WHAT IS REAL LOVE?

This morning I’m going to continue with our verse-by-verse series from the Book of First John.  In this series we are learning how to “Live Confidently For God.”  Today our text is found in 1 John 2:7-17.  If you have your Bible you might want to turn there.  The title of my message is, “What Is Real Love?”

I’d like you to WATCH A VIDEO of some people being asked the question, “What is love?”  Listen to what they have to say.  (“WHAT IS LOVE?” - SERMONSPICE)

In our English language, love is a very imprecise term.  We use it in so many ways that in order to understand it you have to understand the context in which it’s used.  For instance we say, “I love ice cream, I love the weather, I love my dog, I love my wife, I love you.”  But it’s obvious that you love your wife or husband in a different way than you love ice cream.

As you learned in the video the Bible mentions several kinds of love.  There is eros love which is erotic in nature.  There is phileo love which has to do with friendship and there is agape love which is the sacrificial kind of love that Jesus has for us.

So, how can we confidently know that we really love God and each other the way God wants us to? Here in out text John gives us four characteristics of authentic love.   First, he tell us that...