Romans: Election, Israel, and Covenant Mercy

Why Do You Love the Father?

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2024-10-04

Synopsis: In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver expounds 1 John 4:19, 'We love him, because he first loved us,' to explore the biblical definition of love as duty based on esteem and recognition, and to trace God's eternal, electing love for His people before the foundation of the world. He argues that God's love is demonstrated in choosing us in Christ, ordaining Christ as our propitiation, and adopting us as sons, which in turn produces our love and obedience.

[John Weaver] I want you to open your Bibles, if you would, to the book of 1st John, chapter 4. 1st John, chapter 4. And I want you to look, if you would please, at verse 19. 1st John, chapter 4, and verse 19. Very simple verse. one that most of you can quote. It just simply says this. We love him. Because he first loved us. You know, the interesting thing is, and of course, we were just talking about it before service is Alice and I wake up early. A lot of times I'll wake up at four o'clock in the morning and I can't go back to sleep. Unlike Steve now, I can't make it to 9 or 10 o'clock in the morning. And so when I can't go back to sleep, I just simply lie there and pray and think about scripture or whatever. And this past week, I woke up one morning, I forget which one it for.

[John Weaver] And I thought, well, I'm awake. And I'm not going to get up, I can go back to sleep. But let me just start praying and thinking about a scripture. And I thought about this verse. And so instead of going back to sleep, I lay there and I worked this message out in my mind because here's the title of the message. Why do you love God the Father? And the scripture says we love him because he first loved us. And so I can ask, do you love our heavenly father? And if you love him, why do you love him? And then I would also ask this question, do you understand the biblical definition and meaning of love? You have to understand that love is far more than feelings or emotions, which is given to us in the word of God.

[John Weaver] It is even more than affection. And the truth of the matter is there are many people who profess to love him, but in reality do not love him. In the text, But it says we love him because he first loved us. The Greek word is Agapao, which means not only affection, but it means to exhibit esteem and goodwill to a person. It means to prize and delight in a thing. Another Greek word which you and I are familiar with is the Greek word phileo, which also is sometimes translated as love. But that is where we also get our English word filial, and even family from in some one sense the word so we talk about filial love or family love. So this is from that Greek word philo Augustus Hopkins Strong, who was a Baptist preacher and also the author of Strong's systematic theology and Strong's concordance. He was giving a distinction between agape, the verb agapao, and the word phileo, which is another verb.

[John Weaver] And here's what he said. Listen carefully. From its supposed etymology, agapao is commonly understood properly to denote love based on esteem, as distinct from that expressed by phileo, which is spontaneous natural affection, emotional and unreasoning. If this distinction holds, agapa'o is fitly used in the New Testament of Christians' love to God and man, the spiritual affection which follows the direction of the will, and which therefore, unlike that feeling which is instinctively an unreasoning, he's talking about phileo, can be, now agapa'o, can be commanded as a duty. So I want you to listen to this. I want to emphasize this latter part. He says that Agapao is the spiritual affection which follows the direction of the will and which therefore, unlike Phileo, which is instinctive and unreasoning, Agapao can be commended as duty. So scriptural and spiritual love is based upon esteem and recognition and therefore it is a duty and consequently it also manifests itself in obedience.

[John Weaver] In other words, we recognize and admire and esteem our Heavenly Father because we look at His sovereignty, we look at His power, and we look at His authority as well as His grace and mercy. This is why when you read in the New Testament you come across passages like John 14 and verse 21 where our Lord said, he that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he It is he that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved to my father. And I will love him more manifest myself on him.

[John Weaver] But notice what he said. He that has my commandments and keepeth them. It is that love with me. When you skip down to verse twenty four, he said he loved me not. Keep it not my sayings and the word which you hear is not mine, but the fathers which had sent me. So he just got through saying, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. In other words, there is duty. based upon esteem if you do not love me you will not keep my commandments so therefore there is no love and there is no esteem that is why in first john 5 and verse 3 the bible says for this is this is the love of god you want to know what it is here it is or this is the love of god that we keep his commandments and they are not grievous unto us so love then duty based upon esteem and recognition if you turn in your Bibles whole first John, please But turn back in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 13 Romans

[John Weaver] chapter 13 and let's be in reading their verse 8 and Let's read through verse 10 watch carefully Romans chapter 13 at verse 8 God says oh no man anything is but to love one another. Now here's an interesting statement. For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. Now wait a minute. For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Then he says this in verse 10, love worketh no ill to his neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. So biblical love then is obedience based upon esteem and recognition, of course, affections and emotions would be ultimately involved in one way or the other, but primarily It is indeed obedience based upon recognition and esteem as well. Now, love to God the Father and love to the Lord Jesus Christ is obedience based upon our esteem and our recognition of their persons and their authority.

[John Weaver] Likewise, what he is saying is we treat our neighbors as he commands us as long as we are obedient to his law Toward them, it is an expression of biblical love. So when God tells us to love our neighbors, when God tells us to love our enemies, he is not commanding us to have affection for them. He's not commanded us to have emotions for them. He's commanding us to be obedient, according to his law toward them.

[John Weaver] Now, the question is this. The scripture says we love him because he first loved us. Ha. Wow, when you stop and think about that, God first loved us. The Greek word for first is the word protos, which literally means first in time or place, or first in any succession of things or persons. So God is telling us that the only reason that we love him is because he first loved us. Now, you would have to think and ask yourself this question. When did he first love us? And how did he love us? And did he love us in a peculiar, specific and distinct way? In fact, the word of God tells us that he loved us before the world was ever created. He loved us before we were ever born. He loved us before we ever had any existence. So his love then isn't only prior to our being, it is prior to our creation.

[John Weaver] So I want you to look back in your Bibles, oh first John, then go back in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah chapter 31 and look if you would please at verse 3. Jeremiah 31 and verse 3. Look what the scripture says. Jeremiah 31 verse 3. Jeremiah wrote it like this. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore, with loving kindness, I have drawn thee. So God says, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore, with loving kindness, have I drawn thee.

[John Weaver] Now, the Hebrew word for everlasting is the word Olam, and it refers to that which is from eternity. that which is everlasting, that which has a continuous existence, that which is perpetual, that which is never ending. So here's an interesting thing. God's love for his people is not off and on. It is not something that's up and down. It is something that began in eternity and it continues into eternity. It is a never ending love.

[John Weaver] Now, there's a couplet that I read across years ago. that expresses this quite easily. It goes like this, yesterday he loved me, today he's just the same. How long will this continue? Forever, praise his name. So we're told then that God has set his love upon us from all eternity, from before the foundation of the world. God did not start loving us in time. Time began with creation. God did not begin loving us when we repented and were converted. No, God loved us before the foundation of the world.

[John Weaver] So I want you to look at this and follow with me, if you would, please. Turn, if you would, to the book of Ephesians chapter one. You know this passage well, I'm sure. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. Look in Galatians chapter one or I'm sorry, Ephesians chapter one. Notice if you would please beginning there with verse 3 look at what the Bible says Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 3 the Word of God says blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who had blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ? According as he had chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will. Now, I call your attention once again to verse four, where the Bible says, according as he has chosen us in him, that is in Jesus Christ. Note this phrase before the foundation of the world.

[John Weaver] So before the world was ever created, God chose us in Jesus Christ. If you would turn right over to the book of Second Thessalonians on our second, Timothy, second Timothy, if you would. Second Timothy, chapter one and verse eight. Second Timothy, chapter one in verse eight. Paul is writing to Timothy and he says this. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor me his prisoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. So we're talking about the power of God. Now watch this. Who, God himself, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, he did that in time, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began. So God chose us before the foundation of the world, according to his purpose. And then the Bible tells us that he gave us grace in Jesus Christ before the world began. Now, if you would turn over just a few pages to the book of Titus, And look in Titus chapter one.

[John Weaver] And let's read the first three verses here. Then I'm going to tie these passages together for you. So notice if you would Titus chapter one, verse one, Paul, an apostle or a servant of Jesus Christ, a servant of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect. And the acknowledging of the truth, which is after godliness. Now, look at this. in hope of eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began, but hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, note now, which is which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior. Now go back, if you would, and look at verse two. He says, in hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie promised before the world began. So here's my question. If God promised eternal life before the world began, to whom did he promise it? If he chose us before the world began, if he gave us grace before the world began, In whom did he give us his grace?

[John Weaver] In whom did he choose us? And whom did he promise it? And the answer is he gave it to us in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. So if you would turn right on over to the book of Hebrews, chapter 13. Hebrews, chapter 13. And look, if you would, please, beginning there, verse 20, Hebrews 13, verse 20. The Bible says, now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood, here it is, of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. So note, if you would please, in verse 20, the Bible says that the God of peace brought again from the dead, our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant. So before the world was ever created, before you and I ever had any existence, there was an eternal covenant where God the Father gave to God the Son of people.

[John Weaver] You can read that in John 17 for yourself. God the Son then agreed to undertake for those people and then God the Holy Spirit agreed to apply the salvation that Jesus Christ purchased. So you have this eternal covenant that was entered into between God, the Father, God, the Son and God, the Holy Spirit, before the world ever began. And it referred to the people then that God had given to the Lord Jesus Christ. That's why the Bible tells you in Ephesians one in verse four, we were chosen in him before the foundation of the world. That's why the Bible tells you we were given in grace. Christ before the foundation of the world and we were promised eternal life before the foundation of the world in Jesus Christ Now so many people want to deny God's eternal election What they want to do is say that God only chose us In time when we repented and were converted. That's not an election.

[John Weaver] That is a confirmation Okay? Ha! He chose us, the Bible says, very plainly. Now, listen carefully. I want you to look back at Ephesians chapter 1, and I want you to go ahead and turn in your Bibles, if you would, to 1 Peter chapter 1 as well, because I want you to see this. I want you to look in Ephesians chapter 1, again, at a passage we just read. particularly verse 4. Look at this. Ephesians 1 verse 4, according as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and not blamed before him in love. So now I don't know how you can deny that passage. The Bible says explicitly that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. Now, Some people say, well, I don't believe that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. Well, in that case, let me tell you this. You have a very serious problem. What is your serious problem? Well, look in your Bibles, your first Peter, chapter one, and let's read verses 18 through 20.

[John Weaver] Look at this first Peter, chapter one, verses 18 through 20. For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, what was manifest in these last times for you. Wow! Do you realize when you read who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world." When you look at that phrase, before the foundation of the world, the wording and the construction in 1 Peter 1 and verse 20 is exactly the same wording and construction as Ephesians 1 and verse 4. So if you deny then the election of God's people before the foundation of the world, To be consistent, you would have to deny the fact that Jesus Christ was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, because the wording and the construction are exactly the same. So, if Jesus Christ was indeed ordained by God the Father before the foundation of the world, then we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.

[John Weaver] To deny one, to be consistent, you would have to deny the other. Anytime you want to deny the election and predestination and ordination of Jesus Christ as our substitutionary penal sacrifice, you would also be denying our eternal election, or if you deny our eternal election, you're also denying that Jesus Christ was chosen by God before the foundation of the world. So, The truth of the matter is God did not begin loving us when we repented and when we came to Him. The truth is He loved us while we were sinners. He loved us when we were in rebellion against Him.

[John Weaver] Before we were ever created. Before we were ever sinners. Before we had ever transgressed. He knew every sin that we would ever commit. He knew every transgression. He knew every fault, every failing. He knew everything about us. And yet the scripture tells us he set his love upon us anyhow.

