Transformative Power of God's Unconditional Love

At Christ’s Way, the heartbeat of our community is rooted in the mission and vision God has given us: “Love is why.” This isn’t just a slogan—it’s the foundation of everything we do. Love is why Christ died for us, and our love for Him is why we follow His commands. This love is not a human, conditional love, but a perfect, overwhelming, and unconditional love that God lavishes on us. Too often, we settle for knowing about God’s love intellectually, but we stop short of truly believing it in a way that transforms our lives. Belief is what moves us from passive knowledge to active, life-changing faith.

John, the apostle, wrote 1 John late in his life, wrestling with why he was still here after so many of his friends and family had gone. The Holy Spirit led him to pen words that would help us grasp the depth of God’s love—a love that is the very essence of God Himself. When we move from simply knowing about God’s love to truly believing it, everything changes. Belief in God’s love compels us to share it with others, to long for time in His presence, to sin less out of love rather than obligation, and to praise Him with genuine joy.

God’s love is not like ours. It is perfect, unconditional, eternal, and true. It casts out fear, gives us confidence for the day of judgment, and anchors us in hope. We don’t have to earn it, and we can’t lose it by our failures. Even when we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This love is not permissive or weak—it is strong enough to bring truth and discipline, because God loves us too much to let us destroy ourselves. The greater the love, the greater the wrath against anything that would harm those He loves.

Understanding this love should change us. It should make us bold in sharing the gospel, eager to worship, and confident in our eternal future. God made the first move—He loved us first. Our response is to step deeper into that love, let it transform us, and let it overflow to those around us. Love is why Christ died for us, and when we truly grasp that, it changes everything.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Believing God’s love is different from merely knowing it. Intellectual knowledge of God’s love is common, but true belief is what transforms our actions, priorities, and relationships. When belief takes root, it compels us to live differently, to trust more deeply, and to act with boldness and compassion. The difference between knowing and believing is the difference between standing on the edge and leaping into God’s arms. [33:10]
• 2. God’s love is perfect, unconditional, and eternal—unlike any human love we’ve experienced. Our tendency is to project our own conditional, limited love onto God, but His love is not based on our performance or worthiness. Even in our worst moments, His love remains steadfast, and nothing we do can earn or forfeit it. This truth brings freedom from fear and striving, anchoring us in the security of His grace. [52:37]
• 3. Perfect love casts out fear and gives us confidence, even in the face of judgment. Many live with anxiety about their standing before God, but understanding His perfect love replaces fear with assurance. Judgment for the believer is not something to dread, but a moment of reward and celebration, because Christ’s love has already secured our place. This confidence is a mark of truly grasping the gospel. [44:54]
• 4. The depth of God’s love should move us to action—sharing the gospel, pursuing holiness, and worshiping with abandon. If we truly believe that love is why Christ died for us, we cannot keep it to ourselves. We are compelled to tell others, to seek God’s presence, to turn from sin out of love rather than duty, and to praise Him with all our hearts. The more we understand His love, the more it overflows into every area of our lives. [38:03]
• 5. God’s love is both gracious and true; it disciplines as well as embraces. True love does not permit us to destroy ourselves, but brings truth and correction for our good. The strength of God’s love is seen in both His mercy and His wrath against evil. The more deeply we understand His love, the more we see that His commands and discipline are expressions of His care, not restrictions on our joy. [54:28]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Invitation to Elder Ordination
• [02:45] - Celebrating Life Groups and Leaders
• [06:30] - The Importance of Mission and Vision
• [10:15] - “Love is Why” – Our Mission Explained
• [14:20] - Sharing the Mission with the Community
• [18:05] - Do We Really Understand God’s Love?
• [22:30] - The Story Behind 1 John
• [26:55] - Knowing vs. Believing God’s Love
• [33:10] - How Belief Changes Us
• [36:03] - Why We Struggle to Share God’s Love
• [38:03] - The Transforming Power of God’s Love
• [41:37] - God’s Love is Perfect and Unconditional
• [44:54] - Confidence in Judgment and the Reality of Heaven
• [52:37] - Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
• [54:28] - Love, Truth, and God’s Discipline
• [58:01] - Responding to Perfect Love

Bible Reading

1 John 4:16-19 (ESV) — > So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.

Romans 5:8 (ESV) — > But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 (ESV) — > For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Observation Questions

1. According to 1 John 4:16, what is the difference between knowing and believing the love God has for us? How does John describe the result of abiding in God’s love? [33:10]
2. In Romans 5:8, when did God show His love for us, and what does this say about the nature of His love? [52:37]
3. What does John 3:16 say is the reason God gave His only Son, and what is the result for those who believe? [40:14]
4. The sermon mentions that perfect love casts out fear. According to 1 John 4:18, what is the relationship between fear and love? [52:37]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon draws a line between knowing about God’s love and truly believing it. Why does the speaker say that belief, not just knowledge, is what transforms our lives? [33:10]
2. The pastor says that God’s love is not like human love—it is perfect, unconditional, and eternal. How does this contrast with the way we often experience or give love in our own lives? [37:03]
3. The message claims that understanding God’s perfect love gives us confidence for the day of judgment, rather than fear. Why is this confidence important for how we live now? [44:54]
4. The sermon says that God’s love is both gracious and true, meaning it disciplines as well as embraces. How does this understanding of love challenge common ideas about what it means for God to love us? [54:28]

Application Questions

1. The pastor said, “Believing is when you jump out of a plane with the parachute, not just knowing it’s there.” Is there an area of your life where you know about God’s love but haven’t really trusted or acted on it? What would it look like to “jump” in that area? [33:10]
2. The sermon challenges us to move from just knowing about God’s love to truly believing it. What is one practical step you could take this week to let God’s love transform your actions or priorities? [29:56]
3. The message says that if we really believe God’s love, we will want to share it with others. Who is one person in your life who needs to hear about God’s love, and what is a specific way you could reach out to them? [36:03]
4. The pastor mentioned that understanding God’s love should make us want to spend more time with Him, not out of obligation but out of desire. What keeps you from spending time with God, and how could remembering His love help change that? [37:03]
5. The sermon says that perfect love casts out fear, including fear of judgment and fear of not being good enough. Is there a fear in your life that you need to bring to God’s love? How can you remind yourself of His perfect love when that fear comes up? [52:37]
6. The message talks about God’s love being both embracing and disciplining. Can you think of a time when God’s love brought correction or discipline in your life? How did that experience help you grow? [54:28]
7. The pastor said, “Love is why Christ died for us, and when we truly grasp that, it changes everything.” What is one area of your life that you hope will be changed as you grow in understanding God’s love? [58:01]