Understanding the Depths of God's Holy Love

 

Summary

In today's exploration of the concept of love, we delved into the profound and often misunderstood nature of God's love. We began by reflecting on how secular culture has diluted the meaning of love, often reducing it to mere sentimentality or romanticism. This cultural backdrop can distort our understanding of divine love, which is far richer and more complex. The Bible offers a corrective lens, particularly in the writings of John, who emphasizes that love is not merely an emotion but a divine attribute that originates from God Himself.

The love described in Scripture, known as 'agape' love, is a divine gift, a fruit of the Holy Spirit that transforms us. It is not a natural love found in human nature but a supernatural love that signifies regeneration and a new birth in the Spirit. This love is both a sign and a result of being born of God. John makes a powerful statement that "God is love," which is not to be understood as equating God with love in a simplistic manner, but rather as highlighting the intimate connection between God's nature and love.

We also discussed the danger of isolating love from God's other attributes, such as justice, holiness, and sovereignty. A true understanding of God's love must consider its relationship with these attributes. God's love is not a standalone characteristic but is intertwined with His holiness, justice, and omniscience. This understanding guards against idolatry, where we might create a false image of God based solely on a secular understanding of love.

Furthermore, God's love is a holy love, meaning it is set apart, pure, and transcendent. It is a love that is free from selfishness or sin, a love that is majestic and sacred. This divine love is something that God shares with us, expecting us to manifest it in our relationships with one another. As we continue to explore the depths of God's love, we are reminded of its transformative power and its call for us to love others with the same purity and holiness.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Distortion of Love in Culture: Our culture often presents a diluted version of love, focusing on sentimentality and romanticism. This can distort our understanding of divine love, which is far richer and more profound. Biblical love, or 'agape' love, is a divine gift that originates from God and transforms us through the Holy Spirit. [02:27]

2. Love as a Sign of Regeneration: The love described in Scripture is a supernatural love that signifies regeneration and a new birth in the Spirit. It is not a natural love found in human nature but a divine love that signifies being born of God. This love is both a sign and a result of being transformed by the Holy Spirit. [08:16]

3. God is Love, but Not Only Love: When John states that "God is love," it highlights the intimate connection between God's nature and love. However, it is crucial to understand this in the context of God's other attributes, such as justice, holiness, and sovereignty. Isolating love from these attributes can lead to a distorted view of God. [10:14]

4. The Holiness of God's Love: God's love is a holy love, meaning it is set apart, pure, and transcendent. It is free from selfishness or sin, a love that is majestic and sacred. This divine love is something that God shares with us, expecting us to manifest it in our relationships with one another. [19:51]

5. Guarding Against Idolatry: A true understanding of God's love must consider its relationship with His other attributes. Focusing solely on love, as defined by secular standards, can lead to idolatry, where we create a false image of God. God's love is intertwined with His holiness, justice, and omniscience, and understanding this guards against creating a lesser concept of God. [16:12]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:27] - Introduction to Elmer Gantry
- [01:47] - The Misuse of Love in Culture
- [02:59] - Kaleidoscope of Love
- [04:22] - Biblical Concept of God's Love
- [05:38] - Love Manifested in Christ
- [06:57] - Agape Love: A Divine Gift
- [08:16] - Love as a Sign of Regeneration
- [09:46] - God is Love: Understanding the Statement
- [10:41] - The Verb 'To Be' and Its Implications
- [12:02] - Love and Truth in Christ
- [13:28] - The Problem of a Cheap View of Love
- [14:55] - Idolatry and Misunderstanding God
- [16:53] - God's Love and His Attributes
- [19:51] - The Holy Love of God
- [22:07] - Transcendent and Pure Love

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Understanding God's Love

Bible Reading:
1. 1 John 4:7-12

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Observation Questions:

1. According to 1 John 4:7-8, what is the relationship between love and knowing God? How does this passage define the origin of love? [05:38]

2. In the sermon, how is 'agape' love described as different from natural human love? What role does the Holy Spirit play in this kind of love? [06:57]

