God's Love For Us by Brother Duke Hansen

         This morning, we are going to be reading in a few places from the Bible. We are going to start with the book of 1 John chapter 3. We will be reading starting in 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.

        There are lines drafted for both of the flesh and the spirit. It's our responsibility to discover where those lines are and where they overlap. There's a difference between love the father bestowed and what the world says is love. If we love one another and bestow that love to each other, that's following Jesus' commandments. The only way you become a son of God is if you have the same spirit Jesus has in your life. This love was not given; it was bestowed upon us. God's believers are also known as saints.

        2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

        3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

        There's a difference of abiding in sin and abiding in Jesus. Verse 3 denotes the eternal security, live how you want to and not in scripture.

        4 Whosover committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

        5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

        6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not; whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

        Ask anyone today and many of them will say that they love Jesus, though they show no fruit of the spirit.

        7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

        Don't let your senses dull to the point where you aren't aware of the dangers around you.

        8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

        9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

        Jesus became sin and was nailed onto the cross. It should be a purpose to you to make time to spend with Jesus daily. It's spending time in prayer, reading the scripture, fasting from things that please your carnal self.

        Now, let's go over to the book of Romans and to chapter 8. We will begin reading with verse 1.

        There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

        Many are not dumb to the word but they are deceived. There is a difference between condemnation and conviction. The key here is to walk in the spirit. The devil at work is still a tempter.

        2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

        The wages of sin is death. Having the spirit of Jesus makes us free from that law of death. The law doesn't matter if you walk upright.

        3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

        The devil is only a tempter until you fall. He then becomes an accuser. The devil in your heart is a liar. Let's look further down into this chapter with verse 11 and 13.

        11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

        13 For if you live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

        Mortify the deeds of the body translates into take up your cross and follow him. Let's return now to 1 John 3 and pick up reading at verse 18.

        18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

        19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

        Are you saying people aren't thinking sure? As James writes, a double minded person is unstable in all their ways. 

        20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

        21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

        When the effort isn't fully enough, it's a sign that you aren't fully committed. If your heart can't condemn you nor the devil accuse you, you have confidence toward God.

        22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

        If you don't empower the devil to be the tempter, he can't become the accuser. Remember that God knows all things, even things that are done in secret.

        23 And this is his commandment. That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ. and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

        This verse is an explanation of us truly following God and showing love of God.

        Let's separate condemnation from conviction in our life. Look at the story of Jonah. In the end, Jonah was sitting on a hillside of Ninevah, upset that the people had repented. A gourd had grown to cover Jonah's head and then a worm ate and ruined the gourd. Who was the worm representing? It was Jonah while God was the gourd. Let's look at James 4:6.

        6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

        The mercy of God is great. God gives you more grace. What the devil and flesh place on you is a weight with the internal condemnation of your flesh. Grace allows restoration. Let's go and look at the first 10 verses of James 4.

        From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

        2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

        3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

        4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

        5 Do you think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

        6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

        7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

        8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

        9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

       10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

        Sin has a price. God is greater that your heart and knows all things. You can't fix the conviction nor condemnation, but you can repent. Be like Jonah and receive more grace. Look at the first few chapters of the minor prophet Hosea. He was a Levite and his wife was a prostitute, Gomer. You need God. You will never be enough. Allow yourself to be forgiven to forgive and toss it into the sea of forgetfulness. Forgiveness is the only way. God doesn't want you to walk with your head down, but lifted up toward him.