- YOU ARE -

beyond belief

1 John 4:13-1913 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the

world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know

and rely on the love God has for us.God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In

this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in

love.19 We love because he first loved us.

A. We know and rely upon God’s love

Two words in particular

1. Know in the Greek – Ginosko:come to know, properly, to know

especially through first hand experience (Luke 1:34 used of sexual intimacy)

2. Rely in the Greek – Pisteuo:persuade, be persuaded, believe affirm,

have confidence, as in persuading oneself

1 John 3:1See what great love the Father has

lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is

that it did not know him.

Ephesians 1:4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in

his sight.

1 John 4:9-109 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the

world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an

atoning sacrifice for our sins.

B. Confidence in God’s love

1 John 4:17This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like

Jesus.

Confidence in the Greek – Parrhesia:freedom in speaking, unreservedness, openness, frankness…free and fearless

confidence

“The common denominator hidden behind many forms of mental illness, depression, and neurotic behaviors

are the questions, “Am I worth loving?” and

“Can I trust love?”” -Pastor Rob

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you

have, because God has said,“Never will I leave you;

    never will I forsake you.”

Romans 5:8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ

died for us.

Performance Love…I can earn itBargain Love…“Let’s make a deal”

I can purchase, trade, bargain for loveSkin deep Love…I’m loved for my beauty,

or other physical qualitiesErotic Love… “Hooked on a feeling”Manipulative Love…Love used as a weapon to selfishly meet my needsWithholding Love…Weaponized love used as punishment by withholding itIndifferent Love…Pseudo love:lacks empathy, care

Types of Love

John 17:20-2420 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you

have loved me.24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with

me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of

the world.

C. Perfect love drives out fear

1 John 4:18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do

with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Fear of: Rejection Insecurity Loss Risk Failure Poor performance

D. Proper motivation to love

“I am secure in love because I am loved by God himself.

Therefore I have the unlimited capacity

to love, forgive, and serve others”

1 John 3:14-1614 We know that we have passed from

death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in

death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus

Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our

brothers and sisters.