Three Lessons on Love

I was thinking about my Starbucks interactions encounters, so I do cheat. I'll give you a tip on a proper way to cheat. It's a good way to cheat, trust me. So sometimes I have difficult recalling scriptures, bringing them to mind. So what I've done with our fundamental beliefs, I have pledged to memorize at least one scripture that attaches to one of our fundamental beliefs. At least one scripture I can remember and turn to. So whatever the topic that comes up, I'll remember that one scripture, and I turn to that scripture, and I'm able to be there and discuss it. And here's the part where I cheat. Now in the margin, I then write another scripture that links to this one. So as long as I... and then when I turn to that one, there's another scripture written out next to it. So if I can only remember the one, it gets me in the Bible to that spot, and then it leads me to another spot that's a natural progression in a conversation. So that's a technique that I'll let you in on, that I do. Those of us who don't have the photogenic mind.

Well, we are going to begin a new series today, a new study series, on the fruit of the Spirit. And the fruit of the Spirit, of course, begins with what fruit? Love. Right? Okay. So the title of today's sermon study is Three Lessons on Love, or Three Love Lessons, whichever one you prefer. And I invite you to open your Bibles once again, and let's turn to 1 John 4. And we're going to begin in verses 7 through 12. 1 John 4, verses 7 through 12 to begin our study. This will be our foundational passage today. And by turning our focus onto this vital subject of love, we will see that in all these three lessons, they all lead back to, and are directly tied to, the love that we have amongst each other. So, our prayer today is that we not only have the ability to understand what the Scripture says in regard to this, but also the power and the strength to apply it in our lives. And you might be asking, why this? Why now? Well, we are on the heels of Pentecost, of course.

Pentecost, God's establishment of his church. And Scripture says that the church, God's people, as they gather together, is in fact the place on earth where God resides, or where God lives.

So that when men and women, when they see and encounter God's people who are gathered in this way, then they have an opportunity to see that this is the dwelling place for God. Not exclusively, but certainly so. And it is it, and it is that God within that framework that is at work in such a way, that that which is found inside the church is radically different than that which is found outside the church. For example, in our culture today, in the divisions which are represented, divisions of race, divisions of class, divisions of status, amongst God's people, those things must be dismantled by God's grace. So therefore, again, within the framework of God's people, gathered together, these things which are routinely encountered in the culture are not to be manifested amongst us. And one of the ways these divisions are dismantled is for God's people to be rooted and grounded in love. So we can make a tremendous impact in this way to the watching world. So with that understanding, it has brought us to this little passage here. It's a wonderful little passage here in 1 John 4 where the Apostle John essentially gives us three lessons on love. So let's read this together. 1 John 4 beginning in verse 7. John writes, Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this, the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Verse 10, In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Verse 12, No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and his love has been perfected in us. Excuse me. So we'll stop there. So it's quite a passage, and as we come to this section, what we're actually dealing with is John's third treatment, if you will, on this matter of love, at this point in his letter. He first addresses love for your notes in chapter 2 verses 7 through 11. Chapter 2 verses 7 through 11, where he explains he's not writing a new commandment, but an old one, and this is the commandment to love one another. For your notes, he comes again to this subject of love in chapter 3 verse 11. Chapter 3 verse 11, saying, this is the message you've heard from the beginning, that you should love one another. And now here in the fourth chapter, he addresses love once again. And you'll notice here in chapter 4 in this passage, he really gives us an exhortation, or it's a command. It is a command. Beloved, let us love one another. There in verse 7. Notice it comes again in verse 11. He provides this statement of command. We also ought to love one another. So all in all, he's driving home the point, the central theme, specifically addressing the family of God, the absolute responsibility to love.

And in addressing this for the third time in the letter, he goes right to the apex of it all. He wastes no time to drive down the pivotal foundational block as to why God's people are to love one another. It's not simply a command. But foundationally, John says, we each ought to love one another because it's the very essence of who God is. So that's number one in our lessons on love. Number one, God is love. So that's number one. God is love. We should love because God is love. That's there in verse 7 and 8. Verse 7 and 8 again. Beloved, let us love one another for love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God for God is love. So that's the first love lesson here. Beloved, let us love one another. Why? For love is of God. And then notice, everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

Now that verse we want to take first. It's a big statement. Look at this verse. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. That's a huge statement.

