Twenty-two Aspects of Jesus’ Love
This past week we learned that, through Jesus, we have the opportunity to experience a perfect love. This is an amazing, free gift from God! The only problem with experiencing a perfect love is that we as humans don’t have a concept of what that actually means. In an effort to solve that problem, I want to share a few (22) aspects of love we have access to through Jesus. (Several asked for all 22 points from last week's sermon that Merritt did not get to cover in the allotted time.)
Jesus’ love is eternal.
John 17:24 says, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world."
Before you were ever a thought to your parents, Jesus knew you and loved you.
Jesus’ love is generous.
John 3:35: The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
As the father has loved Jesus, with his generous love, so Jesus has loved us with his generous love.
Jesus’ love is revealing.
John 5:20 says, For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.
One of the most loving things Jesus does for us is to show us his marvelous kingdom work.
Jesus’ love is proactive.
1 John 4:19: We love because he first loved us.
Jesus chased us with his love long before we ever responded to it.
Jesus’ love is certain.
Romans 8:38-39 says, For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord
Even in your worst moments, Jesus’ love for you is certain.
Jesus’ love is life-changing.
Ephesians 2:4-5 says, But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Your story is that you were once spiritually dead, but now because of Jesus’ love, you are alive.
Jesus’ love is unconditional.
Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus doesn’t love you any more or any less based on how you lived yesterday. He never withholds his affection from you when you mess up.
Jesus’ love is sacrificial.
Ephesians 5:2: And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Jesus sacrificed his perfect life for you.
Jesus’ love is limitless.
Ephesians 3:17-18: so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
His love goes deeper than the deepest darkest parts of your life. You can’t out-sin the love of Jesus.
Jesus’ love is unfathomable.
Ephesians 3:19: And to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
You could spend eternity learning new depths of Jesus’ love.
Jesus’ love is permanently present.
Romans 5:5: And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Jesus’ love is permanently present through the Holy Spirit that now dwells inside you. You are never alone.
Jesus’ love is perfect.
1 John 4:18 says, There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Jesus’ love never operates out of insecurities. This means you never have to be on guard or question whether Jesus is going to be there for you.
Jesus’ love is available.
John 3:16-17: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
No one is beyond the reach of Jesus’ love.
14. Jesus’ love feels.
John 11:35-36: Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
Jesus cares deeply about the brokenness you feel because of pain.
15. Jesus’ love exposes.
Mark 10:21-22: Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus’ love will expose the idols in our hearts.
16. Jesus’ love empowers.
John 3:35: The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
Just as God the Father has entrusted all things to Jesus, Jesus gives us major responsibilities. Scripture tells us we are his “Ambassadors.” He has empowered us to bring His gospel message to the world.
17. Jesus’ love compels.
2 Corinthians 5:14: For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
His love draws us to live in obedience to Him.
18. Jesus’ love chooses.
1 Thessalonians 1:4: For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you...
In His sovereignty and in His own affection, He looks at the worst of us and He says, “mine.”
19. Jesus’ love frees.
Revelation 1:5 says, "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood...
His love frees us from the penalty of our sin and gives us freedom from sin.
20. Jesus’ love gives identity.
1 John 3:1: See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
You were once an orphan, now you are a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
21. God loves disciplines.
Hebrews 12:6: Because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.
Even when we wander away, Jesus loves us enough to bring us back and break us down to build us back up so we can flourish in life.
22. God's love is affirming.
Matthew 3:17: And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
You are now His beloved son or daughter with whom He is well pleased.
While there is no question that Jesus’ perfect love is even abundantly more than just these 22 aspects, my hope is that these aspects would aid in expanding our view of His love for us. I encourage you to pray to God and ask him which of these aspects do you not experience in your life? Ask Him to reveal in you what keeps you from experiencing it? Maybe it’s a matter of one of the following:
1. Confronting your sin
Ask God and yourself, “Is there any unconfessed sin in my life that’s keeping me from fully experiencing your love?”
2. Confronting your disciplines
Ask God and yourself, “What disciplines in my life, or lack thereof, are prohibiting me from fully experiencing your love?”
3. Confronting your doctrine
Ask God and yourself, “Does my view of you and myself align with your Scripture?”