“How Can I Know for Sure God Loves Me?”
Psalm 103 (various) January 8, 2006 Play
video
“Would You Still Love Me?”
• human attachment can be very conditional
• unconditional love our greatest need
Love is the Essence of God’s Nature
• Father loved Son before world created (Jn 17:24;
Mt 3:17, 17:5)
• God is love; part of self-description (1Jn 4:7f;
1Jn 4:16; Ex 34:6f)
Loved Along with the World
• God so loved the world...as shown by the cross
(1Jn 2:22; Jn 3:16; 1Jn 4:9f; Rom 5:8)
• Israel not loved because most numerous; rather,
fewest, rejected (Deut 7:7; Ezek 16:5)
• God loved rebellious nation, taught to walk, led
with ties of love (Hos 11:1-4)
• people loved more than sparrows; Father’s love
like shepherd for lost sheep, parent for prodigal son (Lk 12:6f;
15:3-7, 11-24)
Loved on Account of the “Forefathers”
• God’s covenant with Abraham resulted in grace to
nation (Deut 4:37; 10:15)
• church seen as new Israel: believers children of
Abraham too (Gal 3:7,14; Rom 4:11,16)
• God’s love shown to those who were formerly not
“My people” (Hos 2:19,23)
• Father’s love lavished on children - special to
Him (1Jn 3:1)
Loved “In Christ”
• chosen in Jesus to freely receive Father’s love
(Eph 1:4ff; 13f)
• involves our love for God in response: obedience,
trust, righteous pursuits, discipline (Jn 14:21,23; 16:27; Prov 15:9,
3:12)
• nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ
(Rom 8:37ff)
The Mystery of God’s Sovereign Choice
• God’s love of Jacob not Esau a puzzle, but all for
God’s purpose (Rom 9:11-13; 8:28f)
• Father’s pleasure to make “many brothers” for
Christ, as potter has right to do as pleases with clay (Rom
9:21f; Jer 18:4)
• wonder that Father gives Son in exchange for us,
because precious to Him (Is 43:4; Ps 103)
This I Know
• great theologian assured of Jesus’ love “for the
Bible tells me so”
• God’s knowledge and realistic love of me brings
comfort and relief (JI Packer)
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