So let's start this first lesson with a theological question. Okay, I'm gonna...

These are lessons. I guess we could consider this a quiz. The question is, is John suggesting here, in light of what it says there in the second part of verse 7, is he suggesting that any manifestation of human love is a sign of genuine spiritual life in the individual? Okay, so we're going to theology class here. You'll notice verse 7, it's very clear everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. So again, does that mean that every sign of human love displayed between whatever individuals is evidence of genuine spiritual life born of God?

Write your answers on a piece of paper and pass them to the middle. No. Now, those of us who know our Bibles, you may find yourself first nodding here, and then you start to kind of nod here, and then you got this going on around. And you may find yourself saying, well, yes, maybe no. Because if you say yes, all displays of human love between individuals is an indication of genuine spiritual life. You might be hard pressed to take that to its conclusion in certain circumstances. And if you don't believe that any evidence of human love is an indication of a spiritual reality, then with John's words, you might be hard pressed to give a full extensive answer on that.

So we need to think this through. And I believe when you think this through, you'll find that the answer to the quiz is yes and no. That was a trick question. It was a trick question. If God is the source of all love, which John lays out, because God is love and love is of God, then it is true. Every genuine expression of love found in humanity must ultimately be sourced in God. For God is love, love is of God.

He's the essence of it. He's the origin of it. He's the totality of it. It comes from Him. Therefore, when we see a genuine love expressed in humanity, no matter the individual, it can inevitably be traced back to God. Therefore, even loving relationships between non-Christian people must then be a sign of God's overall or overarching grace. It is that loving relationships between those who do not have an understanding of the gospel or loving relationships between those who do not love God, who haven't been called or drawn to them.

Their love must in some measure be an indication of what the Bible teaches that we're all in the image of God. And so to be made in the image of God, it creates the propensity in man to be able to love and to be able to love genuinely. Therefore, man or woman, whether in Christ or outside of Christ, knows some measure of love. He can know that. And where does the source come from? It comes from God, John says. So that's this. However, I'm going to give you this one.

When we have said that, we must also acknowledge that to say that is not also to say that all individuals who express the natural expression of love are children of God or that know God. No. You can express genuine love being in the image of God without truly knowing Him, without being one to whom is drawn to God or called to understand. So we mustn't take John's categorical statements and really place them within the overall framework of the letter.

As we've said before, John, whenever he's sitting down to write a painting with words, he never paints in grays. Hardly ever. John is always just black and white. It is. It is a categorical statement one after another. And if you do take these categorical statements within the framework of the whole letter, you realize to whom he's writing. He's writing to those called by God. He's writing to the called believers. If you allow your fingers to take a walk back two chapters to 1 John 2, 12 and 13, verses 12 and 13.

1 John 2, verses 12 and 13. You will see to whom John is writing this letter. 1 John 2, 12 and 13. I write to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you. Verse 13. Because you have known him. Okay? So he's making these categorical statements directed to those believers, to the called believers in Christ and the responsibilities they face as believing men and women.

And this is the commandment to the children of God, those who know him. So back in chapter 4 and verse 7, that's why we understand, Ben, that he says this in the term of endearment, beloved, he says, chapter 4 verse 7, beloved, let us love one another. So he writes to the beloved here, those within the family of faith. And he's writing about the special quality of divine love, which is the mark of spiritual fellowship.

And therefore, in light of that, he's able to say everyone who loves in this way gives an indication that they've been born of God.

And therefore, quite challengingly, therefore, those who do not love in this way, even though they may claim to be a child of God, even though they might attend the right service services, even though they might be at the right functions, wear the right clothes, regardless, if they do not love in this way, they reveal themselves, John says, as being devoid of this distinctive evidence that they've been made a member of God's family.