3. What does the sermon suggest about the cultural understanding of love compared to the biblical understanding? How does this affect our perception of God's love? [02:27]

4. How does the sermon explain the statement "God is love" in 1 John 4:8? What caution is given about interpreting this statement? [10:14]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon describe the danger of isolating God's love from His other attributes like justice and holiness? What might be the consequences of such isolation? [14:11]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's love is 'holy'? How does this holiness differentiate divine love from secular concepts of love? [19:51]

3. The sermon mentions that God's love is a sign of regeneration. How does this concept challenge or affirm your understanding of spiritual transformation? [08:16]

4. How does the sermon address the issue of idolatry in relation to a distorted view of God's love? What are the implications for personal faith? [16:12]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your understanding of love. How has secular culture influenced your perception of love, and how does this compare to the biblical concept of 'agape' love? [02:27]

2. Consider a relationship in your life where you can demonstrate 'agape' love. What specific actions can you take to show this divine love, which is free from selfishness or sin? [19:51]

3. The sermon warns against creating a false image of God based solely on a secular understanding of love. How can you ensure that your view of God includes all His attributes, not just love? [16:12]

4. Think about a time when you struggled to love someone. How might understanding God's love as a divine gift and a sign of regeneration help you in similar situations in the future? [08:16]

5. How can you incorporate the holiness of God's love into your daily interactions? What changes might you need to make to reflect this pure and transcendent love in your life? [19:51]

6. The sermon discusses the importance of understanding God's love in the context of His justice and holiness. How can this understanding impact your approach to forgiveness and reconciliation in your relationships? [14:11]

7. Identify one area in your life where you might be holding onto a secular view of love. What steps can you take this week to align that area with the biblical understanding of love? [02:27]

Devotional

Day 1: The Distortion of Love in Culture
In today's world, the concept of love is often reduced to mere sentimentality or romanticism, which can distort our understanding of divine love. This cultural backdrop presents a diluted version of love that lacks the depth and richness found in biblical love, known as 'agape' love. Agape love is a divine gift that originates from God and transforms us through the Holy Spirit. It is not a natural love found in human nature but a supernatural love that signifies regeneration and a new birth in the Spirit. This love is both a sign and a result of being born of God, offering a corrective lens to the secular understanding of love. [02:27]

1 John 4:7-8 (ESV): "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Reflection: Consider how cultural influences have shaped your understanding of love. How can you seek to embrace the transformative power of agape love in your daily interactions?


Day 2: Love as a Sign of Regeneration
The love described in Scripture is a supernatural love that signifies regeneration and a new birth in the Spirit. This divine love is not something that comes naturally to human nature but is a gift from God that transforms us. It is both a sign and a result of being born of God, indicating a profound change in our spiritual state. This love, which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, calls us to live in a way that reflects our new identity in Christ. As we grow in this love, we are reminded of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. [08:16]

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent experience where you felt the Holy Spirit prompting you to act in love. How did this experience signify a change in your spiritual life?


Day 3: God is Love, but Not Only Love
When John states that "God is love," it highlights the intimate connection between God's nature and love. However, it is crucial to understand this in the context of God's other attributes, such as justice, holiness, and sovereignty. Isolating love from these attributes can lead to a distorted view of God, where we might create a false image based solely on a secular understanding of love. A true understanding of God's love must consider its relationship with His other attributes, ensuring that we do not fall into idolatry by creating a lesser concept of God. [10:14]

Deuteronomy 32:4 (ESV): "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he."

Reflection: How can you ensure that your understanding of God's love is balanced with His other attributes? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of God's multifaceted nature?


Day 4: The Holiness of God's Love
God's love is a holy love, meaning it is set apart, pure, and transcendent. It is a love that is free from selfishness or sin, a love that is majestic and sacred. This divine love is something that God shares with us, expecting us to manifest it in our relationships with one another. As we continue to explore the depths of God's love, we are reminded of its transformative power and its call for us to love others with the same purity and holiness. This holy love challenges us to rise above our natural inclinations and reflect God's character in our interactions. [19:51]

1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV): "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate the holiness of God's love in your relationships today? How can you strive to love others with purity and selflessness?