[John Weaver] Now there's a verse in Romans 5 and verse 8. You should be able to quote. Here it is. But God commendeth his love toward us. And that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. So God knew when he chose us that we would be sinners. He knew that we would sin. And he set his love upon us, and he gave Jesus Christ to us before the foundation of the world.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 4. 1 Corinthians chapter 4. I want you to hold on to this one. I asked you earlier, do you love God the Father? If so, why do you love God the Father? Well, the scripture tells us in 1 Peter that Jesus Christ died that just for the unjust that he might bring us back to God.

[John Weaver] And that is exactly what he did. But I want you to look in 1 Corinthians 4 and verse 7. For here's the question the Apostle Paul asked these Corinthians. For whom maketh thee to differ from another? And what is thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, what is thou glorying as thou hast not received it? Now look at this first question. For whom maketh thee to differ from another?

[John Weaver] Why are you not a murderer? Why are you not a rapist? Why are you not a worshipper of the Hindu gods? Why are you a Christian? Who made you to differ? And then he asks this question, what is thou that thou didst not receive? Let's see. God gave us faith. God gave us grace. God gave us repentance. God gave us the ability to come savingly to Jesus Christ. Everything that you and I have that relates to spirituality, that relates to grace, that relates to mercy. God gave that to us. And then he said, if we received everything from God, why in the world would we glory as if we had not received it? In other words, if we had not been given that which God gave unto us, we'd be just like everybody else. It is God who made the difference.

[John Weaver] I've had family members that were not believers. I've had neighbors that were not believers. I have friends that are not believers. Who made me to differ? It was God. because he set his love upon us before the foundation of the world. Now, if God had not intervened, if God had not chosen us, there would be no difference. All would be condemned and all would perish. So I want you to turn in your Bibles back, if you would please, to the book of Romans, chapter 9. Romans, chapter 9. And look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 6. I want to read through this. Look at this Romans nine and verse six. Look at this. Not as though the word of God had taken on effect.

[John Weaver] He says where they are not all Israel, which are off Israel. Neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children. But in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

[John Weaver] Now, let me go back. I'm going to just point this out again. He said in verse six, for they're not all Israel who are of Israel. So just because someone wasn't Israelite did not mean that they were saved. In fact, you got to read in the book of Hebrews where with many of them, God was not well pleased. Yeah, and all of them fell in the wilderness except two. So notice they're not all Israel, which are of Israel.

[John Weaver] Neither because are they the seed of Abraham, that is, the physical seed, or they are children. Why? But in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That's the child of promise. Then if you don't understand that, he explains it further. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are going to receive. For this is the word of promise, at this time will I come and Sarah shall have a son. And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by her father Isaac, for the children being not yet born, neither having done good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of works, but of him that calleth.

[John Weaver] It was said in her, the elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but he so have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid, that is perish the thought, don't even think that. For he said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion, so that it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.

[John Weaver] For the scripture said unto Pharaoh, even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Now look at this conclusion. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Now I want to show you something. The conclusion that the Apostle Paul draws in Romans chapter 9 is the same conclusion that Isaiah placed and put forward in Isaiah 1 in verse 9. So if you'll skip down in your Bibles to Romans 9 in verse 29, here he's quoting Isaiah. And as Isaiah said before, except the Lord of the Sabbath had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom and been made like unto Gomorrah. So Sodom and Gomorrah were totally wiped out. So he said, except God had chosen some, none would be saved. So God has done nothing to the reprobate except leave them alone in their sins. On the part of the elect, all God did was quicken us and give us his grace and mercy so that we desired him and wanted to come to him.

[John Weaver] In other words, God gives us that which we want because he changed our want us and God gives the unsaved that which they want Because they do not want him. There's nothing unjust in that whatsoever And you remember in 1st Samuel chapter 17 David went out to face Goliath and the Bible says that he stooped down and chose him out five smooth stones from the river. Chose out five smooth stones. What did he do to the rest of the stones? Nothing.

[John Weaver] Just left them where they were. But he took five. So that's what God does when he chose us. He just chose us. He did not do one thing to the rest of the reprobate. They were already reprobate. They were already condemned. And so God simply chose us out. Now, here's the thing. I want you to go back in your Bibles. The first John chapter four. I want to tie this together because we looked at verse 19 when the Bible says we love him because he first loved us. Now we should look at verse 10. Because here he says something else here in his love. Not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. Now, wait a minute. He earned his love, not that we love God, but that he loved us. When did he love us?

[John Weaver] Before the foundation of the world. When did he ordain his son to be the sacrifice before the foundation of the world? Here in his love, not that we love God, but he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. So he not only loved us before the foundation of the world, he not only chose us before the foundation of the world, he gave us Jesus Christ. He ordained Jesus Christ to be our substitute and to be our sacrifice before the foundation of the world. And in God's appointed time, The Bible tells us in the book of Galatians chapter four, God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the law to redeem them under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons. So that is what Paul said in the book of Titus. Yes, he promises eternal life in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world.

[John Weaver] But in due times, he manifested that promise through the preaching of the gospel. Now, I want you to look again at verse nine in this was manifested over God toward us. Well, let's say let's. say it in verse 9, because if God sent his only begotten son in the world, that we might live through him. I'm going to come back to that. But look at verse 10. Here it is love, not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. So the word propitiation is the Greek word halasmos. And the word halasmos means to placate. It means to appease. It means to satisfy. Now I want to give you another word. Propitiation includes expiation. Expiation means to atone for, it means to make amends, it means reparation in one sense of the word, but it does so by the washing away of our sins. So what does it mean, then, when the Bible says that Jesus Christ is our propitiation? Well, it simply means this, that God had a righteous, holy anger and wrath against us because of our sins, because of our wickedness, because we were depraved.

[John Weaver] And what God did through his son, Jesus Christ, was he sent Jesus Christ who was perfectly obedient to the law of God, and then gave himself as a sacrifice to propitiate, that is, to appease and placate and satisfy the wrath and the justice and the righteousness and the holiness of God, and in doing that, he expiated, that is, he washed away, he atoned for our sins. Here's another word. In this, he reconciled us to God the Father. So when you stop and think about this, all of our sins, past, present, and future, have been expiated by the sacrifice, by the propitiation of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it was God the Father who sent His only begotten Son to be our propitiation.

[John Weaver] Now, when we talk about expiation, you have to understand expiation like this. And no sinner could stand in the presence of God, nothing unclean could stand in the presence of God. So therefore, not only does God's wrath have to be propitiated, appeased and placated in sacrifice, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But then in that sacrifice, there must be a washing away of our sins as well.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look back in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter three. I'm not through with this thought. Look at Romans chapter three. And notice, if you would, beginning there with verse 24, Romans chapter three, verse 24. This to me is an amazing passage. I've mentioned it many times, but look at verse 24. The Bible says being justified freely by his grace. Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

[John Weaver] Now look at verse 25, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness, that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth on Jesus Christ. Now, God is just because he was propitiated through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Now, he can justify sinners based upon the sacrifice of Jesus Christ because of the expiation of our sins. But hang on. Here's what I want to call your attention, verse 25, whom God hath sent forth.

[John Weaver] I'm going to come back to that. But now there's a good illustration given to us in the Old Testament. Everyone remembers on the day of atonement, once a year, the high priest went into the holiest of all, but he did not go in without the blood of atonement. And he took that blood and he sprinkled it on the ark and on the mercy seat. The blood then was a covering. In other words, it was a covering for the sins of the people through the sacrifice of an innocent victim, that animal.

[John Weaver] Now, those animal sacrifices could not take away sin. All they did was cover that sin until the true Lamb of God came to take the sin away. So if you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter nine, you will see this stated very plainly. Hebrews chapter nine, beginning there with verse six. Look at this. Hebrews nine and verse six.

[John Weaver] Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the errors of his people, or the errors of the people. The Holy Ghost thus signifying that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing.

[John Weaver] Now look at this, which was a figure or a type for the time then present in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices that could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience, which stood only in meats and drinks and divers washings and carnal ordinances imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle made without hands, that is to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of goats or calves, but by his own blood, he entered into once in the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctified to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

[John Weaver] And for this cause, he is the mediator of the New Testament. that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, that they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back over just a few pages to 1 Peter once again, and look if you would, beginning there with verse 18. We read this earlier, but I want you to see it in light of what I just said. 1 Peter 1 verse 18, for as much as you know, you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers.

[John Weaver] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish, without spot, who very was ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. Now, I read that those passages to call your attention to one thing back in Romans chapter 3 and verse 25 we're talking about Jesus Christ being the propitiation and the Bible says in Romans 3 in verse 25 whom God set forth to be a propitiation for our sins The phrase, set forth, is from the Greek word, pro-tithemi, or pro-tithemi. The word actually means to place before, to cause to stand in front of, to expose to public view. Pro is the preposition which means to, before, or in front of, and tithemi means to cause to stand. So Jesus Christ was caused to stand in front of everyone to be the propitiation which God has ordained.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 3. I want you to see how the Apostle Paul used this. Look in Galatians chapter 3 in verse 1. Look at this. Galatians 3 in verse 1 God says all foolish Galatians Who has bewitched you? That you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ have been evidently set forth crucified among you Wow The words set forth literally means, to be billboarded, to be placarded. In other words, Jesus Christ was depicted, portrayed, painted before them in such a way, a public way, The apostle Paul said, I don't understand how you could not obey the Lord Jesus Christ. He's been evidently set forth among you. Jesus Christ was set forth publicly as God's propitiation. He was shamefully stripped, mocked, ridiculed, quipped, blasphemed, and crucified in public view. He was set forth. Now, I want you to turn, if you would, to the book of Hebrews chapter 12. And look with me, please, at verse 2.

[John Weaver] And then we'll make some applications. Look at Hebrews 12 and verse 2. The scripture says, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Now, I understand despising the shame. When you think of what was done to the Lord Jesus Christ, how he's mocked and ridiculed, stripped. I understand that. And it said down to the right hand of the Lord of God, I understand his ascension, I understand his glorification.

[John Weaver] I have no problem with that. I have no problem with him despising the shame. But I'll tell you what does grab me in this verse. But it says, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross. That joy was redeeming his people, saving us. to stop and think that God the Father had delighted us and God the Son had delighted us and he counted his crucifixion and he counted all of the shameful things done to him as a joy? That boggles my mind. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame that is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

[John Weaver] So, in my early morning meditation, I had to ask myself this question. How can I not love Him? How can I not serve Him? How can I not worship Him? How can I not obey Him? Such wondrous love that was manifested by God the Father and that He chose us and loved us while we were yet sinners. I mean, He knew that we were sinners. He knew we were going to sin.

[John Weaver] And he sent his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be our propitiation. And our Lord said it was for his it was his joy that he endured the cross, despising the shame to redeem us. That's not all. I want you to look in your Bibles. Look in your Bibles, your first John, chapter three and verse one. First John three and verse one. Look at this. Look at this. 1 John 3 verse 1.

[John Weaver] Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not. Did you see what I just read? What manner of love. What magnitude of love. What enormous love! The Father had bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God. So He not only loved us before the foundation of the world, He not only sent His Son to be the propitiation for us, He not only expiated our sins, He adopted us into His family, so that we are now the sons of God.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to watch this. Verse 1 of 1 John 3. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us. The word bestowed is the Greek word didomi, which means a gift. It means the bestowal of something on someone of his own accord. So God graciously on his own accord, adopted us, regenerated us, converted us, gave us repentance and faith, and made us his sons. Now, I want you to look at 1 John 4 and verse 9.

[John Weaver] That brings me to this truth. I read it earlier. And this was manifested, the love of God toward us. Because that God sent his only begotten son in the world, look at this, that we might live through him. In him, we live and move and have our being. Our Lord said, without me you can do nothing. Set your affection on things above where Christ, sit at the right hand of God. Everything that we are, everything that we do, everything we should do, should be in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. We're to live through him. What was it the Apostle Paul said, for me to live as Christ, to die as King?

