1 John 4:1-12, 18-19 (NASB)
let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God
and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 By this the
love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that
we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent
His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one
another. 12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love
is perfected in us. (…) 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear
involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because He first
loved us.

7 Beloved,

1 John 4:1-12, 18-19 (MSG)
beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone
who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love
doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can't know him if you don't
love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live
through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God,
but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've
done to our relationship with God. 11-12My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly
ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply
within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love! (…) 18There is no room in love
for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of
judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. 19We, though, are going to love—love and be loved.
First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

7-10My

What kind of Love?

1. v. 9: God loved us so much that he sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him.
a) God loved us enough to take the form of a human being and live among us.
b) God loved us while we were still undeserving.

2. v. 19: We love because God first loved us.
a) We learn to love by being loved.
b) The more we love God, the more capable we become of loving ourselves and
others.

3. Love and fear are incompatible.
a) v. 18a: Perfect love casts out fear. Likewise, fear casts out love.
b) There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. And there is nothing we
can do to make God love us less.

God’s greatest gift to humanity was Jesus, love incarnate. He arrived on earth as a baby, whose
birthday we celebrate at Christmas. There is no gift that has the power to change who you are, into
a better version of you, than God’s love. ◊

How Does Gradual Maturity Under Grace Look Like?

Expressions of Perfection

Outside-In Religion

Comparison

Result in Pride or Condemnation

The Need to be Externally Noticed and Recognized

Unrest and anxiety

Inside-Out Grace

Instead of comparison, there is humble evaluation

Instead of pride or condemnation, there is thankfulness and generosity

Instead of needing external recognition, there is already inner satisfaction

Instead of unrest and anxiety, there is deep security, peace and energy

1 Cor. 15:10 (NIV)
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I
worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Matt. 6:1-2 (NASB)
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you
have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the poor, do not
sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they
may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

Matt. 5:16 (NASB)
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father who is in heaven.

1. Religion does good works so that we will be validated and
acknowledged; grace produces works as a grateful response and points to
God’s blessings

Matt. 6: 3 (NASB)

But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Matthew 6:4 (GWT)
Give your contributions privately. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward
you.

Matthew 6:6 (GWT)
When you pray, go to your room and close the door. Pray privately to your Father who is with
you. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.

Matthew 6:17-18 (GWT)
When you fast, wash your face and comb your hair. 18Then your fasting won’t be obvious.
Instead, it will be obvious to your Father who is with you in private. Your Father sees what you
do in private. He will reward you.

2. When we meet with God in the privacy of a grace relationship, there
is such inner satisfaction that no other demand for outside recognition is
necessary

Matthew 6:33 (GWT)
But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things
will be provided for you.

3. When we accept God's invitation to meet with Him in private, He satisfies
both our known and unknown internal as well as external needs.

Healed by Grace

Gratitude and Grace

PARADOX OF GOD’S GRACE???

Grace in the Sermon on the Mount 1. The Sermon on the Mount is not... a. a set of laws for us to follow, but it is a practical look at the outcome of grace. Romans 8:3-4 (NIV) For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us… b. an impossible standard that we can never meet, but it shows what we are capable of through the supernatural power of grace. Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. John 10:7 (CEV) Jesus said: I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep. c. a motivational speech to prepare us for end times, but it is a guide to show us what is possible for our lives today before the end times. 2. We can love our enemies by becoming more aware of grace in our own lives. Matthew 5:43 (NIV) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… Grace might point out to us that… a. The annoying defects we see in another person are found in ourselves, or the person is pointing out our defects. b. The person is not living up to our own standards or programs c. This person cannot help but behave the way he does because of his/her upbringing, background, and unawareness

Including Art and Lucy's sharing.

Fear Factors, by Chuck

Happy New Year.

Today's sermon is given by Pastor Ivene.

Title Unknown by Unknown

What? or Whatever! - Testimony by Pine & Darrel Johnson

Three Steps to Effective Worship by Dr. Ben Lim