I want to describe God's love is this God's love is uncaused notice he says God is love and a Bible you find that he's description like that God is an attribute that God is love, not at the expense of his other attributes. That's a mistake. We don't want to make. But the reason I believe the dry lights of God's love is because God is relational being and relational being aims objects to relate to nieces God is love. But notice he says how uncaused this is in verse 10 in this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and he sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins see when good God love us before he sent his son to see before he sent his son, God loved us when we were unlovable. God love this. We were at enmity with God.

You see God's love is uncaused will of people that we doing, that's not the way works for us and renewing rights.

This says yes I love you.

If you're good looking, intelligent, wealthy, I love you. If you have a good education, a good job and good connections. I love you for produce microcell module by much. There are endless gifts hidden in the world's love me zips enslave me since it is impossible to respond adequately to all them the world's love is and always will be conditional as long as I keep looking for my true self and the world of conditional love. I will remain hooked to the world trying feeling trying again. It is the more the Fosters addictions because it offers cannot satisfy the deepest craving of my heart, that is to be loved. God's love is not like that because I was uncaused to second Timothy chapter 1 and again just to reinforce this verse is 89 always the Timothy said therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, he said, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to works, not according to conditions, not according to something we did, he said, not according to works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus. A notice from all eternity. God's love is completely uncaused. God doesn't love you because of something you do.

God loves you because God is love. Since extremely important thing for us to understand God loves you and always has and always will. Secondly, God's love is unreasonable under Romans chapter 5 in verse six for while we were still helpless at the right time Christ died for the ungodly events is this one will hardly die for a righteous man but perhaps he says for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates his own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, much more than having been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through him, for if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God. The death of her son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

God's love is unreasonable to suppose trying to say. If you think about it. Soldiers in this last century, how many times have they fallen on a grenade. The callings many times on both sides. In other words, is an honorable thing to do. But that's reasonable. God's love is not reasonable to me asking if in question would you die for Jack the Ripper.

Would you die for Adolf Hitler.

Would you die for them, would you die for child molesters and pedophiles and rapists and serial killers.

Would you die for them you would God. You see, that seems less unreasonable. That's exactly what Christ did before we get too pious. We have to understand to me again if you look at verse 10.

He said for while we were enemies that we include you and me while we were enemies of God, that's exactly what Christ did for you and me. Card-carrying sinners that's us enemies of God is yelled you see my point of view God's love is not just uncaused but it's it's unreasonable going on. So by the good that unreasonable love reached across all the centuries and all those miles and touch my life and I pray touched yours. God love you always has and always will.

God's love is also unending Turner Jeremiah 31 in verse three.

Holy beginning in verse one through the prophet Jeremiah says at that time, declares the Lord Jesus, I will be a God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus says the Lord.

The people who survived the sword from grace in the wilderness, Israel.

He went to find its rest. The Lord appeared to him from afar and said this, I have loved you with an ever lasting love. Therefore, I am drawn you with lovingkindness.

I have loved you with an everlasting love. God's love is not only uncaused and unreasonable. It's on ending depreciated king of Israel and think of how many times Israel was so disappointing to God and did things I should've never done actually worship idols cuts is my love for you is unending and never change is telling them why I am telling you he loves you. He always has any always will is love is unending David Jeremiah writes this God's perfect love for you existed deep in the depths of eternity. Even before time began creating brilliance of wondrous galaxies, most of which no telescope will ever see between the lovely atomic love and want to know microcell will ever penetrate. He knows all he transcends all his magnificent says beyond all human imagining that his love for you was so close and intimate that it five times that of building human fathers who, when they first see their newborn infant often count the babies fingers and toes, God numbers the hairs of your head, and he does add throughout your life.

He knows and cherishes the tiniest details of your life.

He watches over you every moment. He has a plan for your life, and he said and you have been in his heart longer than the world has existed you think that's the way and God loves you with this unending love. How does that make you feel, see, how does it make you feel JI Packer, in his classic work worth reading. Knowing God writes this matter supremely is not the fact that I know God, but a large effect which underlies it.

