The Love of God Defined

Jesus said that love is the true identification of his disciples. (John 13:34-35)

Love is seen in the Lord giving his life for us. His is a sacrificial love, a self-giving love, a love that seeks the good of others irrespective of the cost.

Question 1: From 1 John 4:7-11 and Romans 5:6-10, what is it that makes the love of God so amazing?

A person's life is an important possession. To give one's life for another is the greatest expression of love. (John 15:13) As followers of Jesus, who gave his life for us, we are called upon to imitate his love, 'And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.' (1 John 3:16)

Question 2: We know what Jesus did on our behalf. How can we imitate his love in our life? How can we become sacrificial and caring about the needs of others?

In a spirit of love, we share our material possessions with others in need, our time, our talent, etc. We do this in a sacrificial manner looking to Jesus as our example. Love and sharing cannot be separated. Sharing was a feature of the life of the early Christians. (Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32-35; Acts 11:27-30)

Question 3: What impresses you about the sharing that took place in the life of the early Christians?

Memory Verse

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. (1 John 3:16)

End of Lesson 6. Remember to conclude your time of study with prayer for the church.