Messages with Meaning


Sermons delivered at Sanlando Springs by Pastor Jack Parrott

Enduring Love

Psalm 136; 1 John 4
Presented June 15, 2008, © Dr. Jack Parrott
I. Introduction

  1. Love is not a characteristic of God; God is love in His very nature. To say God is love means all his thoughts are loving thoughts and all his activities are loving activities. God is love-driven. The repetitive refrain in this Psalm refers to the distinctive characteristic which sets Almighty God apart from all the other gods: His enduring love. In the words of Eugene Peterson: "His love never quits!"
  2. In 1 John 4.7-12 we see that love is not only an essential characteristic of God, but as children of God love is to fill our hearts and lives.
II. The Characteristics of Enduring Love (God is love--1 John 4:8, 16)
  1. God's enduring love is selective. See Deuteronomy 7:6-9. God chose us before the world began--Ephesians 1.4
  2. God's enduring love is sacrificial (selfless, unselfish). See 1 John 4:9-10 (God sent his one and only son)
    Even when God's people broke their commitment to Him he reached beyond their sin and sought to restore them. The songwriter says, 'he looked beyond my faults and saw my need.' Steven Curtis Chapman: In the gospel, we discover we are far worse off than we thought, and far more loved than we ever dreamed.
  3. God's enduring love is sustained (on-going, consistent) The translators wrestle with how to express the idea of God's faithfulness to his covenant (in Psalm 136 they use the word 'hesed' to refer to His commitment): they say He is eternally constant; His love is everlasting; His kindness never fails. They speak of God's loyal love, his faithfulness.
  4. God's enduring love is strong. See Psalm 107:1, 28 and John 16:32-33
  5. God's faithfulness to us calls out our faithfulness to Him
III. The Challenges of Enduring Love (1 John 4:7, "let us love")
  1. God's enduring love challenges us to love God.
      See Deuteronomy 10:12 and 1 John 5.4
  2. God's enduring love challenges us to love our family.
      See Colossians 3:19 and Titus 2:4
  3. God's enduring love challenges us to love other people.
      See 1 John 4:11, 19-21
  4. God's enduring love challenges us to love our enemies.
      See Matthew 5:43-48

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