We will never fully appreciate the full extent of God's love in this life.
Christ is the fullest expression of God's love towards us.
Through Him alone we become the children of God.
God loves the world ... but
He has poured out His love upon His children.
This is what makes us different from the worldling.
They have no way of experiencing God's love.
Therefore they do not know Christ.
They do not understand what true Christianity is.
But we are God's children now!
But the full manifestation is not for now.
The final transformation comes when we see Jesus at the Second Coming.
Mortality will be changed into immortality.
Real believers do not make excuses for sin.
The children of God go forward to perfection.
Our faith must advance until we see Jesus.
This is ongoing purification / sanctification.
Purification = making ourselves ready to meet the Lord (Ephesians 5:27).
Sinner = Breaker of the Law = Ten Commandments.
Do you know anyone who has kept them all?
All sinners are lost and without hope.
But our sins were nailed to the cross.
The sinless One paid the price for our sin.
The saved do not go after sin.
Sin keeps a person in spiritual ignorance and blindness.
It is not OK to sin - do not excuse it!
We ought to be living by Christ's righteousness.
Sinners (lost or saved) are following Satan.
Sin is always the devil's tool (:8).
Sin separates us from God.
Jesus Christ came to destroy Satan's power over us.
So we have no excuse for sinning, except disobedience to God!
God's Holy Spirit draws us away from sin and temptation.
What does being Born Again mean if sin is OK?
We have been given the power to resist sin.
There are the children of God and the children of the Devil.
How do we tell them apart?
The answer is simple - one which will cause us to evaluate where we stand before
God.
Satan's followers have hate in their hearts.
Christ's followers love others.
Too many Cains in the church.
Religious jealousy destroys.
False religion hates and murders.
We should expect the world to hate us - but not our brothers in Christ.
This how you know if you are saved.
Do you love or is their bitterness?
No spiritual love = no spiritual life.
Murder - character assassination.
There is no excuse for this.
Christians have God's love in them.
We must express and manifest it.
Especially to the household of faith.
How do we know that God loves us?
He gave His life in place of our death.
That is the type of love we should have.
Few have the willingness to love like that.
There are countless practical ways to prove our love for God.
Life - money - time - energy.
Must include love for other believers.
What if we are insensible to others?
Then don't say “I love God”.
Words are easy - few mean them.
There must be a manifestation of love.
It is not “the thought that counts”.
Too many think they love God.
Love must act.
Love goes beyond the natural.
Love keeps its word (promises).
See what love is in 1 Corinthians 13.
Do we fulfil loves' requirements?
Love in action is proof that God has
transformed us.
This love is supernatural not natural.
Those who live for God will face times of self-condemnation.
Ask yourself “Do I love the brethren?”
The Comforter will come if we do.
True love proves we are saved.
If self-condemnation gets a hold of us then we must exercise boldness.
Aim for “no condemnation” (:21).
Those who have Christian love get their prayers answered.
Remember that love without obedience is not real.
A simple command with a two-fold application:-
a) Love for the Lord
b) Love for His people
True faith produces true love.
Then we can have intimate fellowship with Christ.
The Holy Spirit leads us into faith, love, and obedience.
Here is the basis for our assurance.