Day 5: Guarding Against Idolatry
A true understanding of God's love must consider its relationship with His other attributes. Focusing solely on love, as defined by secular standards, can lead to idolatry, where we create a false image of God. God's love is intertwined with His holiness, justice, and omniscience, and understanding this guards against creating a lesser concept of God. By recognizing the fullness of God's character, we can avoid the pitfalls of idolatry and embrace a more complete understanding of who God is. This understanding calls us to worship God in spirit and truth, acknowledging all aspects of His divine nature. [16:12]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: How can you guard against creating a false image of God in your life? What practical steps can you take to ensure that your understanding of God is rooted in the fullness of His attributes?

Quotes


"I don't think there's any word in the English language that's been stripped of the depth of meaning such as that word love. I remember as a child having those toys that were kaleidoscopes where you would peer in the end of it and you would see these beautiful patterns that were made by the colored stones at the end." [00:02:27]

"Whereas what we want to do when we're talking about the love of God is to glean from Scripture the Biblical concept of this magnificent attribute of God. So in this series what we're going to be doing is trying to take a close look at how the Bible speaks of the love of God." [00:04:22]

"What he's saying here is that the love that he's describing, 'agape' love, Christian love, is a love that comes from God himself. This is not a natural love; this is not a love that is found in the flesh of mankind. This is a love that has its origin in God himself. It is a divine gift." [00:06:57]

"Now, that does not mean that every human being who experiences human, natural, love is therefore born of God. Rather, what John is saying is that the kind of love of which he is speaking is a kind of love that only comes from regeneration from those who have been changed inwardly by the power of the Holy Ghost." [00:08:16]

"John is not making a crass identification between love and God, so that anybody who has a romantic feeling in their heart or any sense of affection for another person thereby has encountered God. That's not the point. When he says love -- that God is love, he's using a form of literary expression that is a bit hyperbolical." [00:11:14]

"Our problem is not so much that we tend to think of God as a god who has no love, but rather the problem that we find in the culture of our day is a view of God that carries with it a cheap view of love, and a sense of love by which all of the other attributes of God are removed or stripped from his character." [00:13:28]

"And so we need to have this warning, this caveat as we begin, remembering that our most fundamental inclination as fallen human creatures when we contemplate the character of God is to exchange the truth of God that he reveals about himself for a lie as the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 1." [00:14:55]

"And a god who is stripped of his attributes of justice, of holiness, of sovereignty, and the rest, is just as much an idol as something made out of wood or stone. And so we have to be very careful that we don't substitute for the Biblical God a god who is exhausted in his character and being by this one attribute of love." [00:16:12]

"God's justice is a loving justice. His holiness is a loving holiness. And, his omniscience is a loving omniscience, just as his love is an omniscient love. And so the danger we must guard against is extrapolating love from all of the rest of the attributes as if it stood alone and it alone defined the nature and character of God." [00:18:23]

"When we say that God is love we must add to that immediately this descriptive term, that God's love is a holy love. That perhaps more than anything else serves as a guard for our loading the concept of the love of God with secular categories. Because there is a profane, a common view of love in our culture that is celebrated in pop art that has nothing to do with the love of God." [00:19:51]

"So the first thing we have to understand about God's love is that it is transcendent. It's not common. It's not profane. It's not ordinary. But it is a majestic, sacred, transcendent kind of love that goes far beyond anything the creature can ever manifest." [00:22:07]

"And secondly, the love of God is always a love that has no mixture of selfishness, of wickedness, or of sin within it. There's no shadow that covers the brightness of the pure glory of the love of God. And so when we encounter His love, we encounter a love that is 'sui generis', that's in a class by itself, a love that transcends our human experiences." [00:22:57]

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Transcript
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