Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

How We Must Love God

(Part 2)

Intro.

1. Review Part 1 (Why We Must Love God).

2. Part 2: How we love God makes all the difference between pleasing Him and dishonoring Him.

3. How we love God affects whether God accepts us.

4. We need to study and understand how to love God.

a. cf. Husbands and wives learning to love (Eph. 5:22-33).

b. cf. Learning to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44-48; Rom. 12:14).

5. How we love God shows how we love others:

a. Pass by…the love of God while proclaiming love, Luke 11:42.

b. Love neighbor as self, Luke 10:25-29.

I. “DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?” John 21:15-17

A. Don’t Compare Your Love for Christ to Others, John 21:15.

-Peter did that, Matt. 26:33. (Over-confidence, self-righteousness)

B. Combine Saying You Love Christ with Conduct that Shows Your Love for Him, John 21:16.

-Don’t be hypocritical and conceit in your love (Peter did that).

C. Honestly Assess Your Affection for Christ, John 21:17.

-Jesus knew Peter’s love; Peter needed to examine and know it.

II. HOW WE MUST LOVE GOD.

A. With All Our Being, Mark 12:30 (heart, soul, mind, strength).

1. Heart: Determination of will.

2. Soul: Life of the whole person; spirit, inner person.

3. Mind: Intellect, motives, thoughts, objectives, etc.

4. Strength: Capability, power, ability, forcefulness.

B. By Keeping His Commandments, John 14:15, 21, 23; 1 John 2:5; 5:2-3.

C. First, Before All Others, Matt. 10:37; Rev. 2:4 (love’s priority).
D. In Purity and Hope, 1 John 3:1-3.
E. By Loving One Another, 1 John 4:7-8, 12, 20-21; Matt. 25:34-41.

1. Sacrificially, 1 John 4:11 (By feeding Christ’s sheep, Peter would sacrifice his life for Christ, John 21:18-19).
2. With open hearts (in deed and truth), 1 John 3:17-18.
F. By Abiding in Love, 1 John 4:16. (Put on love, Col. 3:14; Walk in love, Eph. 5:2)

Conclusion

1. The love of the world brings eternal death, but loving God brings eternal life, 1 John 2:15-17.

2. “Let all that you do be done with love.” 1 Cor. 16:14

3. “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!” 1 Cor. 16:22

By: Joe R. Price

Posted February 17, 2022