Text: I John 4:7-21<\/p>\n
How would you define love? Would you recognize it if you saw it? Would you be certain that it was love if you had it?<\/p>\n
The Bible gives two definitions of love. The first one, found in Song of Solomon 8:6-7 describes the passion of love. \u201cSet me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave; its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised<\/i>\u201d (Song of Solomon 8:6-7). A seal is a small cylinder with carvings on its surface. Its use was how people uniquely signed documents because every person\u2019s seal would be different. If it was lost or stolen someone could forge agreements in that person\u2019s name. Hence, a seal was both personal and very valuable to that individual. A person kept their seal bound to their arm or chest in order to keep track of it. Shulamith states that love is the same, it is personal and very valuable to the ones who are in love. She also states that it is strong and doesn\u2019t give up easily by comparing it to death and the grave. Death does not lightly let go of those who have died and neither does love does love end. Using the image of an overwhelming flood to represent problems and love being a mighty fire, Shulamith states that love is not easily stopped by life\u2019s problems. Nor is love for sale. All the money in the world cannot buy true love.<\/p>\n
In I Corinthians 13:4-8, Paul gives a more technical definition of what is love.<\/p>\n
\nResearch:<\/h3>\n
On a separate piece of paper, make two lists from I Corinthians 13:4-8. In the first, list the things that love is and in the second, list the things that love is not. Describe in your own words what Paul means and give one example illustrating that point.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
God gives every child examples of love in their own lives as they grow up. Each of us experiences the love that our parents have for us, and we see the love that our parents have for each other. Of course, parents are people, and people make mistakes and sometimes fail in their duties. However, overall we get the gist of what love is about by watching those who raise us.<\/p>\n
We spoke in the last lesson about God being our Father. Just as our earthly fathers demonstrate love, God demonstrates love to us as well. Where our earthly fathers may make mistakes, our heavenly Father demonstrates love perfectly because God is love (I John 4:8, 16). By saying \u201cGod is love\u201d the Bible is saying that God is the source of love (I John 4:7) and that He is the embodiment of love.<\/p>\n
\nSomething to Think About:<\/h3>\n
\n
- How do you know that your parents love you?<\/li>\n
- Is it because of words or is it because of the things that they do?<\/li>\n
- In what ways do your parents demonstrate love to you?<\/li>\n
- Is their love free or is it costing them something?<\/li>\n
- What are they getting in return?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n
John tells us that God\u2019s love is demonstrated in what He willingly sacrificed on our behalf (I John 4:9). Jesus told his disciples, \u201cGreater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends<\/i>\u201d (John 15:13). Jesus then proceeded to do this very thing by offering up his own life to purchase our salvation. \u201cFor God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life<\/i>\u201d (John 3:16). In other words, God didn\u2019t just say He loved us; He showed His love by what He was willing to sacrifice. \u201cBy this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him<\/i>\u201d (I John 3:16-19).<\/p>\n
Jesus willingly did this so that we might benefit from his love. \u201cHusbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish<\/i>\u201d (Ephesians 5:25-27).<\/p>\n
God\u2019s love is also shown in His care for us. David described this love by using the illustration of a shepherd\u2019s love and care for his sheep in Psalm 23. Jesus also talked about God\u2019s care in his sermon on the mount found in Matthew 6:25-34. God values each of us. He gives us just what we need. \u201cIf a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!<\/i>\u201d (Luke 11:11-13).<\/p>\n
Finally, God demonstrates His love toward us by willingly making us His children. \u201cBehold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!\u00a0<\/i>\u201c (I John 3:1).<\/p>\n
If you think about it, parents love their children without expecting much in return. Many times the love starts before the child is even born. Even after birth, parents are willing to put up with a lot of misery because they love their child. A newborn is cute, but it certainly isn\u2019t lovable in the practical sense. Babies fuss and cry. They keep their parents up at all hours of the night. Every little thing must be done for the baby, including changing messy diapers. Now, just what did an infant do to deserve love? What benefit does a parent gain from a child that costs him money in food, clothing, diapers, and equipment? Yet, if you ask any parent, the cost doesn\u2019t matter. The sleepless nights and jangled nerves are worth it \u2013 because parents love their children.<\/p>\n
\nStudy:<\/h3>\n
What problems do people cause God? Do those problems drive God away?<\/p>\n
\n
- Ecclesiastes 7:29<\/li>\n
- Isaiah 59:1-8<\/li>\n
- Romans 5:8<\/li>\n