He knows me. I am grieving on the palm of his hands. I am never out of his mind.

All my knowledge of him depends on his sustained initiative in knowing me I know him because he first knew me and continues to know me. He knows me as a friend, one who loves me, and there is no moment. He says when his eyes off me was attention distracted from me. And no moment. Therefore when his care of her father's. He says there is unspeakable comfort in knowing that God is constantly taking knowledge of me in love and watching over me for my good. There is tremendous relief in knowing that his love to me is utterly realistic based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery now can disillusion him about me in the way that I am so often disillusioned about myself. How comforting God's love is uncaused. God's love is unreasonable. God's love is unending. God's love is unlimited. Turn to Psalm 139 verse 10 Lord, you search me know me you should you know I sit, someone arrives up, you understand my thoughts from afar you scrutinize my path and my lying down and are intimately acquainted with all my ways and is everything about you.

You know what why is it that by the way, we don't disclose anything about us that other people not only were they not love us. They will like us that's in God's is not yet understand. I know everything about you. I know every term of argument read and illimitable thing you've ever done. See, I know the larceny in your heart. I know you envy. I know your anger. I know your pride. I know your selfishness.

I got I love you see we can guard yourself and that David understands and says I'm I'm overwhelmed by this.

He said even before there was a word of my tongue, behold, the Lord, you know what all human close me behind before and later hang up on me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful me it's too high can attain it is at work I go from your spirit, which is what can I flee from your presence. If I ascend to heaven here there is and if I make my bed and she'll bill your if I take the wings of the dawn, he says, and if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there your hand will lead me to write him a lay hold of me. Now I want to see something here. John said God's law. They was talking about God. I think the starting number seven and just wherever there's got to say love because there's anonymous. In this way. Where can I go from your love is a word that I go from your love and where can I flee from your love. If I ascend to heaven.

Your love is there, if I can make my bed and she'll behold your love is there. If I take the wings of Don. If I dwell in the remotest part of see even there your love is there, using matter where it is your love is there. That's why he concludes as he goes on is as you know, I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and I know why you love me.

You see, love me, love me with a love that is I'm limited between 471 Ephesians chapter 3. The apostle Paul says a little differently but from his point of use and all that is. David is verse 14. Ephesians 3 he says, for this reason I bow my knees before the father from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with the power of his Spirit in the inner man so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breath and the length and the height and the depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up with all the fullness of God knows what Paul says, he said I want to understand.

He says the breath and the length of the hype in the depth of what love of Christ. He says I know you can because there's no way of measuring it. It is on limited using one of the most important things Paul says for you and I to function as believers is you need to know how much God loves how much Christ loves you if you need to know that you should because if you know that that knowledge would change your life. You see that knowledge will empower you that knowledge.

By the way, will certainly help you in your commitment to Christ.

You see when you see how committed. God is to you.

It's not a big step for you to be committed to God when you see how much God loves you do not respond, a loving God's love is uncaused is loves unreasonable.

His love is unending is love on limited his love is unchanging turn to the gospel of John chapter 13 verse one before the feast of the Passover Jesus, knowing that is our, they were the part of the world to the father having loved his own who were in the world you love them to the end. What a great line. He loved them to the end. It shouldn't surprise us. Malachi 36 rights.

I am the Lord. I do not change. Psalm 33 the counsel of the Lord stands forever God is unchanging is immutable is the same as love is love is on changing them.

I think good love that way.

You see, John knows he's part of a group.

When John is writing this.

He said he loved them to the end he needs me and the other guys he loved us to the end that want to think how disappointing this group is.