So, in the first love lesson, John is laying down here, this is the overarching fundamental premise, the reason why believers should love one another, it is that God is love, and it's his nature, it's who God is. And John is saying that our love for one another stems from being born of God. That's the second part of verse seven. Anyone who loves is born of God.

We know the ultimate birth, the spiritual birth doesn't come until our transformation at Christ's return. We know that from physical to spiritual. That's the birth, you know, that's the spiritual birth. But today, through repentance, through baptism, through the laying on of hands, we become partakers of his divine nature, through the Spirit, and from that time he bestows his divine nature of love, we then begin to bear the family resemblance. We begin to take on this nature. Why? Well, in joining the family, we become partakers of God's divine nature, love.

And this is very important to understand because of what John's going to argue next here. Because what he's saying is that that divine nature is love, okay? And if you've been made a partaker of that divine nature, you must love. Again, those who claim that they've been made partakers of the divine nature of love, and you do not love, what John would say, you're calling into question that very profession, okay? You're calling in the question that you have been partakers of the divine nature. So it's clear, it's an argument that is very compelling.

One who professes to know God, to be a child of God, they must bear the family resemblance, they must take on this nature. And that's all he's saying there. So, before we get into the second love lesson, I just want to make a note here with this first love lesson. I want to put forth another theological issue that men and women try to read into this statement, God is love, because it's at this point that some men and women will say they'll try to pour into the container of love any kind of behavior they choose, right? You've heard this. I was speaking to someone after the morning services. They encounter this very thing. They say, God is love, therefore I can live whatever kind of lifestyle I wish. Anything at all. God is love. Therefore, he's going to be okay with it, you know. Can we do that? Well, no. Maybe one of the most direct scriptures, of course. We won't turn there, but John 1415, we could all recite it. If you love me, keep my commandments. If you're going to enter into this covenant relationship with me, you're going to have to abide by relationship rules, you know. In talking to some of my coffee new friends, which I mentioned at the announcements, I find that they find that there's an aversion to using the word law. So I'll say, you know, when I use different words, when I made a covenant with God, it's almost like a marriage. You know, I entered into this covenant, and just like a physical marriage, there's relationship rules to make that relationship successful. And so I look into the Bible, and I look to see, how does God want me to love Him? How does He want me to relate in this relationship? Where's the relationship rules? Ah, there they are. You know, the law. If you love me, here's the relationship rules. Here's the commandments. So that's why we can't just pour into this statement, God is love, and try to pour whatever behavior we can think of into this statement. And also, just as important to understand, there's as to why we can't just live any lifestyle.

There's another theological lesson here, and it is, you can't divorce one characteristic aspect of God from another. Okay? This is a theological truth here. You can't divorce one character aspect of God from another, because God is love, but He's also light, isn't He? John actually tells us that God is light in 1 John 1.5. John told us 1 John 1.5, another God is statement. God is light. In Him is no darkness at all.

So, far from condoning sin, love has found a way to expose it, because it's harmful to us.

And so, love has found a way to expose it, because He's light. So, again, we can't divorce one aspect of God's essence from another.

So, He is love, and He is light. And, by the way, we don't have time to go into it, but for your notes, Hebrews 1229, Hebrews 1229, there's another God is statement, and it is, God is a consuming fire. That's Hebrews 1229. So, here's how it goes. God is love.

Because He's love, He shines His light onto that which is destroying us, sin. And He's able to consume the sin with fire, without consuming the sinner, because God is love. You see, it's kind of a circle here. So, God is love. Out of that love, God is light. He's going to shine light on that which is harmful to us, our sin. And then, upon repentance and turning, God then is a consuming fire, and He can consume that sin, without consuming the sinner, because God is love. See, it's beautiful. It's a wonderful story that God is, looking up those statements and looking more into that. So, I just wanted to make a side note of that. We can't divorce, for example, God's love from His light and from these other aspects of God. So, number one, we should love because God is love. On to number two. The second love lesson from the Apostle John. So, number two is God loved us. That's number two. We should love because God loved us, and He revealed His love to us through His Son. That brings us to verses 9 through 11. So, here in chapter 4, verse 9 through 11, continuing here again, in this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, 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 a propitiation for our sins and atonement. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Let's stop there. So, I remember all these really come back to our love amongst one another. So, the origin of God's love is His nature, and the manifestation of His love is in the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is really awesome.