[John Weaver] Think about this when you get home. We love Him because He first loved us. Had God not loved us, we would never love Him. We would never want Him. We would never desire Him. We'd be lost as anyone else, doing our own thing, fulfilling the lust of the flesh and of the eyes and the pride of life. If you want to really be humbled before Him, think about this. Here in His love, not that we loved Him, but that He loved us and send His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. If it ever hits your mind and stirs your heart, you will be saying, oh Lord, I love Thee, but only because Thou didst first love me and only because Thou didst send Your only begotten Son to be the propitiation for my sins. For without thee, I am nothing and I can do nothing. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee.

[John Weaver] We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. And Lord, I pray that you'd impress upon our hearts the greatness of your love for us, the greatness in sending the Lord Jesus Christ the greatness in washing away our sins, the greatness in giving Him that we might live through Him. May we praise Thee and worship Thee and serve Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray. Amen.

[John Weaver] ♪

Why Do You Love the Father?

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	SvlENTwx-d8
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Election, Israel, and Covenant Mercy
Genre	Sermon
Date	2024-10-04
Dictation Name
Book	Book 138: Romans-Related Topical Applications — Chapter 22
Source Timed Segments	57

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and the Question of Love

Weaver introduces 1 John 4:19 and poses the central question: Why do you love God the Father? He emphasizes that biblical love is more than emotion; it is duty based on esteem.

I want you to open your Bibles, if you would, to the book of 1 John, chapter 4. 1 John, chapter 4. And I want you to look, if you would please, at verse 19. 1 John, chapter 4, and verse 19. Very simple verse, one that most of you can quote. It just simply says this:

Scripture Reading — 1 John 4:19

"We love him, because he first loved us."

You know, the interesting thing is—and of course, we were just talking about it before service—is Alice and I wake up early. A lot of times I'll wake up at four o'clock in the morning and I can't go back to sleep. Unlike Steve now, I can't make it to 9 or 10 o'clock in the morning. And so when I can't go back to sleep, I just simply lie there and pray and think about scripture or whatever. And this past week, I woke up one morning, I forget which one it was.

And I thought, well, I'm awake. And I'm not going to get up, I can't go back to sleep. But let me just start praying and thinking about a scripture. And I thought about this verse. And so instead of going back to sleep, I lay there and I worked this message out in my mind because here's the title of the message: "Why Do You Love God the Father?" And the scripture says we love him because he first loved us. And so I can ask, do you love our heavenly Father? And if you love him, why do you love him? And then I would also ask this question: Do you understand the biblical definition and meaning of love? You have to understand that love is far more than feelings or emotions, which is given to us in the word of God.

The Biblical Definition of Love

Love (agapaō) is distinguished from phileō as a spiritual affection following the will, commanded as duty, and manifested in obedience to God's commandments.

It is even more than affection. And the truth of the matter is there are many people who profess to love him, but in reality do not love him. In the text, it says we love him because he first loved us. The Greek word is agapaō, which means not only affection, but it means to exhibit esteem and goodwill to a person. It means to prize and delight in a thing. Another Greek word which you and I are familiar with is the Greek word phileō, which also is sometimes translated as love. But that is where we also get our English word "filial," and even "family" from in some sense the word. So we talk about filial love or family love. So this is from that Greek word phileō. Augustus Hopkins Strong, who was a Baptist preacher and also the author of Strong's Systematic Theology and Strong's Concordance, he was giving a distinction between agapē, the verb agapaō, and the word phileō, which is another verb.

And here's what he said. Listen carefully. "From its supposed etymology, agapaō is commonly understood properly to denote love based on esteem, as distinct from that expressed by phileō, which is spontaneous natural affection, emotional and unreasoning. If this distinction holds, agapaō is fitly used in the New Testament of Christians' love to God and man, the spiritual affection which follows the direction of the will, and which therefore, unlike that feeling which is instinctively and unreasoning"—he's talking about phileō—"can be"—now agapaō—"can be commanded as a duty." So I want you to listen to this. I want to emphasize this latter part. He says that agapaō is the spiritual affection which follows the direction of the will and which therefore, unlike phileō, which is instinctive and unreasoning, agapaō can be commanded as duty. So scriptural and spiritual love is based upon esteem and recognition and therefore it is a duty and consequently it also manifests itself in obedience.

In other words, we recognize and admire and esteem our Heavenly Father because we look at His sovereignty, we look at His power, and we look at His authority as well as His grace and mercy. This is why when you read in the New Testament you come across passages like John 14 and verse 21 where our Lord said,

Scripture Reading — John 14:24

"He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

But notice what he said. "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me." When you skip down to verse 24, he said,

Scripture Reading — John 14:24

"He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."

So he just got through saying, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. In other words, there is duty based upon esteem. If you do not love me, you will not keep my commandments. So therefore there is no love and there is no esteem. That is why in 1 John 5 and verse 3 the Bible says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." So love then is duty based upon esteem and recognition. If you turn in your Bibles to 1 John, please—but turn back in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 13.

Romans chapter 13, and let's begin reading there at verse 8, and let's read through verse 10. Watch carefully. Romans chapter 13 at verse 8:

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another."

Now here's an interesting statement.

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

Now wait a minute.

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Then he says this in verse 10:

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

So biblical love then is obedience based upon esteem and recognition. Of course, affections and emotions would be ultimately involved in one way or the other, but primarily it is indeed obedience based upon recognition and esteem as well. Now, love to God the Father and love to the Lord Jesus Christ is obedience based upon our esteem and our recognition of their persons and their authority.

Love as Obedience to God's Law

Using Romans 13:8-10, Weaver shows that love fulfills the law, meaning love toward God and neighbor is obedience based on recognition of God's authority.

But notice what he said. "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me." When you skip down to verse 24, he said,

Scripture Reading — John 14:24

"He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."

Romans chapter 13, and let's begin reading there at verse 8, and let's read through verse 10. Watch carefully. Romans chapter 13 at verse 8:

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another."

Now here's an interesting statement.

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

Now wait a minute.

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Then he says this in verse 10:

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

Likewise, what he is saying is we treat our neighbors as he commands us as long as we are obedient to his law toward them. It is an expression of biblical love. So when God tells us to love our neighbors, when God tells us to love our enemies, he is not commanding us to have affection for them. He's not commanding us to have emotions for them. He's commanding us to be obedient according to his law toward them.

Now, the question is this. The scripture says we love him because he first loved us. Ha! Wow, when you stop and think about that, God first loved us. The Greek word for "first" is the word prōtos, which literally means first in time or place, or first in any succession of things or persons. So God is telling us that the only reason that we love him is because he first loved us. Now, you would have to think and ask yourself this question: When did he first love us? And how did he love us? And did he love us in a peculiar, specific, and distinct way? In fact, the word of God tells us that he loved us before the world was ever created. He loved us before we were ever born. He loved us before we ever had any existence. So his love then isn't only prior to our being, it is prior to our creation.

God's Everlasting Love Before Time

God's love is eternal, as seen in Jeremiah 31:3, and was set upon His people before the foundation of the world, not in response to our repentance.

So I want you to look back in your Bibles—oh, 1 John—then go back in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah chapter 31 and look, if you would please, at verse 3. Jeremiah 31 and verse 3. Look what the scripture says. Jeremiah 31 verse 3. Jeremiah wrote it like this:

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 31:3

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

So God says,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 31:3

"I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

Now, the Hebrew word for "everlasting" is the word olam, and it refers to that which is from eternity, that which is everlasting, that which has a continuous existence, that which is perpetual, that which is never ending. So here's an interesting thing. God's love for his people is not off and on. It is not something that's up and down. It is something that began in eternity and it continues into eternity. It is a never ending love.

Now, there's a couplet that I read across years ago that expresses this quite easily. It goes like this: "Yesterday He loved me, today He's just the same. How long will this continue? Forever, praise His name." So we're told then that God has set his love upon us from all eternity, from before the foundation of the world. God did not start loving us in time. Time began with creation. God did not begin loving us when we repented and were converted. No, God loved us before the foundation of the world.

So I want you to look at this and follow with me, if you would, please. Turn, if you would, to the book of Ephesians chapter 1. You know this passage well, I'm sure. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. Look in Ephesians chapter 1. Notice, if you would please, beginning there with verse 3. Look at what the Bible says. Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 3:

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 1:3-5

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."

Now, I call your attention once again to verse 4, where the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 1:3-5

"according as he hath chosen us in him"

—that is in Jesus Christ—note this phrase:

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 1:3-5

"before the foundation of the world."

Election and Grace Before the World Began

Ephesians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:8-9, and Titus 1:2 show that God chose us, gave us grace, and promised eternal life in Christ before creation, tied to the everlasting covenant.

So before the world was ever created, God chose us in Jesus Christ. If you would turn right over to the book of 2 Timothy—2 Timothy, if you would. 2 Timothy, chapter 1 and verse 8. 2 Timothy, chapter 1 in verse 8. Paul is writing to Timothy and he says this:

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 1:8-9

"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God."

So we're talking about the power of God. Now watch this. "Who"—God himself—

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 1:8-9

"who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."

So God chose us before the foundation of the world, according to his purpose. And then the Bible tells us that he gave us grace in Jesus Christ before the world began. Now, if you would turn over just a few pages to the book of Titus, and look in Titus chapter 1.

And let's read the first three verses here. Then I'm going to tie these passages together for you. So notice if you would Titus chapter 1, verse 1:

Scripture Reading — Titus 1:1-3

"Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; but hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour."

Now go back, if you would, and look at verse 2. He says,

Scripture Reading — Titus 1:1-3

"in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began."

So here's my question. If God promised eternal life before the world began, to whom did he promise it? If he chose us before the world began, if he gave us grace before the world began, in whom did he give us his grace?

In whom did he choose us? And to whom did he promise it? And the answer is he gave it to us in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. So if you would turn right on over to the book of Hebrews, chapter 13. Hebrews, chapter 13. And look, if you would, please, beginning there at verse 20. Hebrews 13, verse 20. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 13:20

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

So note, if you would please, in verse 20, the Bible says that the God of peace brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. So before the world was ever created, before you and I ever had any existence, there was an eternal covenant where God the Father gave to God the Son a people.

You can read that in John 17 for yourself. God the Son then agreed to undertake for those people and then God the Holy Spirit agreed to apply the salvation that Jesus Christ purchased. So you have this eternal covenant that was entered into between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, before the world ever began. And it referred to the people then that God had given to the Lord Jesus Christ. That's why the Bible tells you in Ephesians 1 and verse 4, we were chosen in him before the foundation of the world. That's why the Bible tells you we were given grace in Christ before the foundation of the world and we were promised eternal life before the foundation of the world in Jesus Christ. Now so many people want to deny God's eternal election. What they want to do is say that God only chose us in time when we repented and were converted. That's not an election.

The Consistency of Eternal Election and Christ's Foreordination

1 Peter 1:18-20 uses the same construction as Ephesians 1:4, so denying eternal election requires denying Christ's foreordination as the Lamb slain before the world began.

That is a confirmation. Okay? Ha! He chose us, the Bible says, very plainly. Now, listen carefully. I want you to look back at Ephesians chapter 1, and I want you to go ahead and turn in your Bibles, if you would, to 1 Peter chapter 1 as well, because I want you to see this. I want you to look in Ephesians chapter 1, again, at a passage we just read, particularly verse 4. Look at this. Ephesians 1 verse 4: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." So now I don't know how you can deny that passage. The Bible says explicitly that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. Now, some people say, "Well, I don't believe that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world." Well, in that case, let me tell you this. You have a very serious problem. What is your serious problem? Well, look in your Bibles, 1 Peter, chapter 1, and let's read verses 18 through 20.

