The Love of God
Sermon by Rev. Terry Wong
Continuing Elim Church’s series on Cultivating Spiritual Virtues, Rev. Terry Wong focuses on what Scripture describes as the greatest virtue of all: love.
Drawing from 1 John 4, he reminds the church that love is not merely something God does—it is who God is.
“God is love.”
Because God is love, every aspect of the Christian life must flow from His love. Spiritual gifts, ministry, knowledge, service, and even faith are incomplete without love. The greatest evidence of spiritual maturity is not how much we know, but how much we love.
Understanding God’s Agape Love
Rev. Terry begins by explaining that the Greek language contains several different words for love, each describing a different aspect of human relationships.
Among them are:
- Self-love
- Friendship love
- Family love
- Romantic love
- Committed covenant love
But above all stands agape—the unconditional, sacrificial love of God.
Agape love is not based on merit, performance, or personal benefit. It is a love that chooses to love even when love is costly.
This is the love God demonstrates toward humanity.
God’s Love Comes Down
Using Jesus’ restoration of Peter in John 21, Rev. Terry highlights an important truth: God meets us where we are.
After Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus did not reject him. Instead, He lovingly engaged Peter and began restoring him.
The sermon explores the distinction between the Greek words “agape” and “phileo” used in their conversation. While Jesus called Peter toward the highest form of love, He also met Peter at his current level of spiritual maturity and patiently worked with him from there.
This reveals a powerful truth:
God does not wait for us to become perfect before He accepts us.
He meets us in our weakness, failures, fears, and brokenness, then lovingly transforms us over time.
Just as Jesus worked with Peter until he became a bold leader of the early church, God continues working in every believer today.
God’s Love Welcomes Back
The sermon then turns to the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.
The younger son rejected his father, demanded his inheritance, and squandered everything in reckless living. Yet when he returned home broken and repentant, the father did not respond with anger or condemnation.
Instead:
- He ran toward his son.
- He embraced him.
- He restored him.
- He celebrated his return.
Rev. Terry highlights three characteristics of the Father’s love:
The Father Gives Space
God allows people the freedom to make choices, even when those choices lead them away from Him.
The Father Extends Grace
God remains ready to forgive and restore anyone who turns back to Him.
The Father Embraces
Rather than shaming the returning son, the father welcomed him back with compassion and joy.
The message reminds believers that no failure is too great for God’s grace and no one is beyond His reach.
God’s Love Flows Through Us
God’s love is never meant to stop with us.
Rev. Terry reflects on the life of the Apostle John, who was once known as a “Son of Thunder” because of his fiery and impulsive nature.
Yet after years of walking with Jesus, John became known as the apostle of love.
His simple message became:
“Beloved, let us love one another.”
This transformation demonstrates that God’s love changes people from the inside out. As we receive God’s love, we are called to extend that same love to others.
Love is not merely a feeling. It is a way of living that reflects God’s heart to the world.
God’s Love Goes Out
The sermon also examines the story in Acts 16 of the demon-possessed slave girl.
While others saw a troubled woman, Paul saw someone who needed freedom and deliverance. Moved by compassion, he ministered to her and saw her set free through the power of Christ.
God’s love does not remain passive.
It reaches:
- The broken
- The hurting
- The rejected
- The oppressed
- The spiritually lost
Rev. Terry also shares powerful testimonies of transformed lives, including people rescued from addiction, violence, despair, and hopelessness through the life-changing love of Christ.
These stories remind us that no one is beyond redemption when they encounter God’s love.
The Challenge of Agape Love
The sermon concludes with a personal challenge based on Jesus’ question to Peter:
“Do you love Me?”
This question is not only for Peter—it is for every believer.
Do we love God with our whole hearts?
Do we allow His love to shape our attitudes, relationships, and actions?
Do we love our neighbours as ourselves?
Jesus taught that the greatest commandments are:
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
- Love your neighbour as yourself.
Everything else flows from these two commands.
Final Reflection
The love of God is not merely a doctrine to understand; it is a reality to experience and a virtue to cultivate.
God’s love:
- Comes down to meet us where we are.
- Welcomes us back when we wander.
- Flows through us to bless others.
- Goes out to reach a hurting world.
As we continue growing in Christ, may we allow His agape love to transform us so deeply that it becomes evident in every relationship, every conversation, and every act of service.
For ultimately, the greatest mark of a disciple is not knowledge, gifting, or achievement—but love.
