Surprising Love

A window into A window into the heart of God…the heart of God…

John 3:16John 3:16

[16] “For [16] “For God so loved God so loved the the world, that He gave His only world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever begotten Son, that whoever

believes in Him shall not perish, believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. but have eternal life.

1 John 4:161 John 4:16

[16] We have come to know and [16] We have come to know and have believed the love which God have believed the love which God

has for us. has for us. God is loveGod is love, and the , and the one who abides in love abides in one who abides in love abides in

God, and God abides in him. God, and God abides in him.

Romans 8:38-39Romans 8:38-39

[38] For I am convinced that [38] For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, neither death, nor life, nor angels,

nor principalities, nor things present, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor things to come, nor powers,

[39] nor height, nor depth, nor any [39] nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to other created thing, will be able to separate us from the separate us from the love of Godlove of God, , which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 3:19Ephesians 3:19

[19] and to know the [19] and to know the lovelove of of Christ which Christ which surpasses knowledgesurpasses knowledge, , that you may be filled up to that you may be filled up to

all the fullness of God.all the fullness of God.

Understanding a Understanding a Deep ConceptDeep Concept

““God’s love is an exercise of his God’s love is an exercise of his goodness toward individual goodness toward individual

sinners whereby, having identified sinners whereby, having identified himself with their welfare, he has himself with their welfare, he has given His Son to be their Savior, given His Son to be their Savior,

and now brings them to know and and now brings them to know and enjoy Him in a covenant relation.”enjoy Him in a covenant relation.”

-J.I. Packer, -J.I. Packer, Knowing GodKnowing God

1) This love is an 1) This love is an exerciseexercise of His of His goodnessgoodness..

Matthew 7:11Matthew 7:11

[11] “If you then, being evil, know [11] “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your how to give good gifts to your

children, how much more will your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what Father who is in heaven give what

is good to those who ask Him!is good to those who ask Him!

2) This love is toward 2) This love is toward sinnerssinners!!

Romans 5:7-8Romans 5:7-8[7] For one will hardly die for a [7] For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps righteous man; though perhaps

for the good man someone would for the good man someone would dare even to die. [8] But God dare even to die. [8] But God

demonstrates His own love toward demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet us, in that while we were yet

sinners, Christ died for us. sinners, Christ died for us.

3) This love is toward 3) This love is toward individualindividual sinners. sinners.

4) This love 4) This love identifiesidentifies Him Him with our with our welfarewelfare..

Genesis 6:5-6Genesis 6:5-6

[5] Then the LORD saw that the [5] Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. [6] The LORD was sorry continually. [6] The LORD was sorry

that He had made man on the earth, that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. and He was grieved in His heart.

Matthew 9:36Matthew 9:36

[36] Seeing the people, He [36] Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, felt compassion for them,

because they were distressed because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep and dispirited like sheep

without a shepherd. without a shepherd.

Ephesians 4:30Ephesians 4:30

[30] Do not grieve the Holy Spirit [30] Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed of God, by whom you were sealed

for the day of redemption. for the day of redemption.

5) This love is expressed in the 5) This love is expressed in the gift of His gift of His SonSon to be our to be our SaviorSavior..

1 John 4:9-101 John 4:9-10

[9] By this the love of God was [9] By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has manifested in us, that God has

sent His only begotten Son into sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live the world so that we might live

through Him. [10] In this is love, through Him. [10] In this is love, not that we loved God, but that not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to He loved us and sent His Son to

be the propitiation for our sins. be the propitiation for our sins.

6) This love has the goal 6) This love has the goal of bringing us to of bringing us to knowknow

and and enjoyenjoy Him. Him.

John 12:32John 12:32

[32] “And I, if I am lifted up [32] “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw from the earth, will draw

all men to Myself.”all men to Myself.”

““God’s love is an exercise of his God’s love is an exercise of his goodness toward individual goodness toward individual

sinners whereby, having identified sinners whereby, having identified himself with their welfare, he has himself with their welfare, he has given His Son to be their Savior, given His Son to be their Savior,

and now brings them to know and and now brings them to know and enjoy Him in a covenant relation.”enjoy Him in a covenant relation.”

-J.I. Packer, -J.I. Packer, Knowing GodKnowing God

Knowing the love of Knowing the love of God should God should reshapereshape our our

viewview of of lifelife!!