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CONTINUING IN GOD’S LOVE
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“….AS THE FATHER HATH LOVED ME, SO
HAVE I LOVED YOU: CONTINUE IN MY
LOVE….” (JOHN 15: 9 KJV).
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The reality of God’s love is this: “…For God so loved the world, that HE GAVE his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
him should not perish, but have everlasting life…”
(John 3:16 KJV). GOD GAVE as an expression of his LOVE. “…For God SO LOVED the world, that he GAVE…”
(John 3:16 KJV). “…God ….GAVE his only begotten Son…”
(John 3:16 KJV). “…NOT that we loved God, but that HE LOVED US...” (1 John 4:10 KJV).
“….HE
FIRST LOVED US…” (1
John 4:19 ASV).
The proof of God’s love
is this: “…not that we loved God, but that he loved us
and SENT HIS SON to be the propitiation for our sins.”
(1 John 4:10 KJV).
There is NO love greater than God’s love. GOD
“…SPARED
NOT his own Son, but DELIVERED him
up FOR US ALL…”
(Romans 8:32 KJV). “…God
SHOWED HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US by “SENDING” Christ to die for us WHILE we
were still sinners…” (Romans
5:7-9 NLT). “…There is no GREATER LOVE than to lay down one’s life…” (John 15:13 NLT).
God’s love covers over a lot of offenses. “…Love COVERETH a multitude of sins…” (Proverbs
10:12, 1 Peter 4:8 ASV).
His love is fully forgiving. “…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to FORGIVE us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness…” (1 John 1:9 KJV).
God’s love doesn’t keep a record of
another person’s wrongs towards him. “…love …keeps NO RECORD of wrongs. …” (1
Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV). “…For I will …
remember their
sins NO MORE…" (Hebrews 8:12 NIV).
God’s love is enduring. He has “….loved [you]...with an EVERLASTING love….” (Jeremiah
31:3 KJV). “…Love …[that] … never FAILS….” (1
Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV).
God’s love is willing to suffer, because
God deeply desires to give you a chance to come back to Him. “…Christ also hath once SUFFERED for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might BRING US to God…” (1 Peter 3:18 KJV).
God’s love is faithful and loyal. “….The…FAITHFUL love of the Lord, [for you], NEVER
ENDS...!”(Lamentations
3:22-23 NLT).
God’s love makes a sacrifice and therefore
is costly. “…the just for the
unjust …” (1
Peter 3:18 NASB). “…Christ DIED
FOR [YOUR] SINS according to the scriptures; And …he was BURIED, and … ROSE AGAIN
the third day according to the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV).
God’s love continues, even if it does not receive anything in return. “…God, in his grace, freely MAKES US RIGHT in his sight…”
(Romans 3:21-26 NLT). “…FREELY YE HAVE
RECEIVED...” (Matthew 10:8 KJV).
God’s love does not come with a wage
attachment, where you have to somehow earn it. “…God is able to make all GRACE abound toward you…” (2
Corinthians 8:9 KJV). “…Where sin abounded, GRACE did much more abound…”
(Romans 5:20 KJV). “…My GRACE is
sufficient for thee...”
(2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV).
It does not come with a partiality tag,
where you somehow have to be worthy of it. “…I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth …I DELIGHT in these things…” (Jeremiah
9:23-24 NLT). “…HE DELIGHTETH IN
MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV). “…MERCY triumphs over judgement…” (Romans 5:20, James 2:13 NASB). “..Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of GRACE, that we may obtain MERCY…” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV). “…His MERCY endureth
for ever…” (1 Chronicles 16:34
KJV).
It does not come with a merit tag, where
somehow you have to be deserving of it. “…God showed his great love for us
by sending Christ to die for us while we were STILL sinners…”
(Romans 5:6-8 NLT). “…[His] … GRACE
is sufficient for [you]...”
(2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV).
God’s love is free towards the recipient
of it. God freely GIVES to express his LOVE and therefore, LOVES to GIVE. “…For God SO LOVED the
world, that he GAVE…” (John 3:16
KJV). “…NOT THAT WE LOVED, God, but
that HE LOVED US...” (1
John 4:10 KJV). “…HE
FIRST LOVED US…” (1 John 4:19 ASV). “…God ….GAVE his only begotten Son…” (John 3:16 KJV).
