God’s Use of “Tough Love”

1 John 4:7-11

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Can You Define Love?

I love

my job

Can You Define Love?

I love

my jobI lo

ve

my dog

Can You Define Love?

I love

my job

I love

food

I love

my dog

Can You Define Love?

I love

my job

I love

food

I love

my dog

I love

exercise

Can You Define Love?

I love

my job I lo

ve

my car

I love

food

I love

my dog

I love

exercise

Can You Define Love?

I love

my job I lo

ve

my car

I love

foodI love

The Gators

I love

my dog

I love

exercise

Can You Define Love?

I love

my job I lo

ve

my car

I love

foodI love

The Gators

I love

my dog

I love

exercise

I am doing this

because I love you

Can You Define Love?

Can You Define Love?• Our concept of love = feelings

Can You Define Love?• Our concept of love = feelings

• Greek word for this = phileo

Can You Define Love?• Our concept of love = feelings

• Greek word for this = phileo

• Another Greek word = agape

Can You Define Love?• Our concept of love = feelings

• Greek word for this = phileo

• Another Greek word = agape• Describes actions, ruled by mind

Can You Define Love?• Our concept of love = feelings

• Greek word for this = phileo

• Another Greek word = agape• Describes actions, ruled by mind

• Does what is beneficial for all

Can You Define Love?• Our concept of love = feelings

• Greek word for this = phileo

• Another Greek word = agape• Describes actions, ruled by mind

• Does what is beneficial for all

• And this is love, even if it is tough

Examples of Tough Love

Examples of Tough Love• Correction of a child (Prov. 23:13-14)

Examples of Tough Love• Correction of a child (Prov. 23:13-14)

• God’s correction of us (Heb. 12:5-6)

Examples of Tough Love• Correction of a child (Prov. 23:13-14)

• God’s correction of us (Heb. 12:5-6)

• God with David and his son (2 Sam. 12:7-14)

Examples of Tough Love• Correction of a child (Prov. 23:13-14)

• God’s correction of us (Heb. 12:5-6)

• God with David and his son (2 Sam. 12:7-14)

• Jesus and the moneychangers (John 2:13-17)

Examples of Tough Love• Correction of a child (Prov. 23:13-14)

• God’s correction of us (Heb. 12:5-6)

• God with David and his son (2 Sam. 12:7-14)

• Jesus and the moneychangers (John 2:13-17)

• Peter with Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5:1-8)

Examples of Tough Love• Correction of a child (Prov. 23:13-14)

• God’s correction of us (Heb. 12:5-6)

• God with David and his son (2 Sam. 12:7-14)

• Jesus and the moneychangers (John 2:13-17)

• Peter with Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5:1-8)

• Paul with Elymas, the sorcerer (Acts 13:8-11)

Examples of Tough Love• Correction of a child (Prov. 23:13-14)

• God’s correction of us (Heb. 12:5-6)

• God with David and his son (2 Sam. 12:7-14)

• Jesus and the moneychangers (John 2:13-17)

• Peter with Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5:1-8)

• Paul with Elymas, the sorcerer (Acts 13:8-11)

• Elders and false teachers (Titus 1:10-11)

Examples of Tough Love• Correction of a child (Prov. 23:13-14)

• God’s correction of us (Heb. 12:5-6)

• God with David and his son (2 Sam. 12:7-14)

• Jesus and the moneychangers (John 2:13-17)

• Peter with Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5:1-8)

• Paul with Elymas, the sorcerer (Acts 13:8-11)

• Elders and false teachers (Titus 1:10-11)

• Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Tim. 1:18-20)

Examples of Tough Love• Correction of a child (Prov. 23:13-14)

• God’s correction of us (Heb. 12:5-6)

• God with David and his son (2 Sam. 12:7-14)

• Jesus and the moneychangers (John 2:13-17)

• Peter with Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5:1-8)

• Paul with Elymas, the sorcerer (Acts 13:8-11)

• Elders and false teachers (Titus 1:10-11)

• Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Tim. 1:18-20)

• The church at Corinth & immorality (1 Cor. 5)

When God Corrects Us

When God Corrects Us• “I am a son!” (Heb. 12:6)

When God Corrects Us• “I am a son!” (Heb. 12:6)

• He corrects me, I respect Him (12:9)

When God Corrects Us• “I am a son!” (Heb. 12:6)

• He corrects me, I respect Him (12:9)

• He corrects me, I am subject to Him (12:9)

When God Corrects Us• “I am a son!” (Heb. 12:6)

• He corrects me, I respect Him (12:9)

• He corrects me, I am subject to Him (12:9)

• It is for my profit that I may be holy (12:10)

When God Corrects Us• “I am a son!” (Heb. 12:6)

• He corrects me, I respect Him (12:9)

• He corrects me, I am subject to Him (12:9)

• It is for my profit that I may be holy (12:10)

• Temporary pain, brings righteousness (12:11)

Letting God Direct Your Life

Letting God Direct Your Life

• Believe in Him John 3:16

Letting God Direct Your Life

• Believe in Him John 3:16

• Repent—decide to obey Acts 17:30

Letting God Direct Your Life

• Believe in Him John 3:16

• Repent—decide to obey Acts 17:30

• Confess Christ Rom. 10:9

Letting God Direct Your Life

• Believe in Him John 3:16

• Repent—decide to obey Acts 17:30

• Confess Christ Rom. 10:9

• Baptized to be saved Acts 22:16

Letting God Direct Your Life

• Believe in Him John 3:16

• Repent—decide to obey Acts 17:30

• Confess Christ Rom. 10:9

• Baptized to be saved Acts 22:16

Added to His Kingdom, His church

Letting God Direct Your Life

• Believe in Him John 3:16

• Repent—decide to obey Acts 17:30

• Confess Christ Rom. 10:9

• Baptized to be saved Acts 22:16

Added to His Kingdom, His church

• Be faithful until death Rev. 2:10