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"DO YOU TRULY LOVE GOD?"
(Mat 22:35-40)

INTRODUCTION: You might think that this is an unnecessary to ask. If one is a Christian.. 
then one loves God! When asked the question .. "Why do you love God?" ..many will respond 
because He first loved us. They may even use the scripture (1 Jhn 4:19) as there authority. 
(They would be right.) But the question this evening is ... "Do you truly love God?" Is there 
a difference ... that is the lesson of the hour.

I. There Are Many Reasons Why All Of Us Should Love God.
   A. (1 Jhn 4:19) ... "We love him, because he first loved us."
      1. There is a reason for this "reciprocal" love .. (Jam 1:17).
      2. When we view the sunshine and the rain we should be reminded of God's love.
         a. The mountains .. the lakes .. the rivers .. the oceans .. the trees .. the birds 
            .. the beauty of God's creation is "Love."
      3. He has given these signs of love to man to "have dominion over" them and care for 
         them (Gen 1:28).
   B. The best demonstration of God's love is seen in the sending of His Son to this world to 
      die for our sins .. that we might be reconciled to God (Jhn 3:16).
      1. His love is a determining factor in the nature of God (1 Jhn 4:8-9).
      2. We are placed here on earth, as God's creatures, made in His image, to glorify Him 
         (Eccl 12:13).
      3. If God loves us .. we must love God.

II. Consider The Love Of God.
   A. Most people completely overlook the other teaching God has given on this subject.
      1. God shows what true love for Him will do in our lives.
   B. Just because someone says he loves God doesn't make it so.
      1. God shows that many who claim to love Him do not love Him at all.
   C. God gives us simple tests by which we can determine if we really love Him.

III. Do You Love Your Brother? (1 Jhn 4:20-21).
   A. If we are children of God .. we are in the same family with all of God's children.
      1. If we love the Father .. we will also love the children of the Father (1 Jhn 5:1).
   B. This is more than just "proof" of our love for God .. it is a requirement for that 
      love (Jhn 13:34)(Jhn 15:12).
   C. We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10).
      1. Christ pictures that judgment scene in (Matt 25:34-40).
      2. Love demands service .. if we love our brothers and sisters .. we will serve them.
   D. The Apostle Paul shows the characteristics of love in (1 Cor 13:4-7)
      1. Unselfish ... long-suffering ... without jealousy ... looks for good instead of bad 
         .. etc.
      2. These things must be in us as regards to our brother .. if we love God.

IV. Do I Love My Neighbor? (Luk 10:29-37)
   A. Some still strive to love their brothers .. but they think they owe little or nothing 
      to others.
      1. The leaders of the Jews were somewhat like that in Jesus' day.
      2. They felt little concern for the "Gentiles" around them.
      3. Jesus showed that to love God .. we must also love our neighbor.
   B. The lawyer tried to justify himself by asking .. "Who is my neighbor?"
      1. Some today make the same argument which Jesus answered in this story.
   C. This story effectively shows that every person of every race is a neighbor to be loved 
      .. if we would love God (Gal 6:10).
   D. Certainly to love God demands that we love and serve our brothers in Christ.
      1. Our responsibility does not end there .. To love God .. we must also love our 
         neighbors .. and serve them.

V. Do you Love Your Enemy? (Mat 5:43-46)
   A. What is your reaction when someone "cheats" you? .. 
      "Lies" to You? .. "Curses" you?
      1. How do you react to someone who is constantly bitter toward you?
         a. Jesus said .. "Love them!"
   B. Looking down from the cross .. after being beaten .. scourged .. hearing the words 
      "Crucify him, crucify him!" .. having nails driven into his hands and feet ..
      1. Jesus said ... "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luk 23:34).
   C. Jesus loved us .. went to the cross to die for us (Rom 5:8-10).
      1. Now he tells us .. "Love your enemies .."
   D. We are encouraged to follow the steps of Jesus (1 Pet 2:21-24).
      1. This involves an attitude that leads to a life of true love (Phil 2:5).
   E. Instead of seeing the ugliness and evil in the lives of others ... let us learn to see 
      a soul for whom Jesus died on the cross!
      1. That will change our attitude toward them ... and we just might become the means of 
         winning them to Christ and changing their lives for eternity.

VI. Do You Fully Obey God? (1 Jhn 5:3)
   A. True love demands service .. if we love God .. we will serve Him.
      1. Those who teach that we are saved by "faith only" try to change the wording of the 
         Scriptures to make Him say that obedience is a proof of love.
      2. Love is more than an emotion that prompts us to do something ... "it is the power 
         that acts."
   B. Keeping the commandments of God is more proof of our love .. it IS love.
   C. Obeying God is loving God (Jhn 14:15).
   D. To love God as Jesus said in (Mat 22:37) means doing what He tells us. (1 Jhn 3:18)

CONCLUSION:
A. When One Is Led By the Teaching Of God .. Nothing Is Too Grievous To Obey.
   1. He believes Jesus to be the Christ (Jhn 8:24) ... He willingly repents (Luk 13:3) ... 
      and just as willingly is baptized into Christ (Mrk 16:16).
   2. He loves God with all his heart .. mind .. strength .. and soul (Mrk 12:30).
B. Some think God's requirements are too strict .. that is because of a lack of love on their 
   part (1 Jhn 5:3).
C. Because we love God .. we surrender our will to His will and live for Him.
D. Let's examine ourselves ... (2 Cor 13:5) ... "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the 
   faith; prove your own selves ..."
   1. Do you really love God? .. he wants us to love Him unconditionally!