God’s love, continued:

• John 15:9-17 – Jesus was the ultimate example of love.

• Psalms 86:15; 136:1-26 – God showed His steadfast love for man repeatedly throughout history, and that love endures forever.

• Romans 5:1-11 – If we have the love of God, we receive joy and peace.

• Ephesians 2:1-10

• Romans 8:31-39

Our love

• The world often uses love purely as an emotion. Love also does not mean you overlook someone’s sin.

• Romans 12:9-10 – Love without brother affection doesn’t exist!

Speech

• The virtue of being quiet

  • James 1:26

  • Proverbs 10:8, 19; 11:13; 13:3; 17:27-28; 21:23; 23:9; 25:11-12

  • John 8:1-9 – Jesus was a master at saying the right thing at the right time.

• Slow down

  • Proverbs 15:28; 18:13, 17; 29:20

  • Ephesians 4:29-32 – Bad attitudes adversely affect our speech. We should speak only what edifies.

  • James 3:8-12

  • Acts 19:32; 21:29 – People can get enraged without even knowing what happened or what they should be upset about!

  • Proverbs 6:4-5

• Using speech for evil

  • Proverbs 10:18; 11:9; 16:27-28; 18:6-8; 20:19

  • Evil speech can spread so much discord.

  • Not all personal or negative communication about others is wrong. Motivation plays a key role. II Timothy 4:14-15; I Corinthians 1:11; Galatians 2:11-14; III John 1:9-10

• Using speech for good

  • Proverbs 10:11, 21; 12:18; 15:1-2, 4, 7; 16:21-24; 20:15; 25:15; 25:5, 9; 28:23

God’s love

• There are many misconceptions about God’s love:

  • That He loves us so much that He would not punish us

  • If God really loved us, He would not allow evil in the world

• I Corinthians 13:3 – The greatest of these attributes is love. It is what should underpin everything else in our lives.

• I John 3:1, 11-24

• I John 4:7-21 – Love is at the forefront of our relationship with God.

• Galatians 2:20

• Jeremiah 29:11; 31:3

• John 3:13-36

• John 15:9-17

Introduction

• Matthew 16:19

• Ephesians 4:4

• Even if all these passages were not in the New Testament, it could still be shown that there is one saved relationship with God.

The beginning

• Genesis 2:15; 1:26; 2:17

• To have fellowship with God, Adam and Even had to obey His commands.

• Genesis 4:3-8 – Cain disobeyed God, severing his relationship with God.

Noah’s time

• Genesis 6-7 – Only eight souls obeyed God and were saved.

Abraham’s time

• Genesis 22 – Abraham attempts to obey God in sacrificing Isaac. Abraham followed God’s plan in this.

Lot’s time

• Genesis 19 – Angels come to Lot’s house to rescue him and his family before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. God’s plan for his people was to leave Sodom.

Moses’ time

• Exodus 20 – God gives the ten commandments to guide His people at that time.

• Numbers 13 – Spies search out the land of Canaan.

• Numbers 20 – The people murmur and Moses strikes the rock. God refuses to let Moses enter the land of Canaan. Moses disobeyed and severed fellowship with God.

Romans 15:4

• God, for one people, has never had but one plan by which He would bless them.

• Matthew 16:19; Acts 20:28; John 14:26; 16:13; II Timothy 3:16-17

• Matthew 15:8-9

• Mark 16:15-16

• Acts 2:36; I Peter 3:21 – This is the one way to have fellowship with God!

• Acts 22

• I John 1:6-7