God’s love won’t change, even if the
recipient changes, walks away, rejects it, follows after another, is unfaithful, offends, or totally forgets about His love altogether. “…I am the Lord, I change
NOT…”
(Malachi 3:6 KJV). “…Jesus Christ is the
same
yesterday and today and forever”
(Hebrews 13 :8 NIV). “…If
we are unfaithful, he remains
faithful, for
he cannot deny who he is…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT).
“…Love
is
patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but
rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always
hopes, always perseveres, Love never fails…” (1
Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV). This is the
kind of love God has for you
God will never go against his nature of
Divine Love. Therefore, “…
[Nothing] … will
be able to separate … [you] … from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord…” (Romans 8:31-39 NASB). God, through
Christ, has “….loved [you]...with an everlasting love….” (Jeremiah 31:3 KJV).
Love is who God is at the core of His
being. “…God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). If there were spiritual
DNA, love would be God’s DNA. “…God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV).
“….CONTINUE IN
MY LOVE….” (JOHN 15:9 KJV). Continue means the same as
remain, or persist, or stay, or abide “IN.” In
this context, “my love” refers to
God’s expression of love toward YOU. It is God’s love for you that produces
your love for him. “…WE LOVE, because he first
loved us…” (1 John 4:19 ASV).
God’s love is a BOND that empowers the
believer to CONTINUE in unity with Him. “…Love … the perfect BOND of UNITY...”
(Colossians 3:14 NASB). “…God is LOVE…” (1
John 4:4-8 KJV). “….CONTINUE IN
MY LOVE….” (JOHN 15:9 KJV).
God’s love is a BOND that enables the
believer to CONTINUE to commune, fellowship, and stayed joined with him “…He
[or she]… that is joined unto the Lord is ONE SPIRIT….” (1 Corinthians 6:17). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…”
(John 4:24 KJV).
“….CONTINUE IN
MY LOVE….” (JOHN 15:9 KJV).
God’s love is a BOND that enables the
believer to CONTINUE to RECEIVE the benefits and provisions of his spiritual
blessings. “…Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who HATH blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings…”
(Romans 1:3 KJV).
When God says, “….CONTINUE IN
MY LOVe” it is a divine command which requires the
believer to make a choice (JOHN 15:9 KJV). “….THE WORDS that I speak unto you … they are
life…” (John 6:63 KJV). “…Choose LIFE…” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV). “…Choose you this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua
24:15 KJV). “…Jesus saith…I am …THE LIFE…”
(John 14:6 KJV).
Jesus boldly CLAIMS to be in a BOND-of-LOVE
relationship with God. “…I and the father
are one…” (John 10:30 KJV). He also boldly
CLAIMS he is the OBJECT of God’s love. “…The Father loveth
the Son…” (John 3:35 KJV). “…This is my beloved
Son…” (Matthew 3:17 KJV).
Jesus CLAIMS to LOVE, with the SAME depth,
as his FATHER has loved him. “….AS THE
FATHER HATH LOVED ME, SO HAVE I LOVED YOU….”
(JOHN 15: 9 KJV). “….CONTINUE IN
MY LOVE….” (JOHN 15:9 KJV).
“…There is
no greater love than to lay down one’s life…” (John 15:13 NLT). “…
[God]
… [makes] …us ACCEPTED in the beloved (through Jesus
Christ)…”
(Ephesians 1:6 KJV). As one of the BELOVED through Christ,
agape love BONDS, the believer, to ALL the privileges and spiritual blessings
of God’s eternal love and care. “….CONTINUE IN
MY LOVE….” (JOHN 15:9 KJV).
It is a JOY to continue in God’s love
toward you, knowing, if YOU choose, his WORD will forever enlighten, guide, and
keep you safe.
“…The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of
the Lord are right, rejoicing the
heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:
the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be
desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them
is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep
back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over
me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great
transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable
in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer…” (Psalms 19:7-14 KJV). “….CONTINUE IN
MY LOVE….” (JOHN 15:9 KJV).
