092. Love, God 's, for Man
092. Love, God ’s, for Man
92 GOD’S LOVE FOR MAN 1 John 4:7;Isaiah 45:18
INTRODUCTION Some themes are so great that comments seem to detract; like the ocean measureless; like the sky without dimensions . Because God is love his every act must be interpreted in terms of love.
I. GOD IS LOVE (1 John 4:8) 1. All of God’s works partake of his nature .
(a) It is shown in the creation of the earth.
(b) The beauty of nature.
(c) No park now with its varigated beauty can compare with nature before sin cursed.
(d) lt was made for man before he was created.
(e) Love was here ahead of man with outstretched arms when man arrived and he came into the richest material dowries of the earth .
(f) God formed the earth to be inhabited. (Isaiah 45:18.) II. HIS LOVE IS SEEN IN CREATING MAN IN HIS IMAGE 1. Man the only creature bearing the image of God. (Genesis 1:27.) (a) What honor! What wonderful Love! (b) Placed him in lovely Eden. (c) Communed with him .
2. Man sinned-kept not that high position .
(a) Closed the gates of Eden against him but opened the door of repentance to him. (b) Separated from the tree of life, but promised that he should again have access to it. (c) He did not withdraw his love from man.
3. With deeper love than he showed in preparing the earth for man, he now plans man’s redemption.
III. CHRlST A MANIFESTATION OF GOD’S LOVE (John 3:16) 1. Gods love expressed in superl ative degree.
(a) As you look at Christ you see the loYe of God. (b) He is a photograph of God’s love.
2. He lived among men doing good.
(a) He suffered for man . (b) He died for man. (c) Heaven and earth draped in mourning when he died. (d) Like the swan that plucks feathers from its breast for its young, God gave Christ.
IV. THE CHURCH-A TOKEN OF GOD’S LOVE 1. God’s plan of redemption.
(a) In it we are under cover of the blood of Christ. (b) In it we are heirs of all the promises of God.
2. It is the bride ready to meet the Lord.
(a) It must be watching for his second coming . (b) It must be kept unspotted from the world.
3. In it only can we claim the fatherhood of God.
V. THE BIBLE A GIFT OF GOD’S LOVE 1. It contains the mind of God.
(a) His Spirit gave it. (b) His providence preserved it.
2. Read it on bended knees.
(a) It will keep you from sin. (b) Lead you to God and heaven .
VI. PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE GROWS OUT OF GOD’S LOVE (John 3:16) 1. All material things perish.
2. All animal life ceases or dies.
3. Only man will survive.
CONCLUSION Nothing can separate us from the love of God. (Romans 8:38-39.)