Look at this. 1 Peter, chapter 1, verses 18 through 20:

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 1:18-20

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you."

Wow! Do you realize when you read

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 1:18-20

"who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world,"

when you look at that phrase,

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 1:18-20

"before the foundation of the world,"

the wording and the construction in 1 Peter 1 and verse 20 is exactly the same wording and construction as Ephesians 1 and verse 4. So if you deny then the election of God's people before the foundation of the world, to be consistent, you would have to deny the fact that Jesus Christ was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, because the wording and the construction are exactly the same. So, if Jesus Christ was indeed ordained by God the Father before the foundation of the world, then we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.

To deny one, to be consistent, you would have to deny the other. Anytime you want to deny the election and predestination and ordination of Jesus Christ as our substitutionary penal sacrifice, you would also be denying our eternal election, or if you deny our eternal election, you're also denying that Jesus Christ was chosen by God before the foundation of the world. So, the truth of the matter is God did not begin loving us when we repented and when we came to Him. The truth is He loved us while we were sinners. He loved us when we were in rebellion against Him.

God's Sovereign Choice and Human Inability

Romans 9 and 1 Corinthians 4:7 demonstrate that God alone makes believers to differ; He chose us while we were sinners, leaving the reprobate to their own ways.

Before we were ever created. Before we were ever sinners. Before we had ever transgressed. He knew every sin that we would ever commit. He knew every transgression. He knew every fault, every failing. He knew everything about us. And yet the scripture tells us he set his love upon us anyhow.

Now there's a verse in Romans 5 and verse 8. You should be able to quote it. Here it is:

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:8

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

So God knew when he chose us that we would be sinners. He knew that we would sin. And he set his love upon us, and he gave Jesus Christ to us before the foundation of the world.

Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 4. 1 Corinthians chapter 4. I want you to hold on to this one. I asked you earlier, do you love God the Father? If so, why do you love God the Father? Well, the scripture tells us in 1 Peter that Jesus Christ died, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us back to God. And that is exactly what he did. But I want you to look in 1 Corinthians 4 and verse 7. For here's the question the Apostle Paul asked these Corinthians:

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 4:7

"For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"

Now look at this first question:

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 4:7

"For who maketh thee to differ from another?"

Why are you not a murderer? Why are you not a rapist? Why are you not a worshipper of the Hindu gods? Why are you a Christian? Who made you to differ? And then he asks this question: "What hast thou that thou didst not receive?" Let's see. God gave us faith. God gave us grace. God gave us repentance. God gave us the ability to come savingly to Jesus Christ. Everything that you and I have that relates to spirituality, that relates to grace, that relates to mercy, God gave that to us. And then he said, if we received everything from God, why in the world would we glory as if we had not received it? In other words, if we had not been given that which God gave unto us, we'd be just like everybody else. It is God who made the difference.

I've had family members that were not believers. I've had neighbors that were not believers. I have friends that are not believers. Who made me to differ? It was God, because he set his love upon us before the foundation of the world. Now, if God had not intervened, if God had not chosen us, there would be no difference. All would be condemned and all would perish. So I want you to turn in your Bibles back, if you would please, to the book of Romans, chapter 9. Romans, chapter 9. And look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 6. I want to read through this. Look at this. Romans 9 and verse 6:

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect."

He says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called."

Now, let me go back. I'm going to just point this out again. He said in verse 6,

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel."

So just because someone was an Israelite did not mean that they were saved. In fact, you can read in the book of Hebrews where with many of them God was not well pleased. Yeah, and all of them fell in the wilderness except two. So notice,

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"They are not all Israel, which are of Israel." "Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children"

—that is, the physical seed—

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called."

That's the child of promise. Then if you don't understand that, he explains it further.

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)" "It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid."

That is, perish the thought, don't even think that.

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." "For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth."

Now I want to show you something. The conclusion that the Apostle Paul draws in Romans chapter 9 is the same conclusion that Isaiah placed and put forward in Isaiah 1 in verse 9. So if you'll skip down in your Bibles to Romans 9 in verse 29, here he's quoting Isaiah.

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha."

So Sodom and Gomorrah were totally wiped out. So he said, except God had chosen some, none would be saved. So God has done nothing to the reprobate except leave them alone in their sins. On the part of the elect, all God did was quicken us and give us his grace and mercy so that we desired him and wanted to come to him.

In other words, God gives us that which we want because he changed our want-to. And God gives the unsaved that which they want because they do not want him. There's nothing unjust in that whatsoever. And you remember in 1 Samuel chapter 17, David went out to face Goliath and the Bible says that he stooped down and chose him five smooth stones from the river. Chose out five smooth stones. What did he do to the rest of the stones? Nothing.

Just left them where they were. But he took five. So that's what God does when he chose us. He just chose us. He did not do one thing to the rest of the reprobate. They were already reprobate. They were already condemned. And so God simply chose us out. Now, here's the thing. I want you to go back in your Bibles to 1 John chapter 4. I want to tie this together because we looked at verse 19 when the Bible says we love him because he first loved us. Now we should look at verse 10. Because here he says something else: "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Now, wait a minute. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us." When did he love us?

Christ as Propitiation and Expiation

1 John 4:10 and Romans 3:25 teach that God set forth Christ as a propitiation to satisfy divine wrath and expiate sins, reconciling us to God.

Before the foundation of the world. When did he ordain his Son to be the sacrifice? Before the foundation of the world.

Scripture Reading — 1 John 4:10

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

So he not only loved us before the foundation of the world, he not only chose us before the foundation of the world, he gave us Jesus Christ. He ordained Jesus Christ to be our substitute and to be our sacrifice before the foundation of the world. And in God's appointed time, the Bible tells us in the book of Galatians chapter 4, "God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." So that is what Paul said in the book of Titus. Yes, he promised eternal life in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world.

But in due times, he manifested that promise through the preaching of the gospel. Now, I want you to look again at verse 9: "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." I'm going to come back to that. But look at verse 10: "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." So the word "propitiation" is the Greek word hilasmos. And the word hilasmos means to placate. It means to appease. It means to satisfy. Now I want to give you another word. Propitiation includes expiation. Expiation means to atone for, it means to make amends, it means reparation in one sense of the word, but it does so by the washing away of our sins. So what does it mean, then, when the Bible says that Jesus Christ is our propitiation? Well, it simply means this, that God had a righteous, holy anger and wrath against us because of our sins, because of our wickedness, because we were depraved.

And what God did through his Son, Jesus Christ, was he sent Jesus Christ who was perfectly obedient to the law of God, and then gave himself as a sacrifice to propitiate, that is, to appease and placate and satisfy the wrath and the justice and the righteousness and the holiness of God, and in doing that, he expiated, that is, he washed away, he atoned for our sins. Here's another word. In this, he reconciled us to God the Father. So when you stop and think about this, all of our sins, past, present, and future, have been expiated by the sacrifice, by the propitiation of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it was God the Father who sent His only begotten Son to be our propitiation.

Now, when we talk about expiation, you have to understand expiation like this. No sinner could stand in the presence of God, nothing unclean could stand in the presence of God. So therefore, not only does God's wrath have to be propitiated, appeased and placated through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but then in that sacrifice, there must be a washing away of our sins as well. Now, I want you to look back in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 3. I'm not through with this thought. Look at Romans chapter 3. And notice, if you would, beginning there with verse 24. Romans chapter 3, verse 24. This to me is an amazing passage. I've mentioned it many times, but look at verse 24. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 3:24-26

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Now look at verse 25: "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Now, God is just because he was propitiated through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Now, he can justify sinners based upon the sacrifice of Jesus Christ because of the expiation of our sins. But hang on. Here's what I want to call your attention to, verse 25: "Whom God hath set forth." I'm going to come back to that. But now there's a good illustration given to us in the Old Testament. Everyone remembers on the Day of Atonement, once a year, the high priest went into the holiest of all, but he did not go in without the blood of atonement. And he took that blood and he sprinkled it on the ark and on the mercy seat. The blood then was a covering. In other words, it was a covering for the sins of the people through the sacrifice of an innocent victim, that animal.

Christ's Sacrifice Foreshadowed and Fulfilled

Old Testament sacrifices covered sin temporarily, but Christ's blood obtained eternal redemption, as explained in Hebrews 9 and 1 Peter 1:18-20.

Now, those animal sacrifices could not take away sin. All they did was cover that sin until the true Lamb of God came to take the sin away. So if you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 9, you will see this stated very plainly. Hebrews chapter 9, beginning there with verse 6. Look at this. Hebrews 9 and verse 6.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 9:6-15

"Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing."

Now look at this: "Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

"And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." Now, I want you to go back over just a few pages to 1 Peter once again, and look if you would, beginning there with verse 18. We read this earlier, but I want you to see it in light of what I just said. 1 Peter 1 verse 18: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers." "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." Now, I read those passages to call your attention to one thing back in Romans chapter 3 and verse 25. We're talking about Jesus Christ being the propitiation and the Bible says in Romans 3 in verse 25, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation." The phrase "set forth" is from the Greek word protithēmi. The word actually means to place before, to cause to stand in front of, to expose to public view. Pro is the preposition which means before or in front of, and tithēmi means to cause to stand. So Jesus Christ was caused to stand in front of everyone to be the propitiation which God has ordained.

Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 3. I want you to see how the Apostle Paul used this. Look in Galatians chapter 3 in verse 1. Look at this. Galatians 3 in verse 1:

Scripture Reading — Galatians 3:1

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?"

Wow! The words "set forth" literally means to be billboarded, to be placarded. In other words, Jesus Christ was depicted, portrayed, painted before them in such a way, a public way. The apostle Paul said, "I don't understand how you could not obey the Lord Jesus Christ. He's been evidently set forth among you." Jesus Christ was set forth publicly as God's propitiation. He was shamefully stripped, mocked, ridiculed, quipped, blasphemed, and crucified in public view. He was set forth. Now, I want you to turn, if you would, to the book of Hebrews chapter 12. And look with me, please, at verse 2.

Christ Publicly Set Forth and His Joy in Redemption

Galatians 3:1 and Hebrews 12:2 show Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified and endured the cross with joy to redeem His people, motivating our love.

"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." Now, I read those passages to call your attention to one thing back in Romans chapter 3 and verse 25. We're talking about Jesus Christ being the propitiation and the Bible says in Romans 3 in verse 25, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation." The phrase "set forth" is from the Greek word protithēmi. The word actually means to place before, to cause to stand in front of, to expose to public view. Pro is the preposition which means before or in front of, and tithēmi means to cause to stand. So Jesus Christ was caused to stand in front of everyone to be the propitiation which God has ordained.

Scripture Reading — Galatians 3:1

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?"

And then we'll make some applications. Look at Hebrews 12 and verse 2. The scripture says, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Now, I understand despising the shame. When you think of what was done to the Lord Jesus Christ, how he's mocked and ridiculed, stripped. I understand that. And "is set down at the right hand of the throne of God," I understand his ascension, I understand his glorification. I have no problem with that. I have no problem with him despising the shame. But I'll tell you what does grab me in this verse. It says, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross." That joy was redeeming his people, saving us. To stop and think that God the Father had delighted in us and God the Son had delighted in us and he counted his crucifixion and he counted all of the shameful things done to him as a joy? That boggles my mind. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

So, in my early morning meditation, I had to ask myself this question. How can I not love Him? How can I not serve Him? How can I not worship Him? How can I not obey Him? Such wondrous love that was manifested by God the Father and that He chose us and loved us while we were yet sinners. I mean, He knew that we were sinners. He knew we were going to sin.

Adoption as Sons and Living Through Christ

1 John 3:1 reveals the magnitude of God's love in adopting us as sons, and 1 John 4:9 calls us to live through Christ, who is our life.