God looked down on humanity, and in the essence of His being, love, He says, I will now show humanity that I am love. So, how will I do it? Well, I'll send the Word. I'll send the One that's been with me throughout all of eternity. I'll send the One whom I love. I'll send the One to whom we're one with each other. I'll send the Word, the One who would step onto this earth and become Jesus Christ, our Messiah, our Savior. I'll send Him. I'll send Jesus Christ so that the world will be able to touch Him and might be able to see Him and might be able to hear Him and might be able to follow Him and might be in observing Him know that I am love. You see, it's an incredible second love lesson here. Verse 9 again, in this, the love of God was manifested toward us.

So, John just doesn't simply leave it as some abstract truth. You know, God is love. And I suppose God could have shouted down to earth, I am love, and you know, in some abstract way.

But He didn't stop there. Rather, He manifested His love.

And now explains this in a concrete fact, now explains His love in the arrival of Jesus Christ. And this is very helpful. So even a child can get a hold of God's love. Even a child can understand God is love. How? Well, they can read the stories of Jesus Christ. They can see this picture of a lovely man, the Son of God, as He moves around and He's reaching out to and touching the untouchable.

And He reached out to those lives, those broken lives. He brought children to Himself. This is what John's explaining here. In this, the love of God was manifested toward us.

So, just notice in passing, a passing comment, the phraseology here that God, that John uses, it's a reminder of Christ's divinity, His pre-existence. Because how could God send His Son unless His Son had been with Him, you know, there in all of eternity? Just a side note.

But you'll notice what John is building to here in the first part of verse 10. He's really building to how God loved us. And it's an initiative here that He points to. The initiative lies with God. Verse 10, in this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us. So, let's stop there. So, notice in this love, it's not that we loved God.

So, it isn't somehow that we triggered a response in love, a response in God where He looked down, He said, oh, what a lovely people there. I think I'll love them. No, it's actually the reverse, really. So, this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us. So, God's love is like no other love natural to our humanity. So, this is what we're striving for. We're looking for supernatural love. It's a divine love because no other love like this exists naturally for us. When a man loves a woman, or when a woman loves a man, by and large it's reciprocal.

A man will look upon a woman and say, oh, she's got lovely hair, you know, or a woman will look at a man and say, he's got a strong jawbone. I don't know what you women look for. You know, I like how she looks. I like how he looks. I like the qualities of their life. And in response to that loveliness of the individual, a man will love a woman and a woman will love a man. But notice, God looks down from heaven and He looks upon the Israelites first, right? And He says, I didn't love you because you were a large group. I didn't even love you because you were a special group. Actually, you can find this in Deuteronomy 7.7. If you want to keep your marker here just for a moment, Deuteronomy 7.7. I want you to see this. It is a supernatural love. It's not reciprocal.

Keep your marker there. Deuteronomy 7.7.

Because I want you to notice that God just looked down. He says, I loved you just because I loved you. Deuteronomy 7.7.7. The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than other people for you were the least of all peoples. Verse 8, But because the Lord loves you and because the Lord loves you and because He would keep an oath which He swore to your fathers. So, I love this first part of verse 8. The Lord did not love you nor choose you because you were more than all others. In fact, you were the least, but because the Lord loves you.

To me, this is a real philosophical mind-bender because most of us can only love, again, in reciprocal terms. But God says, since I'm love, I can just love. Okay? I can just love.

And I've taken the initiative to look down upon your life and I loved you. So, you sitting here today, God looked up down upon you, took the initiative, and He says, I love you. I love you. I can just love. And I even loved you when you were unlovely, by the way.

While you were still ugly, while you were still sinners, while you were still sinners, I looked upon you. We didn't love Him. He loved us. And so, our love is just this overwhelming response to His love. We reflect His love in many ways. We're a reflection of His love.

