"THE LOVE OF GOD "

Text: "...that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fullness of God."--Ephesians 3:17b-19.

"The latitude is the breadth; the longitude is the length; the altitude is the height; the profundity is the depth of the love of God.

The love of God takes in all eternity--God is love. All is lost in its immensity. It involves all above and all below; all past and all to come.

To mankind the breadth of the love of God is a girdle encompassing creation; the length reaches from the eternal purpose of the mission of Christ to the eternity of blessedness spent in His glories. Its depth stoops to the lowest of fallen mankind and to the deepest depravity of heart. The height of God’s love reaches to the infinite dignities of the throne of Christ."

-Adam Clarke-

I. God’s love is a Divine love--It is a love only God can possess.

A. Because it is a Divine love, it is therefore a Sovereign love--it is a love that far transcends the love of man. It even goes beyond the power of the tongue to tell it and the ability of man to know its limits.

B. Because it is a Divine love, it is therefore an Eternal love--He loved us before the "foundation of the world."

C. Because it is a Divine love, it is therefore an Immutable love--It never changes. There is no decay here! "God is love!"

"What sublime language! What triumphant boast! Heaven heard it and approved! Hell heard it and trembled! Let saints on  earth hear it and rejoice!"

-James Angell James-

2. It is an Everlasting love – "...Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."--Jeremiah 31:33.

His love issues from the everlasting counsels of it to the everlasting consequences of it!

D. Because it is a Divine love, it is therefore a Perfect love—"He loves His own (unto perfection)" for He will perfect them and bring them to the city where love is perfect.

II. God’s love is a Condescending love--it is a love which God has manifested unto men by dwelling among them.

A. It is a Compassionate love--yea, an Agonizing love as He prayed in the Garden, "not for the world, but for them thou hast given Me out of the world."--John 17.

B. It is a Sympathetic love--for He was tempted in all points like as we are yet without sin. --Hebrews 4:18.

C. It is a Self-Denying love-- (He) "made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross"—Philippians 2:7,8.

D. It is on Irrespective love-- for it is shed upon the "evil and the good; the Just and the unjust."--Matthew 8:45.

E. It is a Dedicated love--"Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end!"--John 13:1

III. God’s love is an Effectual love--It accomplished salvation for His people,

A. Because it is a Substitutionary love;

B. Because it is a Forgiving love;

C. Because it is a Gracious love--It imparts grace;

D. Therefore, it is a Redeeming love.

IV. God’s love is so pure and so free, the Greeks called it an "Agape" love--a love so lofty none but God could so love. Yet sinners may never return it! Still Christ gives it.

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April 4, 1819 -- Adoniram Judson begins public worship in the language of the Burmese. Fifteen people are present in addition to children.

April 10, 1834--Adoniram Judson marries Mrs. Sarah Boardman, a widow of three years. Mr. Judson’s wife died eight years ago.

April 12. 1850--As restfully as one falls asleep, Adoniram Judson dies. The time is 4:15 in the afternoon. We are three days from the sight of the Burmese Mountains. Tonight at 8:00, his body will be committed to the waves.

April 14, 1521--Martin Luther writes his famous hymn, "A Strong Tower Is Our God" (a Mighty Fortress), at Oppenheim, Germany,