And he sent his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be our propitiation. And our Lord said it was his joy that he endured the cross, despising the shame to redeem us. That's not all. I want you to look in your Bibles. Look in your Bibles, 1 John, chapter 3 and verse 1. 1 John 3 and verse 1. Look at this. 1 John 3 verse 1.

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." Did you see what I just read? "What manner of love." What magnitude of love. What enormous love! The Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God. So He not only loved us before the foundation of the world, He not only sent His Son to be the propitiation for us, He not only expiated our sins, He adopted us into His family, so that we are now the sons of God.

Now I want you to watch this. Verse 1 of 1 John 3: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us." The word "bestowed" is the Greek word didōmi, which means a gift. It means the bestowal of something on someone of his own accord. So God graciously on his own accord, adopted us, regenerated us, converted us, gave us repentance and faith, and made us his sons. Now, I want you to look at 1 John 4 and verse 9. That brings me to this truth. I read it earlier. "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." In him, we live and move and have our being. Our Lord said, "Without me ye can do nothing." Set your affection on things above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Everything that we are, everything that we do, everything we should do, should be in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. We're to live through him. What was it the Apostle Paul said? "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

Conclusion: Humbled Love and Dependence

Weaver concludes that our love for God is only possible because He first loved us, sent His Son, and gave us life, leading to humble worship and service.

Think about this when you get home. We love Him because He first loved us. Had God not loved us, we would never love Him. We would never want Him. We would never desire Him. We'd be lost as anyone else, doing our own thing, fulfilling the lust of the flesh and of the eyes and the pride of life. If you want to really be humbled before Him, think about this. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." If it ever hits your mind and stirs your heart, you will be saying, "Oh Lord, I love Thee, but only because Thou didst first love me and only because Thou didst send Your only begotten Son to be the propitiation for my sins. For without Thee, I am nothing and I can do nothing." Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee.

We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. And Lord, I pray that you'd impress upon our hearts the greatness of your love for us, the greatness in sending the Lord Jesus Christ, the greatness in washing away our sins, the greatness in giving Him that we might live through Him. May we praise Thee and worship Thee and serve Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Biblical Love as Duty and Obedience

Summary: Love (agapaō) is not mere emotion but a will-directed, esteem-based duty that manifests in keeping God's commandments.

Evidence: Weaver cites Strong's distinction between agapaō and phileō, and references John 14:21, 24 and 1 John 5:3 to show love is obedience.

God's Eternal, Electing Love

Summary: God's love for His people is from everlasting, demonstrated in His choice of them in Christ before the foundation of the world.

Evidence: Jeremiah 31:3, Ephesians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:9, and Titus 1:2 are used to show God's love and election predate creation.

Christ as Propitiation and Expiation

Summary: Jesus Christ's sacrificial death appeased God's wrath and washed away sins, reconciling believers to the Father.

Evidence: 1 John 4:10, Romans 3:25, and Hebrews 9 are explained to show Christ as the hilasmos who satisfies divine justice.

Sovereign Grace and Human Inability

Summary: Salvation is entirely of God's sovereign choice and grace; believers differ from unbelievers only because God intervened.

Evidence: 1 Corinthians 4:7 and Romans 9:6-29 are used to argue that God alone makes the difference, leaving the reprobate to their sins.

Adoption as Sons of God

Summary: God's love is magnified in adopting believers into His family, making them His children through Christ.

Evidence: 1 John 3:1 is highlighted to show the 'manner of love' bestowed in making us sons of God.

The Joy of Christ in Redemption

Summary: Christ endured the cross with joy because of the redemption it would accomplish for His people, motivating our love and service.

Evidence: Hebrews 12:2 is cited, where Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, which Weaver identifies as redeeming His people.

Key Arguments

Love is defined biblically as obedience rooted in esteem, not mere affection.

Summary: Weaver argues that agapaō love is a commanded duty based on recognition of God's authority, distinct from spontaneous phileō affection.

Evidence: He quotes Strong's distinction and uses John 14:21, 24 and Romans 13:8-10 to prove love fulfills the law through obedience.

God's love for believers is eternal and unconditional, preceding their existence or repentance.

Summary: The sermon contends that God loved and chose His people before the world began, not in response to their faith or works.

Evidence: Ephesians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:9, and Titus 1:2 are used to show election and grace given in Christ before creation.

Denying eternal election logically requires denying Christ's foreordination.

Summary: Weaver argues that the parallel wording in Ephesians 1:4 and 1 Peter 1:20 means one cannot reject predestination of believers without rejecting Christ's predestination as sacrifice.

Evidence: He points out the identical phrase 'before the foundation of the world' in both passages to force consistency.

Salvation is entirely God's work; believers have nothing to boast in.

Summary: Using 1 Corinthians 4:7, Weaver asserts that every spiritual blessing is received from God, so no one can glory as if they contributed to their salvation.

Evidence: The questions 'Who maketh thee to differ?' and 'What hast thou that thou didst not receive?' are emphasized.

Christ's death was a propitiation that satisfied God's wrath and expiated sin.

Summary: The sermon explains that Jesus' sacrifice placated God's holy anger and washed away sins, enabling God to be just and the justifier.

Evidence: 1 John 4:10, Romans 3:25-26, and Hebrews 9 are used to define propitiation and expiation.

Christ's public crucifixion was a divine 'setting forth' for all to see.

Summary: Weaver links Romans 3:25 and Galatians 3:1 to show that God publicly displayed Christ as the propitiation, making His sacrifice evident.

Evidence: The Greek word protithēmi and its use in Galatians 3:1 ('evidently set forth') are explained.

Our love for God is a response to His prior love, not an independent act.

Summary: The central thesis is that we love God only because He first loved us, as stated in 1 John 4:19, making our love derivative and humbling.

Evidence: The entire sermon builds on 1 John 4:19, with repeated emphasis that without God's initiating love, we would not love Him.

Scripture References

1 John 4:19

Context: The central text: 'We love him, because he first loved us.' Weaver uses it to frame the question of why we love God.

John 14:21

Context: Quoted to show that love for Christ is demonstrated by keeping His commandments.

John 14:24

Context: Cited to reinforce that not keeping Christ's sayings indicates a lack of love.

1 John 5:3

Context: Used to define love of God as keeping His commandments, which are not burdensome.

Romans 13:8-10

Context: Read to demonstrate that love fulfills the law and is expressed through obedience to God's commands toward neighbors.

Jeremiah 31:3

Context: Quoted to show God's everlasting love: 'I have loved thee with an everlasting love.'

Ephesians 1:3-5

Context: Read to prove that God chose believers in Christ before the foundation of the world.

2 Timothy 1:8-9

Context: Cited to show that grace was given in Christ before the world began.

Titus 1:1-3

Context: Used to demonstrate that God promised eternal life before the world began.

Hebrews 13:20

Context: Referenced to mention the blood of the everlasting covenant.

1 Peter 1:18-20

Context: Read to show Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world, paralleling Ephesians 1:4.

Romans 5:8

Context: Quoted: 'But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'

1 Corinthians 4:7

Context: Used to ask who makes believers differ and to emphasize that all spiritual gifts are received from God.

Romans 9:6-29

Context: Read extensively to argue God's sovereign election, using Jacob and Esau, and concluding that without God's choice, all would be like Sodom.

1 John 4:10

Context: Quoted to show that love consists in God sending His Son as propitiation for our sins.

Galatians 4:4-5

Context: Alluded to regarding God sending His Son in the fullness of time to redeem.

1 John 4:9

Context: Cited to show God's love manifested in sending His Son that we might live through Him.

Romans 3:24-26

Context: Read to explain Christ as propitiation through faith in His blood, declaring God's righteousness.

Hebrews 9:6-15

Context: Read to contrast Old Testament sacrifices with Christ's once-for-all redemption through His own blood.

Galatians 3:1

Context: Quoted to show Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified before the Galatians' eyes.

Historical References

Augustus Hopkins Strong

Context: Weaver cites Strong, a Baptist preacher and author of Strong's Systematic Theology and Concordance, for his distinction between agapaō and phileō.

Day of Atonement ritual

Context: The Old Testament high priest entering the Holy of Holies with blood is used as an illustration of Christ's propitiatory work.

David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17)

Context: David choosing five smooth stones is used as an analogy for God's election: He chose some and left the rest.

Important Quotes

We love him, because he first loved us.

Significance: The foundational verse of the sermon, establishing that human love for God is a response to His prior love.

From its supposed etymology, agapaō is commonly understood properly to denote love based on esteem, as distinct from that expressed by phileō, which is spontaneous natural affection, emotional and unreasoning.

Significance: Weaver quotes Strong to define agapaō as a will-directed, esteem-based love that can be commanded, contrasting it with emotional phileō.

He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Significance: Used to prove that love for Christ is evidenced by obedience to His commandments.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Significance: Reinforces the definition of love as obedience to God's commands.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Significance: Highlights that true love originates with God's act of sending Christ as the atoning sacrifice.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Significance: Emphasizes Christ's joyful endurance of the cross for the redemption of His people, motivating believers' love.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Significance: Marvels at the magnitude of God's love in adopting believers as His children.

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Significance: Used to argue that all spiritual blessings are gifts from God, eliminating human boasting.

Discussion Questions

How does the biblical definition of love as duty based on esteem challenge common cultural understandings of love?

Context: Weaver distinguishes agapaō from phileō, emphasizing that love is commanded and shown through obedience.

In what ways does the doctrine of God's eternal, unconditional love before the foundation of the world affect your assurance and worship?

Context: The sermon stresses that God's love and election predate creation and are not based on our actions.

Why does Weaver argue that denying eternal election requires denying Christ's foreordination, and do you find this argument convincing?

Context: He points to the parallel language in Ephesians 1:4 and 1 Peter 1:20 to force consistency.

How does understanding Christ's death as propitiation and expiation deepen your appreciation for the cross?

Context: Weaver explains that Christ's sacrifice both satisfied God's wrath and washed away sins.

What does it mean that Christ endured the cross 'for the joy that was set before him,' and how should that shape our own perspective on suffering and service?

Context: Hebrews 12:2 is cited, with Weaver identifying the joy as redeeming His people.

How does the truth that 'we love him because he first loved us' humble us and eliminate pride in our spiritual lives?

Context: The sermon concludes that our love is entirely dependent on God's initiating love and grace.

Applications

Examine the nature of your love for God

Summary: Weaver challenges listeners to ask whether their love is mere emotion or a willful, obedient response to God's authority and grace.

Evidence: He poses the question 'Do you love God the Father? Why do you love him?' and defines love as duty based on esteem.

Obey God's commandments as an expression of love

Summary: Since love is demonstrated through keeping God's commands, believers should examine their obedience as evidence of genuine love.

Evidence: John 14:21, 24 and 1 John 5:3 are used to link love with commandment-keeping.

Rest in God's eternal, unchanging love

Summary: Understanding that God's love is from everlasting and not based on our performance provides security and comfort.

Evidence: Jeremiah 31:3 and the couplet 'Yesterday He loved me, today He's just the same' emphasize perpetual love.

Humble yourself by recognizing God's sovereign grace

Summary: Acknowledging that every spiritual blessing is a gift from God eliminates pride and fosters gratitude.

Evidence: 1 Corinthians 4:7 asks 'What hast thou that thou didst not receive?' to humble believers.

Live through Christ in daily dependence

Summary: Because God sent His Son that we might live through Him, believers should consciously rely on Christ for all things.

Evidence: 1 John 4:9 and the statement 'Without me ye can do nothing' are referenced.

Respond to God's love with worship and service

Summary: The sermon concludes with a call to praise, worship, and serve God in light of His great love in Christ.

Evidence: Weaver's closing prayer urges that the greatness of God's love would impress hearts to praise and serve Him.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-04T19:26:18Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T21:16:22Z

Clean Transcript

Why Do You Love the Father?

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

I want you to open your Bibles, if you would, to the book of 1 John, chapter 4. 1 John, chapter 4. And I want you to look, if you would please, at verse 19. 1 John, chapter 4, and verse 19. Very simple verse, one that most of you can quote. It just simply says this: "We love him, because he first loved us." You know, the interesting thing is—and of course, we were just talking about it before service—is Alice and I wake up early. A lot of times I'll wake up at four o'clock in the morning and I can't go back to sleep. Unlike Steve now, I can't make it to 9 or 10 o'clock in the morning. And so when I can't go back to sleep, I just simply lie there and pray and think about scripture or whatever. And this past week, I woke up one morning, I forget which one it was.
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And I thought, well, I'm awake. And I'm not going to get up, I can't go back to sleep. But let me just start praying and thinking about a scripture. And I thought about this verse. And so instead of going back to sleep, I lay there and I worked this message out in my mind because here's the title of the message: "Why Do You Love God the Father?" And the scripture says we love him because he first loved us. And so I can ask, do you love our heavenly Father? And if you love him, why do you love him? And then I would also ask this question: Do you understand the biblical definition and meaning of love? You have to understand that love is far more than feelings or emotions, which is given to us in the word of God.
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It is even more than affection. And the truth of the matter is there are many people who profess to love him, but in reality do not love him. In the text, it says we love him because he first loved us. The Greek word is agapaō, which means not only affection, but it means to exhibit esteem and goodwill to a person. It means to prize and delight in a thing. Another Greek word which you and I are familiar with is the Greek word phileō, which also is sometimes translated as love. But that is where we also get our English word "filial," and even "family" from in some sense the word. So we talk about filial love or family love. So this is from that Greek word phileō. Augustus Hopkins Strong, who was a Baptist preacher and also the author of Strong's Systematic Theology and Strong's Concordance, he was giving a distinction between agapē, the verb agapaō, and the word phileō, which is another verb.
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And here's what he said. Listen carefully. "From its supposed etymology, agapaō is commonly understood properly to denote love based on esteem, as distinct from that expressed by phileō, which is spontaneous natural affection, emotional and unreasoning. If this distinction holds, agapaō is fitly used in the New Testament of Christians' love to God and man, the spiritual affection which follows the direction of the will, and which therefore, unlike that feeling which is instinctively and unreasoning"—he's talking about phileō—"can be"—now agapaō—"can be commanded as a duty." So I want you to listen to this. I want to emphasize this latter part. He says that agapaō is the spiritual affection which follows the direction of the will and which therefore, unlike phileō, which is instinctive and unreasoning, agapaō can be commanded as duty. So scriptural and spiritual love is based upon esteem and recognition and therefore it is a duty and consequently it also manifests itself in obedience.
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In other words, we recognize and admire and esteem our Heavenly Father because we look at His sovereignty, we look at His power, and we look at His authority as well as His grace and mercy. This is why when you read in the New Testament you come across passages like John 14 and verse 21 where our Lord said, "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
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But notice what he said. "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me." When you skip down to verse 24, he said, "He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." So he just got through saying, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. In other words, there is duty based upon esteem. If you do not love me, you will not keep my commandments. So therefore there is no love and there is no esteem. That is why in 1 John 5 and verse 3 the Bible says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." So love then is duty based upon esteem and recognition. If you turn in your Bibles to 1 John, please—but turn back in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 13.
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Romans chapter 13, and let's begin reading there at verse 8, and let's read through verse 10. Watch carefully. Romans chapter 13 at verse 8: "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another." Now here's an interesting statement. "For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." Now wait a minute. "For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Then he says this in verse 10: "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." So biblical love then is obedience based upon esteem and recognition. Of course, affections and emotions would be ultimately involved in one way or the other, but primarily it is indeed obedience based upon recognition and esteem as well. Now, love to God the Father and love to the Lord Jesus Christ is obedience based upon our esteem and our recognition of their persons and their authority.
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Likewise, what he is saying is we treat our neighbors as he commands us as long as we are obedient to his law toward them. It is an expression of biblical love. So when God tells us to love our neighbors, when God tells us to love our enemies, he is not commanding us to have affection for them. He's not commanding us to have emotions for them. He's commanding us to be obedient according to his law toward them.
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Now, the question is this. The scripture says we love him because he first loved us. Ha! Wow, when you stop and think about that, God first loved us. The Greek word for "first" is the word prōtos, which literally means first in time or place, or first in any succession of things or persons. So God is telling us that the only reason that we love him is because he first loved us. Now, you would have to think and ask yourself this question: When did he first love us? And how did he love us? And did he love us in a peculiar, specific, and distinct way? In fact, the word of God tells us that he loved us before the world was ever created. He loved us before we were ever born. He loved us before we ever had any existence. So his love then isn't only prior to our being, it is prior to our creation.
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So I want you to look back in your Bibles—oh, 1 John—then go back in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah chapter 31 and look, if you would please, at verse 3. Jeremiah 31 and verse 3. Look what the scripture says. Jeremiah 31 verse 3. Jeremiah wrote it like this: "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." So God says, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."
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Now, the Hebrew word for "everlasting" is the word olam, and it refers to that which is from eternity, that which is everlasting, that which has a continuous existence, that which is perpetual, that which is never ending. So here's an interesting thing. God's love for his people is not off and on. It is not something that's up and down. It is something that began in eternity and it continues into eternity. It is a never ending love.
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Now, there's a couplet that I read across years ago that expresses this quite easily. It goes like this: "Yesterday He loved me, today He's just the same. How long will this continue? Forever, praise His name." So we're told then that God has set his love upon us from all eternity, from before the foundation of the world. God did not start loving us in time. Time began with creation. God did not begin loving us when we repented and were converted. No, God loved us before the foundation of the world.
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So I want you to look at this and follow with me, if you would, please. Turn, if you would, to the book of Ephesians chapter 1. You know this passage well, I'm sure. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. Look in Ephesians chapter 1. Notice, if you would please, beginning there with verse 3. Look at what the Bible says. Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." Now, I call your attention once again to verse 4, where the Bible says, "according as he hath chosen us in him"—that is in Jesus Christ—note this phrase: "before the foundation of the world."
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So before the world was ever created, God chose us in Jesus Christ. If you would turn right over to the book of 2 Timothy—2 Timothy, if you would. 2 Timothy, chapter 1 and verse 8. 2 Timothy, chapter 1 in verse 8. Paul is writing to Timothy and he says this: "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God." So we're talking about the power of God. Now watch this. "Who"—God himself—"who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." So God chose us before the foundation of the world, according to his purpose. And then the Bible tells us that he gave us grace in Jesus Christ before the world began. Now, if you would turn over just a few pages to the book of Titus, and look in Titus chapter 1.
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And let's read the first three verses here. Then I'm going to tie these passages together for you. So notice if you would Titus chapter 1, verse 1: "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; but hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour." Now go back, if you would, and look at verse 2. He says, "in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." So here's my question. If God promised eternal life before the world began, to whom did he promise it? If he chose us before the world began, if he gave us grace before the world began, in whom did he give us his grace?
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In whom did he choose us? And to whom did he promise it? And the answer is he gave it to us in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. So if you would turn right on over to the book of Hebrews, chapter 13. Hebrews, chapter 13. And look, if you would, please, beginning there at verse 20. Hebrews 13, verse 20. The Bible says, "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." So note, if you would please, in verse 20, the Bible says that the God of peace brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. So before the world was ever created, before you and I ever had any existence, there was an eternal covenant where God the Father gave to God the Son a people.
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You can read that in John 17 for yourself. God the Son then agreed to undertake for those people and then God the Holy Spirit agreed to apply the salvation that Jesus Christ purchased. So you have this eternal covenant that was entered into between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, before the world ever began. And it referred to the people then that God had given to the Lord Jesus Christ. That's why the Bible tells you in Ephesians 1 and verse 4, we were chosen in him before the foundation of the world. That's why the Bible tells you we were given grace in Christ before the foundation of the world and we were promised eternal life before the foundation of the world in Jesus Christ. Now so many people want to deny God's eternal election. What they want to do is say that God only chose us in time when we repented and were converted. That's not an election.
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That is a confirmation. Okay? Ha! He chose us, the Bible says, very plainly. Now, listen carefully. I want you to look back at Ephesians chapter 1, and I want you to go ahead and turn in your Bibles, if you would, to 1 Peter chapter 1 as well, because I want you to see this. I want you to look in Ephesians chapter 1, again, at a passage we just read, particularly verse 4. Look at this. Ephesians 1 verse 4: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." So now I don't know how you can deny that passage. The Bible says explicitly that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. Now, some people say, "Well, I don't believe that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world." Well, in that case, let me tell you this. You have a very serious problem. What is your serious problem? Well, look in your Bibles, 1 Peter, chapter 1, and let's read verses 18 through 20.
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Look at this. 1 Peter, chapter 1, verses 18 through 20: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." Wow! Do you realize when you read "who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world," when you look at that phrase, "before the foundation of the world," the wording and the construction in 1 Peter 1 and verse 20 is exactly the same wording and construction as Ephesians 1 and verse 4. So if you deny then the election of God's people before the foundation of the world, to be consistent, you would have to deny the fact that Jesus Christ was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, because the wording and the construction are exactly the same. So, if Jesus Christ was indeed ordained by God the Father before the foundation of the world, then we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.
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To deny one, to be consistent, you would have to deny the other. Anytime you want to deny the election and predestination and ordination of Jesus Christ as our substitutionary penal sacrifice, you would also be denying our eternal election, or if you deny our eternal election, you're also denying that Jesus Christ was chosen by God before the foundation of the world. So, the truth of the matter is God did not begin loving us when we repented and when we came to Him. The truth is He loved us while we were sinners. He loved us when we were in rebellion against Him.
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Before we were ever created. Before we were ever sinners. Before we had ever transgressed. He knew every sin that we would ever commit. He knew every transgression. He knew every fault, every failing. He knew everything about us. And yet the scripture tells us he set his love upon us anyhow.
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Now there's a verse in Romans 5 and verse 8. You should be able to quote it. Here it is: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." So God knew when he chose us that we would be sinners. He knew that we would sin. And he set his love upon us, and he gave Jesus Christ to us before the foundation of the world.
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Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 4. 1 Corinthians chapter 4. I want you to hold on to this one. I asked you earlier, do you love God the Father? If so, why do you love God the Father? Well, the scripture tells us in 1 Peter that Jesus Christ died, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us back to God.
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And that is exactly what he did. But I want you to look in 1 Corinthians 4 and verse 7. For here's the question the Apostle Paul asked these Corinthians: "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" Now look at this first question: "For who maketh thee to differ from another?"
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Why are you not a murderer? Why are you not a rapist? Why are you not a worshipper of the Hindu gods? Why are you a Christian? Who made you to differ? And then he asks this question: "What hast thou that thou didst not receive?" Let's see. God gave us faith. God gave us grace. God gave us repentance. God gave us the ability to come savingly to Jesus Christ. Everything that you and I have that relates to spirituality, that relates to grace, that relates to mercy, God gave that to us. And then he said, if we received everything from God, why in the world would we glory as if we had not received it? In other words, if we had not been given that which God gave unto us, we'd be just like everybody else. It is God who made the difference.
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I've had family members that were not believers. I've had neighbors that were not believers. I have friends that are not believers. Who made me to differ? It was God, because he set his love upon us before the foundation of the world. Now, if God had not intervened, if God had not chosen us, there would be no difference. All would be condemned and all would perish. So I want you to turn in your Bibles back, if you would please, to the book of Romans, chapter 9. Romans, chapter 9. And look, if you would please, beginning there with verse 6. I want to read through this. Look at this. Romans 9 and verse 6: "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect."
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He says, "For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called."
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Now, let me go back. I'm going to just point this out again. He said in verse 6, "For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel." So just because someone was an Israelite did not mean that they were saved. In fact, you can read in the book of Hebrews where with many of them God was not well pleased. Yeah, and all of them fell in the wilderness except two. So notice, "They are not all Israel, which are of Israel."
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"Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children"—that is, the physical seed—"but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called." That's the child of promise. Then if you don't understand that, he explains it further. "That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)"
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"It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid." That is, perish the thought, don't even think that. "For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."
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"For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth." Now I want to show you something. The conclusion that the Apostle Paul draws in Romans chapter 9 is the same conclusion that Isaiah placed and put forward in Isaiah 1 in verse 9. So if you'll skip down in your Bibles to Romans 9 in verse 29, here he's quoting Isaiah. "And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha." So Sodom and Gomorrah were totally wiped out. So he said, except God had chosen some, none would be saved. So God has done nothing to the reprobate except leave them alone in their sins. On the part of the elect, all God did was quicken us and give us his grace and mercy so that we desired him and wanted to come to him.
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In other words, God gives us that which we want because he changed our want-to. And God gives the unsaved that which they want because they do not want him. There's nothing unjust in that whatsoever. And you remember in 1 Samuel chapter 17, David went out to face Goliath and the Bible says that he stooped down and chose him five smooth stones from the river. Chose out five smooth stones. What did he do to the rest of the stones? Nothing.
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Just left them where they were. But he took five. So that's what God does when he chose us. He just chose us. He did not do one thing to the rest of the reprobate. They were already reprobate. They were already condemned. And so God simply chose us out. Now, here's the thing. I want you to go back in your Bibles to 1 John chapter 4. I want to tie this together because we looked at verse 19 when the Bible says we love him because he first loved us. Now we should look at verse 10. Because here he says something else: "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Now, wait a minute. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us." When did he love us?
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Before the foundation of the world. When did he ordain his Son to be the sacrifice? Before the foundation of the world. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." So he not only loved us before the foundation of the world, he not only chose us before the foundation of the world, he gave us Jesus Christ. He ordained Jesus Christ to be our substitute and to be our sacrifice before the foundation of the world. And in God's appointed time, the Bible tells us in the book of Galatians chapter 4, "God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." So that is what Paul said in the book of Titus. Yes, he promised eternal life in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world.
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But in due times, he manifested that promise through the preaching of the gospel. Now, I want you to look again at verse 9: "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." I'm going to come back to that. But look at verse 10: "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." So the word "propitiation" is the Greek word hilasmos. And the word hilasmos means to placate. It means to appease. It means to satisfy. Now I want to give you another word. Propitiation includes expiation. Expiation means to atone for, it means to make amends, it means reparation in one sense of the word, but it does so by the washing away of our sins. So what does it mean, then, when the Bible says that Jesus Christ is our propitiation? Well, it simply means this, that God had a righteous, holy anger and wrath against us because of our sins, because of our wickedness, because we were depraved.
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And what God did through his Son, Jesus Christ, was he sent Jesus Christ who was perfectly obedient to the law of God, and then gave himself as a sacrifice to propitiate, that is, to appease and placate and satisfy the wrath and the justice and the righteousness and the holiness of God, and in doing that, he expiated, that is, he washed away, he atoned for our sins. Here's another word. In this, he reconciled us to God the Father. So when you stop and think about this, all of our sins, past, present, and future, have been expiated by the sacrifice, by the propitiation of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it was God the Father who sent His only begotten Son to be our propitiation.
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Now, when we talk about expiation, you have to understand expiation like this. No sinner could stand in the presence of God, nothing unclean could stand in the presence of God. So therefore, not only does God's wrath have to be propitiated, appeased and placated through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but then in that sacrifice, there must be a washing away of our sins as well.
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Now, I want you to look back in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 3. I'm not through with this thought. Look at Romans chapter 3. And notice, if you would, beginning there with verse 24. Romans chapter 3, verse 24. This to me is an amazing passage. I've mentioned it many times, but look at verse 24. The Bible says, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
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Now look at verse 25: "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Now, God is just because he was propitiated through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Now, he can justify sinners based upon the sacrifice of Jesus Christ because of the expiation of our sins. But hang on. Here's what I want to call your attention to, verse 25: "Whom God hath set forth."
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I'm going to come back to that. But now there's a good illustration given to us in the Old Testament. Everyone remembers on the Day of Atonement, once a year, the high priest went into the holiest of all, but he did not go in without the blood of atonement. And he took that blood and he sprinkled it on the ark and on the mercy seat. The blood then was a covering. In other words, it was a covering for the sins of the people through the sacrifice of an innocent victim, that animal.
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Now, those animal sacrifices could not take away sin. All they did was cover that sin until the true Lamb of God came to take the sin away. So if you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 9, you will see this stated very plainly. Hebrews chapter 9, beginning there with verse 6. Look at this. Hebrews 9 and verse 6.
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"Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing."
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Now look at this: "Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
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"And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."
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Now, I want you to go back over just a few pages to 1 Peter once again, and look if you would, beginning there with verse 18. We read this earlier, but I want you to see it in light of what I just said. 1 Peter 1 verse 18: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers."
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"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." Now, I read those passages to call your attention to one thing back in Romans chapter 3 and verse 25. We're talking about Jesus Christ being the propitiation and the Bible says in Romans 3 in verse 25, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation." The phrase "set forth" is from the Greek word protithēmi. The word actually means to place before, to cause to stand in front of, to expose to public view. Pro is the preposition which means before or in front of, and tithēmi means to cause to stand. So Jesus Christ was caused to stand in front of everyone to be the propitiation which God has ordained.
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Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 3. I want you to see how the Apostle Paul used this. Look in Galatians chapter 3 in verse 1. Look at this. Galatians 3 in verse 1: "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" Wow! The words "set forth" literally means to be billboarded, to be placarded. In other words, Jesus Christ was depicted, portrayed, painted before them in such a way, a public way. The apostle Paul said, "I don't understand how you could not obey the Lord Jesus Christ. He's been evidently set forth among you." Jesus Christ was set forth publicly as God's propitiation. He was shamefully stripped, mocked, ridiculed, quipped, blasphemed, and crucified in public view. He was set forth. Now, I want you to turn, if you would, to the book of Hebrews chapter 12. And look with me, please, at verse 2.
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And then we'll make some applications. Look at Hebrews 12 and verse 2. The scripture says, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Now, I understand despising the shame. When you think of what was done to the Lord Jesus Christ, how he's mocked and ridiculed, stripped. I understand that. And "is set down at the right hand of the throne of God," I understand his ascension, I understand his glorification.
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I have no problem with that. I have no problem with him despising the shame. But I'll tell you what does grab me in this verse. It says, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross." That joy was redeeming his people, saving us. To stop and think that God the Father had delighted in us and God the Son had delighted in us and he counted his crucifixion and he counted all of the shameful things done to him as a joy? That boggles my mind. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
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So, in my early morning meditation, I had to ask myself this question. How can I not love Him? How can I not serve Him? How can I not worship Him? How can I not obey Him? Such wondrous love that was manifested by God the Father and that He chose us and loved us while we were yet sinners. I mean, He knew that we were sinners. He knew we were going to sin.
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And he sent his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be our propitiation. And our Lord said it was his joy that he endured the cross, despising the shame to redeem us. That's not all. I want you to look in your Bibles. Look in your Bibles, 1 John, chapter 3 and verse 1. 1 John 3 and verse 1. Look at this. 1 John 3 verse 1.
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"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." Did you see what I just read? "What manner of love." What magnitude of love. What enormous love! The Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God. So He not only loved us before the foundation of the world, He not only sent His Son to be the propitiation for us, He not only expiated our sins, He adopted us into His family, so that we are now the sons of God.
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Now I want you to watch this. Verse 1 of 1 John 3: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us." The word "bestowed" is the Greek word didōmi, which means a gift. It means the bestowal of something on someone of his own accord. So God graciously on his own accord, adopted us, regenerated us, converted us, gave us repentance and faith, and made us his sons. Now, I want you to look at 1 John 4 and verse 9.
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That brings me to this truth. I read it earlier. "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." In him, we live and move and have our being. Our Lord said, "Without me ye can do nothing." Set your affection on things above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Everything that we are, everything that we do, everything we should do, should be in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. We're to live through him. What was it the Apostle Paul said? "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
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Think about this when you get home. We love Him because He first loved us. Had God not loved us, we would never love Him. We would never want Him. We would never desire Him. We'd be lost as anyone else, doing our own thing, fulfilling the lust of the flesh and of the eyes and the pride of life. If you want to really be humbled before Him, think about this. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." If it ever hits your mind and stirs your heart, you will be saying, "Oh Lord, I love Thee, but only because Thou didst first love me and only because Thou didst send Your only begotten Son to be the propitiation for my sins. For without Thee, I am nothing and I can do nothing." Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee.
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We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. And Lord, I pray that you'd impress upon our hearts the greatness of your love for us, the greatness in sending the Lord Jesus Christ, the greatness in washing away our sins, the greatness in giving Him that we might live through Him. May we praise Thee and worship Thee and serve Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-04T19:26:18Z

Why Do You Love the Father?

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver expounds 1 John 4:19, 'We love him, because he first loved us,' to explore the biblical definition of love as duty based on esteem and recognition, and to trace God's eternal, electing love for His people before the foundation of the world. He argues that God's love is demonstrated in choosing us in Christ, ordaining Christ as our propitiation, and adopting us as sons, which in turn produces our love and obedience.

Introduction and the Question of Love

Weaver introduces 1 John 4:19 and poses the central question: Why do you love God the Father? He emphasizes that biblical love is more than emotion; it is duty based on esteem.

Scripture Reading — 1 John 4:19

"We love him, because he first loved us."

The Biblical Definition of Love

Love (agapaō) is distinguished from phileō as a spiritual affection following the will, commanded as duty, and manifested in obedience to God's commandments.

Scripture Reading — John 14:24

"He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

But notice what he said. "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me." When you skip down to verse 24, he said,

Scripture Reading — John 14:24

"He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."

Romans chapter 13, and let's begin reading there at verse 8, and let's read through verse 10. Watch carefully. Romans chapter 13 at verse 8:

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another."

Now here's an interesting statement.

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

Now wait a minute.

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Then he says this in verse 10:

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

Love as Obedience to God's Law

Using Romans 13:8-10, Weaver shows that love fulfills the law, meaning love toward God and neighbor is obedience based on recognition of God's authority.

But notice what he said. "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me." When you skip down to verse 24, he said,

Scripture Reading — John 14:24

"He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."

Romans chapter 13, and let's begin reading there at verse 8, and let's read through verse 10. Watch carefully. Romans chapter 13 at verse 8:

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another."

Now here's an interesting statement.

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

Now wait a minute.

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Then he says this in verse 10:

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:8-10

"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

God's Everlasting Love Before Time

God's love is eternal, as seen in Jeremiah 31:3, and was set upon His people before the foundation of the world, not in response to our repentance.

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 31:3

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

So God says,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 31:3

"I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 1:3-5

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."

Now, I call your attention once again to verse 4, where the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 1:3-5

"according as he hath chosen us in him"

—that is in Jesus Christ—note this phrase:

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 1:3-5

"before the foundation of the world."

Election and Grace Before the World Began

Ephesians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:8-9, and Titus 1:2 show that God chose us, gave us grace, and promised eternal life in Christ before creation, tied to the everlasting covenant.

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 1:8-9

"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God."

So we're talking about the power of God. Now watch this. "Who"—God himself—

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 1:8-9

"who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."

