Transformative Love: Understanding the Gospel's Call

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound call to love earnestly and sincerely, as outlined in 1 Peter 1:22-25. The essence of our discussion centered on the transformative power of understanding the gospel rightly, which sets us free to love fully. We began by acknowledging the universal longing for more love in our world, our churches, and within ourselves. This desire for love is not just a societal need but a personal one, as we often find ourselves wishing for more love to give to our families, friends, and even strangers.

The key to unlocking this capacity for love lies in a deep understanding of the gospel. The gospel teaches us that love is not about what we can get from others but about what we can give. This shift in perspective is crucial because it liberates us from using people as means to an end and instead empowers us to love them genuinely. The text from 1 Peter emphasizes that our souls are purified through obedience to the truth, which leads to sincere and earnest love. This love is without hypocrisy, meaning it is genuine and not self-serving.

We also delved into the concept of being born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. This rebirth is essential because it signifies a transformation from our natural, perishable state to a new, imperishable life in Christ. It is through this new birth that we are equipped to love others as Christ loves us. The imperishable seed represents the eternal and unchanging nature of God's word and His promises, which stand in stark contrast to the fleeting and perishable things of this world.

In practical terms, this means evaluating our relationships and asking whether we are approaching them with a mindset of giving rather than getting. It challenges us to reflect on whether we are using people to fulfill our desires or genuinely loving them as God calls us to. This understanding of love rooted in the gospel is not only liberating but also deeply fulfilling, as it aligns us with God's design and purpose for our lives.

Key Takeaways:

- True love is about giving, not getting. When we understand the gospel rightly, we are set free to love others genuinely, without using them for our own gain. This shift in perspective allows us to love earnestly and sincerely, as God intended. [31:41]

- Being born again through an imperishable seed signifies a transformation from our natural, perishable state to a new, eternal life in Christ. This rebirth equips us to love others as Christ loves us, with sincerity and purity of heart. [49:30]

- The gospel is profoundly practical, impacting our daily lives and relationships. When we anchor our hope in the imperishable seed of God's word, we are liberated from the need to seek validation or rescue from perishable things or people. [55:31]

- Understanding the eternal security of the believer provides peace and confidence in our relationship with God. Knowing that we are held securely in His hands allows us to love others without fear of losing His love or approval. [01:02:24]

- Reflecting on our relationships through the lens of the gospel challenges us to evaluate whether we are using people or genuinely loving them. This introspection leads to confession and a renewed commitment to love others as God loves us. [01:10:18]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Starting Well
- [02:15] - The Need for More Love
- [04:45] - Love in the Household of God
- [07:30] - Understanding the Gospel Rightly
- [10:00] - 1 Peter 1:22-25 Overview
- [12:30] - Love Without Hypocrisy
- [15:00] - The Difference Between Kindness and Love
- [18:00] - Using People vs. Loving People
- [21:00] - Born Again of Imperishable Seed
- [25:00] - The Practicality of the Gospel
- [28:00] - Eternal Security of the Believer
- [31:00] - Reflecting on Our Relationships
- [34:00] - Responding to the Gospel
- [37:00] - Closing and Worship Response

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 1 Peter 1:22-25

Observation Questions:
1. What does 1 Peter 1:22-25 say about the nature of love that believers are called to exhibit? How is this love described in terms of purity and sincerity? [34:03]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of being "born again" through an imperishable seed, and how does this relate to our ability to love others? [49:30]
3. How does the sermon describe the difference between kindness and genuine love? What examples were given to illustrate this difference? [36:25]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding the gospel rightly set believers free to love fully, according to the sermon? What does this freedom look like in practical terms? [49:33]
2. In what ways does the concept of being born again through an imperishable seed challenge our understanding of identity and transformation in Christ? [49:30]
3. How does the sermon suggest that believers evaluate their relationships to determine if they are using people or genuinely loving them? What are the implications of this evaluation? [41:06]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a relationship in your life where you might be more focused on what you can get rather than what you can give. How can you shift your perspective to align with the gospel's call to love earnestly? [41:06]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of loving without hypocrisy. Can you identify a situation where you might have been kind but not genuinely loving? How can you change your approach in future interactions? [36:25]
3. Consider the idea of being born again through an imperishable seed. How does this understanding impact your view of eternal life and your daily walk with Christ? [49:30]
4. The sermon challenges us to anchor our hope in the imperishable seed of God's word. What perishable things have you been placing your faith in, and how can you redirect your trust to the eternal promises of God? [55:31]
5. How does the assurance of eternal security in Christ provide peace and confidence in your relationship with God? How can this assurance empower you to love others without fear of losing God's love or approval? [01:02:24]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt used in a relationship. How can this experience inform your commitment to love others genuinely and selflessly, as God calls us to? [57:53]
7. Identify one specific way you can demonstrate sincere and earnest love to someone in your life this week. What steps will you take to ensure your actions are motivated by a pure heart? [34:03]

Devotional

Day 1: Love as a Selfless Gift
True love is about giving, not getting. When we understand the gospel rightly, we are set free to love others genuinely, without using them for our own gain. This shift in perspective allows us to love earnestly and sincerely, as God intended. [31:41]

"Let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:14, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a relationship where you often expect something in return. How can you shift your mindset to focus on giving selflessly in that relationship today?