So, the love that we're able to show today is a result of God taking the initiative in our lives by giving us His nature, which is love, making it possible for us to love. You see? This is love. Not that we loved God, but that He loved us. He sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. So, again, the essence of what John is saying here is that the expression of God's love is ultimately revealed in the One to whom He gave His life for us. So, if you want to know what God's love looks like in real time, we see it in the Son's crucifixion, His sacrifice, where He stood in our place, condemned. And that is what fundamentally changes us. It's that grace. It's that love which changes us. That's what creates a deep response in us. That love, His love, creates and initiates our love. And we're going to come back to that in just a moment because that's an important concept when we're dealing with one another. That's an important concept when we're dealing with one another. Very important concept. So, just keep that in your mind for a moment.

His love creates and initiates our love. So, God loved us. So, love lesson number one again. God is love. Love lesson number two. God loved us. Love lesson number three. Love lesson number three is God perfects His love in us today. So, that's number three. God perfects His love in us today.

And John immediately brings this application to us. Let's get 1 John 4 again. 1 John 4 verses 11 and 12. Here it is. 1 John 4 verse 11 and 12.

Beloved, He says, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Verse 12, no one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. So, that's quite a statement.

But first of all, try to get out of verse 11 if you can.

Let's bring all of our excuses as to why we don't love those ones around us.

Let's bring all those excuses to verse 11, if God so loved us. So, you take all your hesitancies to love someone else, and you bring them to the foot of Jesus Christ's sacrifice.

We're a man, a lovely man, the Son of God, who didn't deserve to die, died for us. And He took our offenses onto Him. So, I take my offenses that others have done to me, and the reason I don't want to love them, and the reason I don't want to be around them, and the reason I don't care for them. And when I place all those at the foot of Jesus Christ's sacrifice, all those things just seem to fade away. They just fade to nothing.

And John says, since God so loved us, to the point of sacrificing His Son, shouldn't we also love one another? So, John has masterfully, which he does very often, just brought this to this third love lesson. It just as crescendoed now to this third love lesson. And we're really just struck without much to say at this point. We're just struck silent in the face of this here. Look at this final note, which John sounds here. Verse 12. Verse 12, no one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. So, no one has ever seen God at any time.

So, class, theological question. If no man has ever seen God, how can a man or a woman come to know God? Well, answer through his Son, Jesus Christ. God sent his Son to reveal the Father. So, the Son reveals the Father. Okay. So, no one has seen God. God sent his Son so that we could see Christ and know what God is and know that He is love. Okay. But what do we know now? Well, we know that Christ died and He was buried and He was resurrected and now He's ascended to the right hand of the Father. He no longer walks the streets, does He? So, what's John going to say now? With Christ ascended to the right hand of the Father, how in the world is the world ever going to see God? You know what the answer is. Let them come here. Let them come to the fellowship of God's people. Right here. Let them come talk to us. Let them come embrace us. Let them come eat with us. Let them come into our love. Let them see God. Here.

Look at what he says again. Verse 12. I just can't get enough of this verse. No one has seen God at any time, but, I'll add that, but if we love one another, God abides in us. And then this next staggering statement, it's bewildering, unbelievable phrase, and His love has been perfected in us. I can't even believe what John is saying here.

That the perfection of the expression of love in God Almighty is to be seen on earth in His Church, in the body of the Church, you and I. Those to whom He's bestowed His nature to.

