THE EVIDENCE OF LOVE
TEXT- 1 JOHN 3:10-18
INTRODUCTION
THIS MORNING I AM GOING TO CONTINUE WITH MY SERIES OF SERMONS FROM THE BOOK OF FIRST JOHN.
AS YOU RECALL, THE THEME OF THIS BOOK IS, "FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD."
IN CHAPTERS 1-2 JOHN EMPHASIZED THE BASIS OF OUR FELLOWSHIP AND NOW IN CHAPTERS 3-5 HE IS FOCUSING ON THE BEHAVIOR OF FELLOWSHIP.
IF WE ARE REALLY IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, THEN IT WILL BE SEEN IN OUR BEHAVIOR.
SO FAR, WE HAVE SEEN HOW THE BEHAVIOR OF A PERSON IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD IS CHARACTERIZED BY MORAL PURITY IN CHAPTER 3:1-3.
WE HAVE ALSO SEEN IN CHAPTER 3:4-9 THAT A PERSON IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD IS NOT GOING TO PRACTICE SIN.
THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN 1 JOHN 3:10-18 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "THE EVIDENCE OF LOVE."
IF WE ARE REALLY IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD, IT WILL BE PROVEN THROUGH THE LOVE THAT WE HAVE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
A FATHER WAS DISCUSSING HIS DAUGHTERS WITH A YOUNG MAN AND TOLD HIM, "I'M PROUD OF MY GIRLS AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FINANCIALLY WELL OFF WHEN THEY GET MARRIED." THE YOUNG MAN ASKED HIM WHAT HE MEANT AND THE FATHER CONTINUED. "I'VE MADE A LITTLE MONEY AND I PLAN TO GIVE EACH OF MY DAUGHTERS A SUBSTANTIAL SUM." THE YOUNG MAN ASKED THE FATHER HOW MANY DAUGHTERS HE HAD. "WELL," THE FATHER REPLIED, "THERE IS SHARON, SHE IS A GOOD GIRL. I'M GOING TO GIVE HER $1000 WHEN SHE MARRIES. THEN THERE IS SUSAN, WHO IS THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OLD. I'M GOING TO GIVE HER $3000, AND THE MAN WHO TAKES SARAH, WHO IS FORTY, WILL HAVE $5000." THE MAN THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT AND THEN ASKED THE FATHER, "YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A DAUGHTER ABOUT FIFTY YEARS OLD, WOULD YOU?"
TODAY THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE SLIGHTEST IDEA OF WHAT REAL LOVE IS.
THEY THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN BUY WITH MONEY.
YET, GOD'S LOVE IS NOT BOUGHT, BUT RATHER IT IS GIVEN FREELY.
EVERYONE WANTS LOVE - BUT NOT EVERYONE WANTS THE KIND OF LOVE THAT THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT.
WITHIN THE BOOK OF FIRST JOHN THE WORD "LOVE" IS USED 51 TIMES.
ACCORDING TO JOHN, LOVE PROVES THAT WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.
AS WE STUDY OUR TEXT TODAY THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE EVIDENCE OF LOVE IN OUR LIVES.