LOVE: AN UNCONDITIONAL WORD

Jer. 31:3 “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”

INTRO:  When we speak of Love, it is so generalized that the only way to truly understand it, is when we centralize it or pinpoint it to where we actually want to get to.  Our love toward: God, Family, friends, work, hobbies, sports or even church is so diversified that each one of us would have our own version of love.  When we say: I love…..each one of us have someone different or something different to add to this phrase.

What doesn’t changes is the word: “Love.”  It might be directed from each one of us to a different individual or object but it still is love.  I love….my wife, my job, chocolate, my dog, cat, etc.

What is love?  Love is: “an intense feeling of tender affection and compassion.”  Say my old illustration. 

One thing for sure: “It is an unconditional word.” When we say: Unconditional – this means: complete or guaranteed, with no conditions, limitations, or provisions attached.”

Can we really love unconditionally?  People might say: “That is crazy, you are not suppose to love with your eyes close.”  Nobody can love you that way!  Probably that is why some buy dogs or cats. 

But, can you really use that unconditionally word?

I.            WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

1.      God is love – 1 Jn. 4:8 “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

A.            The only source of true love can come from God

2.      If God is love - We have to love our brother - 1 Jn. 4:11 “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love  one another.”

A.            We have to express God’s love – to those that are created in His image

3.      Our love surpasses faults – Gal 6:1 “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

4.      Our love is a forgiving love – Mat 18:22 “Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

5.      Our love does not hate –1 Jn. 4:20 “If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

6.      Not by tongue - 1 Jn. 3:17, 18 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

7.      Practice Righteousness - 1 Jn 3:10 “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

8.      Lay down your life – 1 Jn. 3:16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

9.      Forgive sins for them – 1 Jn. 5:16 “If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that.”

CONCLUSION: