How Can We Love an Invisible God?
Charles Spurgeon Sermon Summary
Our relationship with God requires love, faith, and knowledge, all intertwined together. Our faith needs the Holy Spirit to renew our heads and hearts because only spiritual beings know spiritual things. Therefore, we must be born again (1 John 4:16, John 3:7).
We love God because He first loved us. Such love has the following attributes (1 John 4:19).
I. Acknowledge our love for God.
Christ deserves our love, not least because of the sacrifice He made. He also demands it. For those ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of them later. Those who acknowledge Him before others will be acknowledged before His heavenly Father. Also, acknowledging Him will put them among the most blessed, like the angels in heaven (Luke 9:26, Matthew 10:32-33).
If we so acknowledge and live consistently, we may influence others and receive great blessings, because it demonstrates that we are not of this world. But beware that the world will attack us (Genesis 3:15).
II. Our love comes from knowledge and faith, knowing and believing that God loves us so much that He gave His only son so that we may have eternal life (1 John 4:16, John 3:16).
Consider how God has chosen us, redeemed us through His sacrifice, and taken us into Him. Look at His mercy supporting us daily. This will create in us a love for Him. If we don’t love Him, we are extremely ungrateful.
In this way, such love will come naturally. It can’t be forced and isn’t out of duty. We just can’t help but love Him because He first loved us. But, like love for our children, our love for God doesn’t come out all the time.
III. Our love is based on a great mystery.
It is a mystery why God loves us. We can only attribute it to His grace and faithfulness. Give God all the glory.
IV. Our love is a force sustained by a higher force, which is God’s love to us.
God’s love is extremely powerful. Nothing can stop His love.
Christ’s love compels us, and empower us to do impossible things, such as living not for ourselves but for Him (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Summary of a sermon by Charles Spurgeon, “The Secret of Loving God”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIB3MHd2EWo
We love God because He first loved us. Such love has the following attributes (1 John 4:19).
I. Acknowledge our love for God.
Christ deserves our love, not least because of the sacrifice He made. He also demands it. For those ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of them later. Those who acknowledge Him before others will be acknowledged before His heavenly Father. Also, acknowledging Him will put them among the most blessed, like the angels in heaven (Luke 9:26, Matthew 10:32-33).
If we so acknowledge and live consistently, we may influence others and receive great blessings, because it demonstrates that we are not of this world. But beware that the world will attack us (Genesis 3:15).
II. Our love comes from knowledge and faith, knowing and believing that God loves us so much that He gave His only son so that we may have eternal life (1 John 4:16, John 3:16).
Consider how God has chosen us, redeemed us through His sacrifice, and taken us into Him. Look at His mercy supporting us daily. This will create in us a love for Him. If we don’t love Him, we are extremely ungrateful.
In this way, such love will come naturally. It can’t be forced and isn’t out of duty. We just can’t help but love Him because He first loved us. But, like love for our children, our love for God doesn’t come out all the time.
III. Our love is based on a great mystery.
It is a mystery why God loves us. We can only attribute it to His grace and faithfulness. Give God all the glory.
IV. Our love is a force sustained by a higher force, which is God’s love to us.
God’s love is extremely powerful. Nothing can stop His love.
Christ’s love compels us, and empower us to do impossible things, such as living not for ourselves but for Him (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Summary of a sermon by Charles Spurgeon, “The Secret of Loving God”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIB3MHd2EWo