What’s Love Got to Do With It?

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Series: ILLUMINATE — Message #4

1 John 4:7-12, 20-21

Well, today we’re going to continue our series ILLUMINATE (from the book of 1 John).

We’ll be in chapter 4, which contains what is probably the most well known passage in 1 John. It’s a passage that speaks of love. In the words of the late Andy Williams, “Love is a many splendored thing!”

And, while it can be found in many places…maybe the best is in the hearts of children.

A few years ago — a group of researchers asked a group of children this question. They asked, “What is love?” And they were surprised by the depth and creativity of the responses. Here are a few:

Chrissy – age 6 said, “Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.”
Terri – age 4 said, “Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.”
Danny – age 7 said, “Love is when my mommy makes coffee for daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, just to make sure it tastes okay.”
Bobby – age 5 said, “Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”
Noelle – age 7 said, “Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, and then he wears it everyday.
Jessica – age 7 said, “You really shouldn’t say “I love you” – not unless you really mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. ‘Cause, people forget.”

Smart Marriages Mar. 12, 2002

Don’t you love the perspective of children? Well, hearing from children is great — but, hearing from God’s Word is even better.

And, in chapter 4, John defines love — by defining God.

As he put it — in verse 8, “God is Love.” Which begs the question…WHY? Why define God as love?

It’s really the same question that R&B singer, Tina Turner asked in her 1984 hit song, “What’s Love Got To Do With It?”

From her perspective, love is something small, cheap, and petty. More than that — it seemed to her that love is nothing more than a self-serving emotion.

And so, when it comes to life, she asks — “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” And that may be what many wonder, when they read this chapter. Hear God defined as LOVE…may be confusing. And maybe you’re wondering — What’s Love Got to Do with It?

Well, that’s what I hope to answer in our study of God’s Word today. So, if have your Bible, follow along as I read. Beginning in verse 7 — John says,

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:7-12 (NIV)

And now, skip down to verse 19. John continues by saying:

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

1 John 20-21 (NIV)

So, what’s love got to do with it? John says…ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING!

MESSAGE:

And at least three things. The first of which is:

GOD’S LOVE IS WITH YOU!

Make no mistake about it, genuine love — authentic love, comes directly from God. But more than that — it’s been unconditionally extended to you.

Now, I want to point out — this book, and the words of this chapter, were not written to everyone…they were written to believers, to the church. And so, most of this today is specifically focused on speaking to Christ-followers.

But, that being said — John unapologetic states that God is love…and His love has been given freely to all.

So, let’s be crystal clear on this matter — GOD LOVES EVERYONE! Even those who may not love Him back.

And the reason His LOVES ALL — is because He is ALL LOVE! The very essence of who God is — is love. It’s woven into His nature. It’s a part of what it means for Him to be God.

And, even when we don’t recognize it, or when we might doubt it, or even when skeptics deny it — even then, God is love.

And the LOVE of God is with you. It always has been…and always will be.

If you were counting, you mentions the Wya God’s live is with you over and over and over again. He uses the word LOVE to describe God’s closeness to you and I’m past I you some 20 times.

The very heart of this passage is that God love’s you.

Just as a battery serves as the source of power to your phone, or an engine is the source of power to your car, God IS the source of power in your life.

It is through His love that you are even here. But what is even more remarkable is that, by His love…He came here! His journey from heaven to earth was a journey of love. And that journey is what we refer to as the incarnation.

God put on flesh and blood and came here (because if his love), to be with you. In verse 9, John says:

9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

1 John 4:9 (NIV)

Quite literally, God’s love was manifest — and came to earth to be close to you. So John says, God’s love is with you…But more than that, he says:

GOD’S LOVE IS FOR YOU!

It’s one thing for God’s love to be near you— but it’s another thing altogether for His love to be for you — to be supportive, encouraging, and life-altering. But that’s how God responds to your life and your circumstances.