- II Peter 3:9<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Just like our parents, God\u2019s love is persistent and strong. He doesn\u2019t love His people because we deserve it or because God owes it to us. God pointed this out to Israel after He led them out of the land of Egypt and through the wilderness. \u201cThe LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt<\/i>\u201d (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). And it is no different for the Christian today. \u201cFor we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life<\/i>\u201d (Titus 3:3-7). The \u201cworks of righteousness\u201d mentioned in this verse is satire. Mankind, in general, does not involve itself in righteous deeds when left on its own. The point is that God loved us even though we were unlovable people.<\/p>\n
The love a parent has for the children of their own bodies is amazing, but some parents show an even greater love. Some parents are willing to give love to children who are not their own. What kind of love does it take to accept someone else\u2019s burden? Even when an older child is adopted, they are rarely loveable at the beginning. They are in a new environment and are uncertain as to their position in the family. Often times they cannot trust their new parents because so many in the past have abandoned them. They just don\u2019t know if it is for real or not. As a result, they take their uncertainties out on their new parents; often times crossing the line of acceptable behavior just to see if their parents really mean it. And yet there are couples willing to work at breaking down this defensive barrier and to show love even when it is not returned.<\/p>\n
\nFor study:<\/h3>\n
What kind of parent is God to each of us? What status did we start out with? To what did God raise us to be? Why did He do it?<\/p>\n
\n
- Galatians 4:4-7<\/li>\n
- Romans 8:15-17<\/li>\n
- Ephesians 1:5<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Because we grew up being loved, many people do not realize that love doesn\u2019t just happen. Love is taught.<\/p>\n
\nFor study:<\/h3>\n
How does God teach us love?<\/p>\n
\n
- I John 4:19<\/li>\n
- I Thessalonians 4:9-10<\/li>\n
- Galatians 5:22<\/li>\n
- II Timothy 1:7<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Finally, our parent\u2019s love for us gives us the confidence to face the world. There might be people out there willing to hurt us. We might get our feelings hurt. We might stumble and hurt ourselves. But behind all the problems is the knowledge that there is someone who truly loves us. I can take my problems to them and they will help me sort things out. I might disappoint them at times, but they are always there when I need them. \u201cLove has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love<\/i>\u201d (I John 4:17-18).<\/p>\n
Class Discussion:<\/h2>\n
\n
- Go through Psalms 23 point by point\n
\n
- What is being stated about a shepherd\u2019s care of his sheep?<\/li>\n
- What is being stated about God\u2019s care for His people?<\/li>\n
- Give an example of how God shows His care in this manner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Go through Matthew 6:25-34\n
\n
- What are the basic things that each person needs?<\/li>\n
- How does God give these basic necessities to the creatures of His creation?<\/li>\n
- Which is of more value: plant life, animal life, or human life? Why?<\/li>\n
- What does worry accomplish? Why?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Does God\u2019s love mean that He will accept us just as we are?\n
\n
- What should God\u2019s love cause in us? (Romans 2:4)<\/li>\n
- Is there any reason that people must perish in their sins? (Ezekiel 18:23, 30-32)<\/li>\n
- The why did Jesus point out that most people will end up in hell? (Matthew 7:13-14)<\/li>\n
- Whose fault is this?<\/li>\n
- Should your parents accept you just as you are?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Class Activity:<\/h2>\n
\n
- Find songs which speak of God\u2019s love. Ask some of the boys in class to lead a song.<\/li>\n
- Write a prayer expressing thankfulness for the love God has shown for us.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrior Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Lord Your God is an Awesome God!\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNext Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
God is Love Text: I John 4:7-21 How would you define love? Would you recognize it if you saw it? Would you be certain that it was love if you had it? The Bible gives two definitions of love. The first one, found in Song of Solomon 8:6-7 describes the passion of love. \u201cSet me…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1091,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1127","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4586,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/the-greatest-love-song-written-a-study-of-the-song-of-solomon\/how-do-you-build-a-love-like-theirs\/","url_meta":{"origin":1127,"position":0},"title":"How Do You Build a Love Like Theirs?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Chapter 14 How Do You Build a Love Like Theirs? 5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWho is this coming up from the wilderness \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Leaning on her beloved?\u201d Some people are chatting and notice in the distance Shulammith walking arm-in-arm with Solomon. 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