GOD LOVES YOU!!!

Pastor Carmin Battista 

John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son so that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have ever lasting life”.  We have heard this preached concerning getting people born again, but have you ever studied it from the perspective of how He loves us?  First, notice it states He loved the world.  That means before you were ever born again, He loved you.  That’s exciting to me, because before you ever drew a breath or ever did anything good or bad, He loved you!  Before we could perform, He died for us.  Secondly, He loved us so much He gave.  True Godly love gives, it doesn’t take.  The word for love is agape which means Godly, unconditional love that is not based on how good or bad you are.  You see, Romans 5:6 states “when we were without strength He died for us”.  Another way to say that is, when we were powerless to do anything, He loved us.  

Some people say when you teach this side of love that your giving people an excuse to sin; however it makes a person want to sin less if you know how much he loves you because you don’t want to hurt the person that loves you unconditionally!  Born again people aren’t looking for a way to sin and get away with it; they are looking for a way to be free of sin, because they know the result of sin is death!  Spending time studying how much God loves you will set you free because you will know the truth that He is not out to get us, but to love us into His kingdom.  If you can’t shout about that, then there is nothing else to shout about! 

In chapter 13 of the book of first Corinthians beginning with verse 4 it gives the characteristics of that agape love. If you will substitute your name every where it says love (the King James Bible says charity) and you confess verses 4 through 8 over your self for a month you will be amazed at the results in your life.  For example, in verse 4 it says ‘love suffers long’.  Take the time to look these verses up in the amplified bible and it says love endures long and is patient. That word patient there gives the impression of a constantly consistent person.  Do you know what that means?  If you endure long and are constantly walking in Gods love, when every one else is falling apart like a two-dollar watch, you are unchanged.  When times are good you’re the same. When times are bad you’re the same.  If you will put your name in all those verses and get that down in your heart, verse 8 says you will never fail!  That sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? However, if we believe His word then it is not that hard to believe.  However, it will take effort on our part. 

I challenge you to take the time to do this no matter how much the devil tries to tell you that it’s not working, and that you will never be able to love like that. He knows if you ever walk in love like that, he’s finished in your life!  I challenge you to make that commitment, and you will never be the same!

Copyright 2006 Faith Foundations Church