He is FOR YOU! He has good purposes for You to fulfill. And He has promised to stand with you forever. As Jesus put it, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

John describes God’s support for you in this way. In verse 10, he says,

10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:10-12 (NIV)

John details the most significant way that God shows His love FOR you — when he says, that He sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Through the death-defeating power of Christ’s Resurrection – God takes a STAND FOR YOU!

While John articulates the beauty of God’s love — He never shys away from pointing to the EMBODIMENT of that LOVE. And that is — the PERSON OF JESUS.

I’ve told you before, we live in a world that is quick to be PRO-GOD, but only if we leave JESUS out of the equation. They can take a palatable, milk-toast, mild from of God. But leave Jesus out.

And that’s because, Jesus defines His mission and purpose on earth — by point to our SIN.

You see, His entire reason for coming, was to die and deal with your sins.

The late author and pastor, John Stott once said, “For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; but…God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be.”

Wow. Think about that!

Jesus sacrificed His life FOR YOU.
He was beaten and bruised — FOR YOU.
And, He hung on the cross (suspended between heaven and earth), FOR YOU.

And that’s what Jesus said in John’s gospel. You might recall, Jesus defined LOVE in this way. He said,

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

John 15:13 (NIV)

So, through Jesus, God showed the GREATEST LOVE in the GREATEST WAY!

Author and pastor, Timothy Keller says,

“The gospel (or Good News) is — that Jesus lived the life you should have lived and died the death you should have died, in your place, so God can receive you not for your record and sake but for his record and sake.”

Never doubt this fact, GOD IS FOR YOU! HIS LOVE works like a powerful force, holding you up, and championing you forward in life.

He’s not satisfied with your past victories — He want’s to see you move forward in life. And so, what begins with your SALVATION, should only propel you forward into a GOD-WARD LIFE.

God wants to see you succeed at living well — and living for Him.

It’s as if Jesus is wearing your JERSEY! He is a fan of you and your life. He’s passionate about cheering you one. So, be encouraged today — because God’s love is FOR YOU!

And lastly, understand — God’s love is with you. God’s love is for you. And…

GOD’S LOVE FLOWS THROUGH YOU!

I know one of the anthems of our day is Taylor Swift’s song “SHAKE IT OFF!” And as she says, haters gonna hate. And that may be true in this world — at least for those who aren’t serving Christ. But for those who are — the opposite is true, or at least should be: lovers (or loved ones), gonna love!

Because, that’s John’s final point here.

He wants you to know that you are loved. And God’s love is with you, and for you. But just as important is that you discover — God’s love is made complete in you…as it FLOWS through you.

Receiving God’s love is not the end of your story. It’s just the beginning. Once you’ve received it — you are to share it — to release it to others.

The cycle of LOVE that began with God, now flows through you!

As John says in verses 19-21,

1 John 20-21 (NIV)

Although God’s love is without conditions, it is not without CONSEQUENCES: God commands you to love another.

Now, I want you to remember, John was writing to combat the Gnostic heresy.

For his readers, the temptation was to view LOVE as a self-centered emotion…and doesn’t that sound a lot like our culture? Gnosticism taught that love was primarily about what made you feel good.

But the love God offers is OTHERS-CENTERED!

So we must understand — that TRUE LOVE is an action. It’s not passive. So, let’s God’s love flow through you. Be intentional. Choose to love others even when you don’t feel like it.

And understand this — when you allow God’s love to flow through you — OTHERS WILL SEE CHRIST IN YOU!

As Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, may we “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

So in a world defined by war and racism, by gossip and bullying, by political division and anger, by lust and violence, by bitterness and negativity — in a world dominated by such negative forces, BE SACREDLY SUBVERSIVE — and CHOOSE TO ALLOW GOD’S LOVE to flow through you.

Treat people with kindness.
Show everyone respect.
Differ to others (rather than taking for yourself).
Give generously.
Speak graciously.
Welcome others in.
Hold others up.
Do more than is expected.
And allow the LOVE OF GOD to flow through you always, and often!

So, to answer the question — what’s love got to do with it? I say,

ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING!