The Dynamics of Genuine Love

With Bishop Ronald K. Powell

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power . . . to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Eph. 3:17-18 ).

Christians can increase in love by considering:

I. The Source of Love

“God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16).

• Much of the so-called love talked about in today’s world is not true love at all.
• God is the source of real and lasting love.
• His love is pure and holy.
• God is also the source of his Word.
• He spoke his Word to faithful men who recorded it diligently. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:16).
• God’s Word teaches us about God’s love.
• It tells of the sacrifice of his own Son “for his great love wherewith he loved us” (Eph. 2:4).
• We can accept God’s love today through Jesus Christ.

II. The Force of Love

“He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him” (Heb. 7:25).

• Today’s world offers horse power, steam power, and nuclear power. None of these compare with the power of God’s love.
• Earthly power assists in easing the burdens of life, but it can also destroy life and bring devastation.
• The force of God’s love brings peace and joy in this life and eternal life in the hereafter.
• The power of God’s love reaches everyone. It touches the gambler, thief, adulterer, prostitute, and homosexual.
• All who repent, believe, and forsake their sins may be saved (“that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” (John 3:15).

III. The Course of Love

“God so loved the world” (John 3:16).

• God’s love reaches into all the world. It touches young and old, the weak and strong, the great and small, and the rich and poor.
• Every race, color, and creed is included.
• The love of many Christians is stymied because they are too busy with personal pursuits, or they are simply unconcerned about others.
• Their love does not reach out to others as it should. Our love may touch others when we give a smile, speak a kind or encouraging word, perform a good deed by assisting the less fortunate, or by sharing Christ with the unsaved.

“Go ye into all the world” (Mark 16:15).

IV: Closing

Romans 13:8-13 Living Bible (TLB)

⁸ Pay all your debts except the debt of love for others—never finish paying that! For if you love them, you will be obeying all of God’s laws, fulfilling all his requirements. ⁹ If you love your neighbor as much as you love yourself you will not want to harm or cheat him, or kill him or steal from him. And you won’t sin with his wife or want what is his, or do anything else the Ten Commandments say is wrong. All ten are wrapped up in this one, to love your neighbor as you love yourself. ¹⁰ Love does no wrong to anyone. That’s why it fully satisfies all of God’s requirements. It is the only law you need.

¹¹ Another reason for right living is this: you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of the Lord is nearer now than when we first believed. ^12-13 The night is far gone, the day of his return will soon be here. So quit the evil deeds of darkness and put on the armor of right living, as we who live in the daylight should! Be decent and true in everything you do so that all can approve your behavior. Don’t spend your time in wild parties and getting drunk or in adultery and lust or fighting or jealousy.