Session 7: Loving Ourselves in the Love of God

Notes: https://tinyurl.com/548akvn6

The love burning in God’s heart has at least 5 expressions that are deeply interrelated. Each of these expressions represent the 5 stages of how a believer can grow in love. We seek to understand and walk in all 5 stages simultaneously since they are revealed and imparted to us by the Spirit.

1. God’s love for God: Each person in the Trinity intensely loves the others with all their heart.

2. God’s love for His people: He loves His people with all of His heart, mind, and strength.

3. Our love for God: God’s very own love is imparted to His people by the Spirit (Rom. 5:5).

4. Our love for ourselves: We love ourselves in God’s love and for God’s sake.

5. Our love for others: We love others in the overflow of experiencing God’s love (1 Jn. 4:19).

Stage 1 is to receive increased understanding of the perfect love that is found in the relationships within the Trinity. The Son loves the Father (Jn. 14:31), and the Father loves the Son (Jn. 3:35; 5:20; 15:9; 17:23). We best understand God’s love as we consider the Trinity. Why? The way that
God loves within the Trinity is the only way that He loves us—He always loves in fullness.

Stage 2 is to receive increased understanding of the love that God has for us (Eph. 1:17; 3:18-19).

Stage 3 is to receive an increased impartation of love for Jesus. Jesus prayed that the Father’s love would be imparted to us (Jn. 17:26). The Lord created us to love Him in 4 spheres of our life— our heart (affections and desires), soul (identity), mind (intellect), and strength (resources).
26“…that the love with which You [the Father] loved Me may be in them…” (Jn. 17:26)

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