Sermon:
WHAT MANNER OF LOVE

I John 3
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

TITLE OF MESSAGE –WHAT MANNER OF LOVE

***PRAYER

A young child was sitting in church one day, listening to the pastor preach on the attributes of God.
"God is holy and just," said the pastor. "God is omnipotent," he added. "God is also eternal." At that point, the child protested in a loud voice, "God is not a turtle!"
We don’t always understand God’s attributes, especially His love. The Bible declares that "God is love and God loves." It is in those parameters that we need a fresh vision of God.
THE APOSTLE JOHN WRITES AND SUDDENLY IS OVERWHELMED BY THE LOVE OF GOD!
IT IS STRANGE THAT THE APOSTLE JOHN OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY THE LOVE OF GOD:
1. THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED
2. THE APOSTLE OF LOVE
3. THE ONE YOU WOULD ALWAYS FIND CLOSE TO THE HEART OF JESUS
4. …YET HE WRITES “BEHOLD, WHAT MANNER OF LOVE THE FATHER HATH BESTOWED UPON US…”

I. A CALL TO CONSIDER
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us…
The love of God is a wonderful subject and one that John calls for our careful consideration and contemplation. The word “Behold,” means, “To see and know.”

J. Dwight Pentecost likens the word to a flashing light on a highway designed to get our attention. It calls for one to stop, to ponder, to consider the truth of what is being said.

It is a word that is telling us not to rush or casually pass by what is being said. Sam Gordon describes the word as saying, “Take a long lingering look until it really registers, until it clicks.”

A. CONSIDER THE MANNER OF LOVE
John is calling for an earnest inspection of God’s love so that we will come to a better understanding and appreciation of the “manner” of God’s love that has been shown to us.

The word “manner” as used in our text would speak of something that we are not accustomed to and that which is beyond the ordinary in our life. In Matthew 8:27 and Mark 4:41 we find the disciples using the word when they saw the Lord Jesus still the storm and raging sea. They exclaimed, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” What they saw the Lord do amazed them. They had never seen anyone do what they saw Him do. His ability and power was not of the ordinary.

“MANNER” –POTAPOS –“FROM WHAT COUNTRY”
To be loved by someone is not uncommon. Our parents love us, our spouse and children love us and other family and friends love us (we hope).
1. Yet, the love that God has shown to us is beyond the ordinary.
2. The love He has demonstrated is not common.
3. God’s love is not of this world.
4. There is no country on earth characterized by such love as God displays in heaven and throughout His vast universe.
5. God’s love is an out of this world kind of love.
6. The kind of love that He has shown to us leaves us speechless and amazed.
7. It is the kind of love that Sam Gordon says leaves us saying