Day 2: Rebirth into Eternal Love
Being born again through an imperishable seed signifies a transformation from our natural, perishable state to a new, eternal life in Christ. This rebirth equips us to love others as Christ loves us, with sincerity and purity of heart. [49:30]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your own spiritual rebirth. How does knowing you are a new creation in Christ inspire you to love others more deeply and sincerely?


Day 3: The Gospel's Practical Impact
The gospel is profoundly practical, impacting our daily lives and relationships. When we anchor our hope in the imperishable seed of God's word, we are liberated from the need to seek validation or rescue from perishable things or people. [55:31]

"For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness." (Psalm 33:4, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you seek validation from others. How can you anchor your hope in God's word instead, and what practical steps can you take to make this shift?


Day 4: Security in God's Love
Understanding the eternal security of the believer provides peace and confidence in our relationship with God. Knowing that we are held securely in His hands allows us to love others without fear of losing His love or approval. [01:02:24]

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:27-28, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a fear or insecurity that holds you back from loving others fully. How does the assurance of God's eternal love and security help you overcome this fear?


Day 5: Evaluating Relationships Through the Gospel
Reflecting on our relationships through the lens of the gospel challenges us to evaluate whether we are using people or genuinely loving them. This introspection leads to confession and a renewed commitment to love others as God loves us. [01:10:18]

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." (Romans 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a relationship where you may have been using someone to fulfill your desires. How can you confess this to God and commit to loving that person genuinely, as God loves you?

Quotes


The main idea of this text this morning in 1 Peter 1, 22 through 25 is that you and I can be set free to love fully when we understand the gospel rightly. You and I can be set free to love fully when we understand the gospel rightly. Do you want more love? Yes, I do. I want more love in the world. I want more love in God's church. I want more love in my life. I want more love in my life. I want more love in my life. I want more love in my life. In my own heart, the Bible says, where does it come from? Through a right understanding of the gospel. [00:32:37]

It is oftentimes, we are not loving people sincerely and earnestly. We are using them. We are using them. We are using them. We are using them. We are using them. We are using people to get what we want. And all of a sudden, when I realize I'm not going to get what I want out of you, then we're done. [00:37:11]

I cannot say I love this person when the primary question I'm asking in the relationship is, what can I get? What can I get? Love doesn't ask, what can I get? Love asks, what can I give? That's what love asks. And so if I have a relationship with someone that is primarily about what I can get, I will be robbed and unable to love them. [00:39:36]

When we trust in Jesus, he purifies our hearts. He sets us free from what we think we have to get from those around us. You see, when I've trusted in Jesus, we'll get to more of this in a moment, I'm set free to love the one who walks away. Why? Because I was set free to love the one who walks away. I was the one who walks away. [00:44:33]

He says, you must be born again, not of the perishable seed, but of the imperishable seed through the living and abiding Word of God. This text, all flesh is like grass, all its glory is like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the Word of the Lord remains forever. It's a direct quote from Isaiah chapter 40. [00:54:42]

The gospel is not just, well, I need to believe the gospel, but it's actually shockingly practical in all that it impacts in our daily lives and actions. If I am looking to someone for my rescue, if I'm looking for them to be my imperishable thing, I cannot love them because I'm looking for them to save me. [00:56:23]

When you recognize that salvation comes from Jesus, this imperishable seed, you're set free. You're set free because once again, you recognize I've already been saved. You don't need to save me now. I have something to give in this relationship, not just demand from you. Now I'm free to be generous because I realize the gospel has said, I have, he's [00:57:40]

When I anchor my faith and my hope in an imperishable seed, when I realize that the gospel is good news and that life is found in Jesus, not in me, then I'm free to love those that God has placed around me. But when I'm scanning the room for what I can get, I will actually not love anyone. I'll use them. And that's a terrible feeling to be used. [00:58:04]

God's good design has a way of when we walk in step with it, we get more than we thought we would. Okay. So even I'm looking at this room right now and I'm looking at some people that have just loved our family and loved me really, really well. I mean, I would cry thinking about it. And I'm thinking about how they've loved me through seasons when I brought nothing to the table but need. [00:58:48]

If I was terrified that Ashley was going to leave me, my hands would be tied to love her. I could not love her if I was constantly afraid if she was going to leave me. I'd be paralyzed by fear. All of my actions would simply be to win her approval, to win her affection all over again. And I would not be able to be present and love her if that were the case. [01:03:44]

It's really good news that if you're here today and you've placed your faith in Jesus, you have been born again by an imperishable seed. And it means imperishable. That when you're God's kid, you're God's kid forever. And the word of God says, I will never leave you nor forsake you. I can rest today knowing that even though I look in the mirror some days and I go, God, I wish there was more love in me. [01:05:08]

Church, you won't be set free to love fully until you understand the gospel rightly. and the gospel is really really good news it's really good news that there's a god that we turned away from and he said i'm oh man, you can't outrun me. And he chased you down and he called you to himself. And when you placed your faith in Jesus, you were born again by an imperishable seed, by the living and abiding word of God. [01:06:38]

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Transcript
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