And it's to be seen when those who are the most unlikely of group to ever put together, when we enter into the family of God, we're so fundamentally changed, we can't help but fall in love with one another. And in that way, there's something tangible for the world to see. It's quite a challenge. The invisible God is seen visible in the lives of His children, as they love one another. So, under this third love lesson, God's love being perfected in us, I really want to just nail this down. I'm going to take a note from John here. He doesn't mince words. So, I really want to really hone this down, this third love lesson, into some real practical tangible ways that we can work on as a group. It's a real tangible way in which the world can see God's love perfected in us as a fellowship. What are some of the ways that the watching world can see God's love perfected in us here today? I came up with four. So, these will be sub-points. I never get points, but these will sub... now I'm giving all kinds of points today. These will be sub-points of our third love lesson. We're going to go through these fairly quickly, and I'm going to give them to you for further contemplation, because we are going to go through these quickly. So, under our third love lesson, 1a, if you will, perfected love, perfected love, 1a takes the initiative. Okay? Perfective love takes the initiative. We've seen this in God the Father, his initiative taking love. God has taken the initiative with us. So, genuine love always takes the initiative. So, if you and I have been in an argument, perfected love is one who's stirred to take the initiative. Ah, I feel like there's something between us, and I don't want there to be something between us. I love you. You have time to talk for a moment? Boy, when I said this, I don't think it went well. Or when you said this, I just kind of took it wrong. And I don't want this air between us. So, I want to take the initiative because I love you. So, perfected love takes the initiative. Whether right or wrong, perfected love should always take the initiative.

2a or 2b, however you want to do it in your notes, 2a. Number two under perfected love is perfected love forgives. Pretty simple. Perfected love forgives, but I'm going to add something to this. Wait for it. Perfected love forgives with or without apologies for the wrong done. Okay? So, as perfected love, as God's perfecting His love in us, perfected love forgives with or without apologies for the wrong done. Because it's not uncommon for us to say either consciously or even subconsciously, you know, I'm prepared to forgive provided that. You know, I'm prepared to forgive as long as they ask me to forgive. Or maybe this hits home for me. I'm prepared to forgive as long as I see that they feel bad about it, you know? Then I'll be prepared to forgive, you know? So, I'm prepared to forgive, provided this, provided that, and a few more things than I'll forgive. But when I say that, even consciously or subconsciously, what I'm essentially saying is, I don't love God enough to forgive you. I don't love God enough to forgive you.

So, rather, we should forgive in this manner because of God's love. It's transformed us. And we're able to display a supernatural love. And it revolutionizes us. Remember, God loved us before any repentance or change in our part. So, apply this to one another. That's vertical. God loved us before any change or repentance. So, let's bring it horizontal. The forgiveness first, often, opens the door for change and repentance. Isn't that true with us? We received just this undeserved mercy and grace. And it's just, that's what transformed us before we deserved it. That's vertical. Bring it on the horizontal again. Often, forgiveness comes before repentance or change in the other person. And often, it's the door that opens for change, that opens the change in the other person. This is a master class. You know, John's taking us through this master class. This is advanced studies, you know. But God gives us these admonitions, but He also gives us the ability. You know, He always gives us the commands, but also gives us the capability to accomplish what He's asking for, this higher level. Because I realize what God has done for me, it is the forgiving love that is not based on initial merit, right? He sought me out, and He looked for me, and He forgave my transgressions. So, am I really going to hold on to an offense by a brother or sister? Not if I'm overwhelmed by God's love. So, you see, the love of God is expressed in forgiveness. 3a of our four sub-points. 3a under perfected love is not a victim of our emotions.

That's 3a. Under perfected love, perfected love is not a victim of our emotions. In other words, the nature of this love is not about feelings. It's more about our will.

Okay? Important distinction there. It's not so much of a question of our feelings. Perfected love is not a victim to our emotions. It's a servant to our wills.

In other words, it's not a feeling we feel, it's a decision we make. So often, you will act in this kind of love until the time your feelings can catch up to it.

Isn't that the case? I am determined to love you, even though I don't feel it.

And I'm going to just ask for God to transform my heart because I'm determined. And every time we talk, I'm going to look for ways to love you. And I'm going to ask for God to transform me in this way because I want to love you.

And it's a remarkable thing. Get your feet moving toward love. Inevitably, your body has to come, and there's your heart right with it. But you got to keep moving. God will bless action. He'll bless your action. Take someone out to coffee, invite them for dinner. Show them love.

Boy, whenever I've done this, it's just afterwards I'm so struck by God of what He's performed.

Someone just I couldn't be around for various reasons. The details don't matter. But you invite them over for dinner, and it takes everything in you to invite them over for dinner.