It is a JOY to continue in God’s love
toward you, knowing, if YOU choose, he will satisfy your EVERY need. “….The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth
my soul….” (PSALM 23:1-3
NLT).
“…God shall supply ALL YOUR NEED according
to his riches in glory BY Christ Jesus…” (1 Corinthians 6:17
& Philippians 4:19 KJV). “….CONTINUE IN
MY LOVE….” (JOHN 15:9 KJV).
God’s love is a BOND that you CHOOSE to
respond to by STAYING attached to its perpetual, continual, outgoing and
eternal FLOW toward YOU. “…
[Nothing] … will
be able to separate … [you] … from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus
our Lord…” (Romans 8:31-39 NASB). “….CONTINUE IN
… [god’s] … LOVE….” (JOHN 15:9 KJV).
God’s love commands you to “continue” in
his love toward you, but it doesn’t DICTATE you continue; it is a free CHOICE.
To “continue” in God’s love is under your volition and your personal power.
Continuing in God’s love and learning its
depth will produce or result in your OWN genuine, agape love toward God. “…WE LOVE, because he first loved us…” (1 John 4:19 ASV).
Continuing in God’ love and experiencing
its depth will produce or result in PEACE, SAFETY, SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS, and
JOY. “…The Kingdom of God is …a matter of … living a life of goodness and peace and joy in
the Holy Spirit…” (Romans 14:17 NLT).
On the one hand, the bible said Jesus was “…a man of sorrows…” (Isaiah 53:3 KJV). On the
other hand, it says, “…Because of the JOY awaiting him, he endured the cross,
disregarding its shame…” (Hebrews 12:2 NLT). Jesus sustained his
JOY in spite of his sorrows.
It demonstrates how believers
can also experience inexpressible JOY while also dealing with the sorrows and
griefs of life. “..I have told you all this so that you may
have PEACE IN ME. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.
But take heart, because I have OVERCOME
the world…” (John 16:33 NLT).
The KEY is to remember Jesus’
JOY was drawn from within himself and his SORROWS from outside of himself. “…Because of the JOY (inside) awaiting him, he endured the cross
(outside)…” (Hebrews 12:2 NLT).
Jesus’ outside struggles, shame, pain, and
hardship, as a result of DYING brutally on the cross, did NOT impact his
POWERFUL inside JOY!
Jesus PASSES this SAME
JOY onto his people and says it will REMAIN in them, through his indwelling
spirit. “…That my JOY
might REMAIN in you, and that your JOY
might be full…” (John 15:11 NIV).
There is a JOY for God’s people that is
worth CHOOSING, in spite, of whatever else is happening or is not happening! “…my JOY …
“REMAIN” in YOU…” (John 15:11 NIV).
It is given to the believer through the
indwelling Holy Spirit. This indwelling JOY will remain forever available as a
choice such as having to choose between JOY or SADNESS. “… my JOY might
REMAIN in you …that your JOY might be full…”
(John 15:11 NIV).
Finally, there is a JOY, for the believer,
that is STABLE, DEPENDABLE, LASTING, and ever be AVAILABLE through the
indwelling Spirit. “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY…”
(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).
The believer, thus, is encouraged to
CHOOSE for themselves to RESPOND to their God-given JOY. “…The
believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit…”
(Acts 13:51-52 NLT).
The JOY that is imparted to them through
God’s indwelling Holy Spirit. “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY…”
(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…Jesus
Christ is in you…” (2 Corinthians
13:5 KJV).
The God-given JOY FILLS the heart in spite
of what is going on OUTSIDE of themselves. “…In
the world
ye shall have tribulation: but be of
good cheer (JOY);
I have overcome
the world…” (John 16:33 KJV).
Continue in the God-given JOY that
OVERRIDES and OUTLASTS all the other FLEETING or temporary JOYS such as people,
situations, material things, or wishy-wishy emotions/feelings, which ALWAYS
fade or perish with time. “…so that …
[you] … might finish … [your]
… course with joy, and
the ministry…” (Acts 20:24 KJV).
“….AS THE FATHER HATH
LOVED ME, SO HAVE I LOVED YOU: CONTINUE IN
MY LOVE….” (JOHN 15: 9 KJV).
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