What Is Love?

TEXT: 1 Cor.13:13

INTRODUCTION:

A.        WEBSTER'S NEW WORLD DICTIONARY;

            1.         God's benevolent concern for mankind.

            2.         Man's devout attachment for God.

            3.         The feeling of benevolence and brotherhood that people should have for each

                        other.

B.         LOVE, LIKE MANY ABSTRACTS, IS SOMETIMES BETTER DEFINED BY

            WHAT IT CAUSES THE POSSESSOR TO DO.

I.        GOD'S LOVE FOR MAN.

A.        Eph. 3:17-19. "ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE."

B.         John 15:13. "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS."

C.        Eph. 5:1-2. "WHO LOVED US & GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR US."

D.        John 3:16. "FOR GOD SO LOVE THE WORLD."

E.         1 John 4:9-10. "HEREIN IS THE LOVE OF GOD MANIFESTED IN US."

F.         Rom. 5:8. "BUT GOD COMMENDED HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US."

II.       THE GREATNESS OF GOD'S LOVE DEMANDS THAT WE

          RETURN THAT LOVE.

A.        Mat. 22:37-39. "THE GREAT LAW."

B.         John 14:15. "IF YOU LOVE ME."

C.        PAUL MANIFESTED HIS LOVE IN HIS SACRIFICE & COMMITMENT

            ( Gal. 2:20; 2 Tim. 1:12 ).

D.        HOW ARE WE ANY DIFFERENT FROM PAUL?( Rom. 12:1-2 ).

III.      WE MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

A.        1 John 4:20-21. "IF ANY MAN SAY, I LOVE GOD."

B.         1 John 3:18. WHAT DEEDS?

            1.         Physical needs( Luke 3:11; 14:13-14; Gal. 6:10; Eph. 4:28 ).

            2.         Spiritual needs:

                        a.         Converting the sinner( James 5:19-20 ).

                                    - by preaching( Rom. 10:13-15 ).

                                    - by example( Mat. 5:13-16 ).

                        b.         Lifting the fallen

                                    - spiritually( Gal. 6:1 )

                                    - those that mourn( vs. 2; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 5:11-14 ).

C.        LOVE WILL MANIFEST ITSELF IN HUMILITY( Phil. 2:1-4 ).

            1.         This is how Christ showed his love( 2:5-8 ).

            2.         Because of this he was rewarded( 2:9-11 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.        DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE LORD'S LOVE FOR YOU?

B.         IF YOU DO, THEN HOW CAN YOU KEEP FROM LOVING HIM?

C.        IF YOU TRULY LOVE HIM, THEN YOU WILL DO WHAT HE SAYS!