And then when you're sitting there, something happens. You begin to talk to that brother or sister. And as you as you begin to find out more about them, understanding then comes, compassion comes.

I was just struck when I did this with an individual. It was I found out something about them, and it was like, wow, they've been through a lot. I actually admire who they are because of all that they've been through. So actually, I came out of that with an appreciation for the person and actually an admiration. This person that I couldn't stand to be around.

It's an amazing thing. And I find I found that they were softening on things because I extended love first. God began to change them to help me, to help me in my love for them.

So, act in love until your feelings can catch up.

Our feelings need to catch up in our actions sometimes. That's okay. That's okay. God will bless your efforts.

4a, and finally, under our third love lesson, 4a, or fourthly, perfected love. Perfected love is the permanent priority of the fellowship of God. Okay? So, it's the permanent priority of our fellowship. It's the permanent priority.

God's love perfected in us. It always will be in the fellowship of God's people. Perfected love.

We won't turn there. We don't have time. But 1 Corinthians 13, you know this passage, 1 Corinthians 13. Very familiar. Perhaps one of the most famous passages of Scripture concerning love. You find it right in the middle of the divisiveness of Corinth. But there they are arguing about gifts. You know, what gifts you have, the necessity of those, how you're using them. Paul says, let's just get this thing sorted out right away from the beginning. You speak in the tongues of men and angels, but you don't have love.

You might as well be this big gong, you know, this clanging symbol.

You have prophecy. You have understanding of the whole Bible. You're very knowledgeable.

Meaningless. Unless it has love with it, without love. Meaningless. How often have we met someone? And I've repented of many things. So this is just an example of someone else. How often have we met someone where they have such a great knowledge of the Bible? And I just want to reach in. I want to grab their brain. I want to put it in mine. You know, they're so educated and they're so well at recall and bringing Scripture into situations.

And it's a very attractive aspect. However, with certain individuals, I find myself not attracted to them. Almost like I find myself avoiding them. And there's such a great wealth of knowledge. And I think, what is that? Perhaps it's a knowledge that doesn't come with love.

And so here's this wonderful gift that someone's given a man or a woman. This gift of knowledge.

And it's not being used to the fullness. Why? Without love. And whatever gifts I've been given, whatever gifts you've been given, if it doesn't have love, it's useless. It's absolutely useless. And God doesn't want it. That's why this is so important.

Anyway, 1 Corinthians 13, it goes on to say, you can have faith, you can move mountains, no love, you're nothing. In fact, you can give away all you have. You can deliver your body up to be burned, but you don't have love. Nothing. So it's just a staggering chapter. So you can see how it's the absolute priority, permanent priority, of God's church. Perfected love. This third love lesson from John. God is perfecting his love in us. It's supernatural. It's his love. It's not an occasion for pride, then, because it's a gift. And it's God's work in us. And no doubt, we are imperfect in our love. As I was thinking through this, I was just thinking of all the things I need to work on. We are a work in progress. We will have to wait to win the presence of God before we'll achieve the fullness of this. We understand that. But in the meantime, there's an expectation here. John is saying, by the enablement of God's nature placed in us, his spirit, we can accomplish. God can perfect his love in us, because we have his divine essence. We can participate in it. So, as we wrap up, let me ask, how did we do on John's quiz today, on these lessons? If we were to give a quiz, what would we score now that we've been given this lesson? Are you being perfected in God's divine nature of love? For those who profess to know God and to know his love, these verses no doubt are a challenge for us. Sometimes our love is cold. Sometimes it's contained. Sometimes it's clinical. Sometimes we dish it out in portions. Sometimes we hold it back altogether. But here, we come here and we're just so thankful that we can be participants in this. We can change if we've been kind of stagnant in this area. And God has reached out to us. He loves us. And he wants to perfect his love in us.

And that's wonderful. So, we can begin in a greater way to show God's love through us. Surrender to his divine love through his son, Jesus Christ. So, may we love God, draw to him. May his love flow in us in a greater way in his church today. And may it flow in such a way to where the watching world, the watching world, is able to experience his love through us.