And let's read the first three verses here. Then I'm going to tie these passages together for you. So notice if you would Titus chapter 1, verse 1:

Scripture Reading — Titus 1:1-3

"Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; but hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour."

Now go back, if you would, and look at verse 2. He says,

Scripture Reading — Titus 1:1-3

"in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began."

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 13:20

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

The Consistency of Eternal Election and Christ's Foreordination

1 Peter 1:18-20 uses the same construction as Ephesians 1:4, so denying eternal election requires denying Christ's foreordination as the Lamb slain before the world began.

Look at this. 1 Peter, chapter 1, verses 18 through 20:

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 1:18-20

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you."

Wow! Do you realize when you read

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 1:18-20

"who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world,"

when you look at that phrase,

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 1:18-20

"before the foundation of the world,"

God's Sovereign Choice and Human Inability

Romans 9 and 1 Corinthians 4:7 demonstrate that God alone makes believers to differ; He chose us while we were sinners, leaving the reprobate to their own ways.

Now there's a verse in Romans 5 and verse 8. You should be able to quote it. Here it is:

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:8

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

So God knew when he chose us that we would be sinners. He knew that we would sin. And he set his love upon us, and he gave Jesus Christ to us before the foundation of the world.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 4:7

"For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"

Now look at this first question:

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 4:7

"For who maketh thee to differ from another?"

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect."

He says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called."

Now, let me go back. I'm going to just point this out again. He said in verse 6,

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel."

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"They are not all Israel, which are of Israel." "Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children"

—that is, the physical seed—

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called."

That's the child of promise. Then if you don't understand that, he explains it further.

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)" "It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid."

That is, perish the thought, don't even think that.

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." "For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth."

Scripture Reading — Romans 9:6-29

"And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha."

Christ as Propitiation and Expiation

1 John 4:10 and Romans 3:25 teach that God set forth Christ as a propitiation to satisfy divine wrath and expiate sins, reconciling us to God.

Before the foundation of the world. When did he ordain his Son to be the sacrifice? Before the foundation of the world.

Scripture Reading — 1 John 4:10

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Scripture Reading — Romans 3:24-26

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Christ's Sacrifice Foreshadowed and Fulfilled

Old Testament sacrifices covered sin temporarily, but Christ's blood obtained eternal redemption, as explained in Hebrews 9 and 1 Peter 1:18-20.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 9:6-15

"Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing."

Scripture Reading — Galatians 3:1

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?"

Christ Publicly Set Forth and His Joy in Redemption

Galatians 3:1 and Hebrews 12:2 show Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified and endured the cross with joy to redeem His people, motivating our love.

Scripture Reading — Galatians 3:1

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?"

Adoption as Sons and Living Through Christ

1 John 3:1 reveals the magnitude of God's love in adopting us as sons, and 1 John 4:9 calls us to live through Christ, who is our life.

Conclusion: Humbled Love and Dependence

Weaver concludes that our love for God is only possible because He first loved us, sent His Son, and gave us life, leading to humble worship and service.

Why Do You Love the Father?

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	SvlENTwx-d8
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Election, Israel, and Covenant Mercy
Genre	Sermon
Date	2024-10-04
Dictation Name
Book	Book 138: Romans-Related Topical Applications — Chapter 22
Source Timed Segments	57

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and the Question of Love: Weaver introduces 1 John 4:19 and poses the central question: Why do you love God the Father? He emphasizes that biblical love is more than emotion; it is duty based on esteem.
The Biblical Definition of Love: Love (agapaō) is distinguished from phileō as a spiritual affection following the will, commanded as duty, and manifested in obedience to God's commandments.
Love as Obedience to God's Law: Using Romans 13:8-10, Weaver shows that love fulfills the law, meaning love toward God and neighbor is obedience based on recognition of God's authority.
God's Everlasting Love Before Time: God's love is eternal, as seen in Jeremiah 31:3, and was set upon His people before the foundation of the world, not in response to our repentance.
Election and Grace Before the World Began: Ephesians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:8-9, and Titus 1:2 show that God chose us, gave us grace, and promised eternal life in Christ before creation, tied to the everlasting covenant.
The Consistency of Eternal Election and Christ's Foreordination: 1 Peter 1:18-20 uses the same construction as Ephesians 1:4, so denying eternal election requires denying Christ's foreordination as the Lamb slain before the world began.
God's Sovereign Choice and Human Inability: Romans 9 and 1 Corinthians 4:7 demonstrate that God alone makes believers to differ; He chose us while we were sinners, leaving the reprobate to their own ways.
Christ as Propitiation and Expiation: 1 John 4:10 and Romans 3:25 teach that God set forth Christ as a propitiation to satisfy divine wrath and expiate sins, reconciling us to God.
Christ's Sacrifice Foreshadowed and Fulfilled: Old Testament sacrifices covered sin temporarily, but Christ's blood obtained eternal redemption, as explained in Hebrews 9 and 1 Peter 1:18-20.
Christ Publicly Set Forth and His Joy in Redemption: Galatians 3:1 and Hebrews 12:2 show Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified and endured the cross with joy to redeem His people, motivating our love.
Adoption as Sons and Living Through Christ: 1 John 3:1 reveals the magnitude of God's love in adopting us as sons, and 1 John 4:9 calls us to live through Christ, who is our life.
Conclusion: Humbled Love and Dependence: Weaver concludes that our love for God is only possible because He first loved us, sent His Son, and gave us life, leading to humble worship and service.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Love is defined biblically as obedience rooted in esteem, not mere affection.

Weaver argues that agapaō love is a commanded duty based on recognition of God's authority, distinct from spontaneous phileō affection.

He quotes Strong's distinction and uses John 14:21, 24 and Romans 13:8-10 to prove love fulfills the law through obedience.

God's love for believers is eternal and unconditional, preceding their existence or repentance.

The sermon contends that God loved and chose His people before the world began, not in response to their faith or works.

Ephesians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:9, and Titus 1:2 are used to show election and grace given in Christ before creation.

Denying eternal election logically requires denying Christ's foreordination.

Weaver argues that the parallel wording in Ephesians 1:4 and 1 Peter 1:20 means one cannot reject predestination of believers without rejecting Christ's predestination as sacrifice.

He points out the identical phrase 'before the foundation of the world' in both passages to force consistency.

Salvation is entirely God's work; believers have nothing to boast in.

Using 1 Corinthians 4:7, Weaver asserts that every spiritual blessing is received from God, so no one can glory as if they contributed to their salvation.

The questions 'Who maketh thee to differ?' and 'What hast thou that thou didst not receive?' are emphasized.

Christ's death was a propitiation that satisfied God's wrath and expiated sin.

The sermon explains that Jesus' sacrifice placated God's holy anger and washed away sins, enabling God to be just and the justifier.

1 John 4:10, Romans 3:25-26, and Hebrews 9 are used to define propitiation and expiation.

Christ's public crucifixion was a divine 'setting forth' for all to see.

Weaver links Romans 3:25 and Galatians 3:1 to show that God publicly displayed Christ as the propitiation, making His sacrifice evident.

The Greek word protithēmi and its use in Galatians 3:1 ('evidently set forth') are explained.

Our love for God is a response to His prior love, not an independent act.

The central thesis is that we love God only because He first loved us, as stated in 1 John 4:19, making our love derivative and humbling.

The entire sermon builds on 1 John 4:19, with repeated emphasis that without God's initiating love, we would not love Him.

Scripture References

1 John 4:19: The central text: 'We love him, because he first loved us.' Weaver uses it to frame the question of why we love God.
John 14:21: Quoted to show that love for Christ is demonstrated by keeping His commandments.
John 14:24: Cited to reinforce that not keeping Christ's sayings indicates a lack of love.
1 John 5:3: Used to define love of God as keeping His commandments, which are not burdensome.
Romans 13:8-10: Read to demonstrate that love fulfills the law and is expressed through obedience to God's commands toward neighbors.
Jeremiah 31:3: Quoted to show God's everlasting love: 'I have loved thee with an everlasting love.'
Ephesians 1:3-5: Read to prove that God chose believers in Christ before the foundation of the world.
2 Timothy 1:8-9: Cited to show that grace was given in Christ before the world began.
Titus 1:1-3: Used to demonstrate that God promised eternal life before the world began.
Hebrews 13:20: Referenced to mention the blood of the everlasting covenant.
1 Peter 1:18-20: Read to show Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world, paralleling Ephesians 1:4.
Romans 5:8: Quoted: 'But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'
1 Corinthians 4:7: Used to ask who makes believers differ and to emphasize that all spiritual gifts are received from God.
Romans 9:6-29: Read extensively to argue God's sovereign election, using Jacob and Esau, and concluding that without God's choice, all would be like Sodom.
1 John 4:10: Quoted to show that love consists in God sending His Son as propitiation for our sins.
Galatians 4:4-5: Alluded to regarding God sending His Son in the fullness of time to redeem.
1 John 4:9: Cited to show God's love manifested in sending His Son that we might live through Him.
Romans 3:24-26: Read to explain Christ as propitiation through faith in His blood, declaring God's righteousness.
Hebrews 9:6-15: Read to contrast Old Testament sacrifices with Christ's once-for-all redemption through His own blood.
Galatians 3:1: Quoted to show Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified before the Galatians' eyes.

Historical References

Augustus Hopkins Strong: Weaver cites Strong, a Baptist preacher and author of Strong's Systematic Theology and Concordance, for his distinction between agapaō and phileō.
Day of Atonement ritual: The Old Testament high priest entering the Holy of Holies with blood is used as an illustration of Christ's propitiatory work.
David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17): David choosing five smooth stones is used as an analogy for God's election: He chose some and left the rest.

Important Quotes

We love him, because he first loved us.

The foundational verse of the sermon, establishing that human love for God is a response to His prior love.

From its supposed etymology, agapaō is commonly understood properly to denote love based on esteem, as distinct from that expressed by phileō, which is spontaneous natural affection, emotional and unreasoning.

Weaver quotes Strong to define agapaō as a will-directed, esteem-based love that can be commanded, contrasting it with emotional phileō.

He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Used to prove that love for Christ is evidenced by obedience to His commandments.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Reinforces the definition of love as obedience to God's commands.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Highlights that true love originates with God's act of sending Christ as the atoning sacrifice.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Emphasizes Christ's joyful endurance of the cross for the redemption of His people, motivating believers' love.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Marvels at the magnitude of God's love in adopting believers as His children.

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Used to argue that all spiritual blessings are gifts from God, eliminating human boasting.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the biblical definition of love as duty based on esteem challenge common cultural understandings of love?

[Context]

Weaver distinguishes agapaō from phileō, emphasizing that love is commanded and shown through obedience.

[Question]

In what ways does the doctrine of God's eternal, unconditional love before the foundation of the world affect your assurance and worship?

[Context]

The sermon stresses that God's love and election predate creation and are not based on our actions.

[Question]

Why does Weaver argue that denying eternal election requires denying Christ's foreordination, and do you find this argument convincing?

[Context]

He points to the parallel language in Ephesians 1:4 and 1 Peter 1:20 to force consistency.

[Question]

How does understanding Christ's death as propitiation and expiation deepen your appreciation for the cross?

[Context]

Weaver explains that Christ's sacrifice both satisfied God's wrath and washed away sins.

[Question]

What does it mean that Christ endured the cross 'for the joy that was set before him,' and how should that shape our own perspective on suffering and service?

[Context]

Hebrews 12:2 is cited, with Weaver identifying the joy as redeeming His people.

[Question]

How does the truth that 'we love him because he first loved us' humble us and eliminate pride in our spiritual lives?

[Context]

The sermon concludes that our love is entirely dependent on God's initiating love and grace.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T21:16:22Z