It's true -- God really does love you. But what kind of love is the Father's love? This is the question I explored in Scripture in this episode inspired by Crowder's song "God Really Loves Us."
Continue soaking in John's first epistle as we look at it from a different starting point.
In this episode, I discuss the following:
Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
Repetition
Read in context
Historical context
Mark up the text
Consult an outside resource
Episode 457, where we talk about studying 1 John, seeking what it has to teach us about being a child of God
God's love is distinct from humans because he is distinct from humans
God's love is a reflection of His character
Beholding the manner of God's love - 1 John 3:1
Reviewing the historical context around John's first epistle - "The Message of John's Letters" by David Jackman - Amazon Paid Link
Deducing the theological issue of the day by what John teaches on
The literary structure of 1 John - read it more like a spiral staircase
An outside resource about God's love - "God's Love: How the Infinite God Cares for His Children" by R.C. Sproul - Amazon Paid Link
Featured verses for this episode - 1 John 4:7-8
God is the source of all genuine love as defined and displayed by Him
God is not a composite of his attributes -- all of His attributes are true of Him all the time and true of each attribute
We cannot pick and choose the attributes of God we like
Interacting with 1 John to learn about love
Love is given - 1 John 3:1
Love is perfected - 1 John 2:5, 1 John 4:12, 1 John 4:16-17