Title:  God’s Warranty

Focus:  As servants of God, we must pay our debts. The only outstanding debt we should always be making payments on is to love one another.  Both God and his law can be summed up by love.  Therefore the kind of love God shows should be the foundation of our relationships with one another

Function:  To help the audience to understand the nature of God’s love so they can show it.

Text:  Rom 13: 8-10

 

Intro: 

1.  Man stormed back to the garage where bought exepensive battery

            a.  You said it be last battery car would ever need

            b.  It died after only six months!

            c.  Reply:  Sorry, I didn’t think your care would last longer than that

            d.  Ever had a car like that?

2.  Sometimes lifetime warranties are not really that

            a.  If company goes out of business, no one to warrant

            b.  If transfer ownership of item

            c.  So gaurantees are not always iron clad

3.  But there is one sure warranty we have

            - Rom 8:37-39 - God will always love us

4.  (Rom 13:8-10) - Since God loves us, we should love others is same way.  Why?

 

I.  Because love is our outstanding debt

            A.  We owe it because God paid a great debt for us

            B.  When someone pay a great debt for us, we feel obligated

                        1.  God paid a great price for us - Death of Jesus

                        2.  Phil 2:5-8 - Jesus emptied self, obedient to death

                        3.  Heb 2:14, 17 - He shared in flesh and blood

                        4.  Can you imagine that journey

            C.  ILL:  Traveled to Minsk

                        1.  No lights, uniforms all over the place, strange language, food

                                    a.  Feeling of uneasiness

                                    b.  At airport, had to go through little booth

                                    c.  If got arrested, what then?

                        2.  Have you ever felt that way?

                                    a.  Missionaries in Africa - Tribal wars, danger, strange

                                    b.  Soldiers in hostile areas

                                    c.  If spent time in jail or prison

                                    d.  In a strange place, not freindly place

                        3.  That not compare to Journey Jesus took!

                                    a.  Heaven to Earth - different dimension

                                    b.  Earth full of restless natives

                                    c.  They not understand or accept him

                                    d.  Jesus “felt” abandoned (prayed Psalm 22)

                        4.  Why?  He loves you!

            D.  He came so far, paid a great debt - We owe him!

 

II.  Because Love is how we fulfill the law

            A.  What is the law? -- Precepts, commands, lists

                        1.  It says, not to commit adultery, not to lie, kill, etc.

                        2.  So the law is a collection of do’s and dont’s

                        3.  But Paul says love is fulfillment of the law

            B.  ILL:  William has a poster full of lady bugs

                        1.  Many different colored lady bugs

                        2.  But the poster is not just about lady bugs

                        3.  Look closely, see a heart, word “love” runs through it

                        4.  “Love” runs through the law

                                    a.  Decalogue - 1-4 = love for God

                                    b.  5-10 = Love for others

                                    c.  Rest of law is exposition on these

            C.  So love is the foundation of our religion - 2 passages

                        1.  (1 John 4:7-8) - God is Love

                                    a.  Since he is love, we love if we know him         

                                    b.  If God is love, it makes sense love runs through it

                                    c.  So we need to love, it shows we know God

                        2.  (1 John 3:14) - Eternal ife is about love

                                    a.  Usually think of it as length - existing forever

                                    b.  Does existing in Hell forever = eternal life?

                                    c.  Bible calls that eternal death

            D.  So if we going to fulfill God’s law, we are going to love

 

III.  Problem - What is love anyway?

            A.  Hollywood tries to define it as an emotion

                        1.  If not have that feeling, you not love spouse anymore

                        2.  So, you leave him/her, go with one you “love”

            B. God’s love is not like that - Lifetime warranty

            C.  2 kinds of love - wooden and golden

                        1.  Hollywood love is like wood - Fire consumes it

                        2.  God’s love is like gold - Fire purifies it - makes it shine

            D.  Fires will test our love

                        1.  God’s golden love is patient, kind... 1 Cor 13:3ff

                        2.  It will not fail - 1 Cor 13:8

                        3.  So when fire comes...

                                    a.  In arguments, anger, disagreements, misunderstandings,

                                    b.  failed expectations, you name it

                        4.  Love will shine - We not disown, leave, etc.

 

IV.  What does it take to have Golden love?

            A.  I’m not sure we fully understand golden love

                        1.  Often have closer relationships with non-Christians

                        2.  Often know struggles of non-Christians more than Christians

                        3.  For many of us, brethren are only mere aquaintances

                                    a.  We talk to one another about sports, weather, job

                                    b.  We often not talk about our faith, or struggles with it

                                    c.  Yet our faith in Christ is what binds us together!

                        4.  Can superficial love stand the fire test? 

                                    a.  super - over  ficial - the face?????

                                    b.  No depth, wearing a mask

                                    c.  Only see my suit & tie, dress, makeup, etc.

            B.  Why would we settle for that?  Answer:

                        1.  (1 Jn 4:16-19) - What is “perfect love?”

                                    a.  God loves us, we love in return

                                    b.  It is reciropcated love

                        2.  How did God show his love?

                                    a.  Became a baby, dependent, flesh, weak, working class

                                    b.  Suffered hunger, beatings, rejection, crucifixion

                                    c.  Became vulnerable -- took a risk

                        3.  Have you ever thought about the vulnerability of God

                                    a.  Boggles the mind!

                                    b.  He became both physically and emotionally vulnerable

                                    c.  How much pain in crucifixion

                                    d.  How much anguish when men still reject him

                        4.  Yet that is how he showed his love

            C.  ILL:  His Needs Her Needs facilitator training

                        1.  One husband shared secret with wife

                        2.  Did not drive them apart, brought the closer, strengthened

                        3.  Your spouse probably knows many secret things

                                    a.  Gives him/her the greatest potention to hurt you

                                    b.  But have to take that risk to have love

                        4.  Most not afraid of spouse hurting you

                                    a.  Why?  Perfect love

                                    b.  You trusted her, she trusted you to open up

                                    c.  Recepricol love casts out all fear

            D.  How we can begin to develop true love?

                        1.  Don’t hide warts, flaws, or other blemishes from our brethren

                        2.  Be gracious about others warts.  Love them anyway

                        3.  Be emotionally and spiritual present

                        4.  Deeply devoted to one another as God intends

 

 

Concl:

1.  Go back to Rom 8:38-39 - Apply it to us

            a.  I am convinced no argument, misunderstanding, anger, difference

                 of opinions, etc.  shall sever our love to one another

            b.  Fiercely devoted to one another -- We will shine, not leave

            c.  We work through all struggles, disagreements, problems, together!

2.  Will involve loving boldness - accountability

            a.  Don’t expect someones heart, until you lay yours on the table

            b.  Don’t be offended when someone inquires about your physical or

                 spiritual health.  That is what they are supposed to do

            c.  That is recirpricol love - cast out fear

3.  When we not fear each other, then we truly are a strand of 3 cords that

4.  One thing God has warranted - his love.  And we should honor that warranty

5.  Life groups be a great place to get deeper in our love

6.  Invitation