This is the group got together and by the way, when Jesus is in deep, deep trouble because he knows what's happening and he understands a significant know what's going to happen the next day on the cross of Calvary there arguing about which one of them is going to be the greatest in the kingdom. They all say I want to be the race know I want to be the greatest time to be the greatest. How disappointing that would bring them to think of Thomas Jesus spoke to Thomas and Thomas doubted about Peter Thomas doubted and Peter denied that once, not twice but three times not to the highest officials landed even to a servant girl and by the third time it appears as though Peter even curtains that I don't even know that blank blank this point Debbie whereby Judas betrayed Thomas doubted him. Peter denied him. Judas betrayed him your name and I covered my negative certainly put some adjective somewhere about the my name is what I did what he says ears. He loved them to the end is love is on changing John Piper write something great about this he said with God. The honeymoon never ends. He is the infinite in power and wisdom and creativity and love and so he has no trouble sustaining the honeymoon level. Intensity he can foresee all the future quirks about personality and he has decided he will keep what's good and and change what is in good he will always be as handsome as he ever was.

He says, and will see that we get more and more beautiful as the relationship continues.

He is infinitely creative, to think of new things to do together so that there will be no boredom for the next trillion ages of millenniums. Think about your billing or honeymoon with the Lord. The Lord's perspective forever.

He never loses all his great qualities and he is determined to make you better and better and better and more beautiful and more beautiful and more beautiful honeymoon never ends, because the love of the Lord is unchanging while so different than us uncaused unreasonable on ending unlimited and unchanging. That's his love is more it's completely unconditional for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son condition we know the status of the world was was present for God so loved the world. Think of the covenants of the Old Testament Abraham a covenant is called what by theologians unconditional, wise and unconditional God with no conditions on what it got good because God loves you there's no conditions. It is an unconditional love. If you want an image of it that you can see in that I can see. Think of the prodigal. He's disrespects the father. He grabs his inheritance early.

He then leaves the land of his father and he goes so far away land and he squanders everything with the worst kind of living possible to bring shame to his father when he finds himself in abject poverty eating what animals eat and besides, I think at a moment of enlightenment.

Maybe I go back to the father and so what is the image then the word of God his father he probably said that many times in the past. His father sees him from a distance and begins the line toward him. Jewish men don't run not in public. You don't run. He runs doing. He belittles himself he doesn't care when he gets to what does he do kisses him many for the party. Some guy loved in spite of you will all that way we are all prodigal children and he repeats the story of the prodigal in my life on a regular basis. Not because of me, but simply because a him as love is unconditional, uncaused, unreasonable, unending, unlimited, unchanging and unconditional in the last one I would say simply this uncomplicated. It's so simple to him because he is love scene. Augustine said this, he said, God loves you as though you are the only person in the world and he loves everyone a way loves you what a great line. AW toes are in the knowledge of the holy, the love of God is one of the great realities of the universe a pillar upon which the hope of the Midwest, but it is a personal, intimate thing to God is not love populations. God loves people. God doesn't love masses. He loves men and women he lives. He says us all with a mighty love that has no beginning and no end frankly told her says I am overwhelmed by that. I just wonder if we are this uncaused unreasonable on ending unlimited, unchanging, unconditional, uncomplicated love of God was at dealings in the last century, and I would not share all of his conclusions but I have deep respect for his intellect, his name was: he was a great Swiss theologian is the father of modern-day neo-orthodoxy, but wrote a lot in his life for his crowning achievement was a work that he wrote called church dogmatics number three wanting what and needed the me explain something to you. It has 6 million words and it made only one trip to the United States in his lifetime. In 1962 and when he came United States was addressing a student body. Typically a student ask him to summarize his extensive biblical theology of his massive work in a short sentence: pause for a moment looked at the student said Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.

Exactly right. All the summary simple on complicated words, God loves you. He always has. He always will. And he loves you with an uncaused, unreasonable on ending unlimited, unchanging, unconditional, uncomplicated love whenever you believe that whenever you don't take that for granted whenever you internalize that and you meditate on that great truth to get unspeakable joy.

You know how to get you get within yourself a desire to spend the rest of your life. Loving the God who loves God look and pastor broke apart. If you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like to listen to the message one more time. Remember, you can Google a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship and the word online that website you will find on today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio program, had Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. Yes, all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting us monthly with just a one time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon that Pastor Bill delivered during a Sunday morning service of fellowship monitored visit our website FVC Nola.org that SBC Penn of LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds. Pastor Bill sermon.

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