Loving God Agape - Part 3 February 11, 2024 Part 1 - You were made for love. Part 2 - God is love. Part 3 - Loving God  Saber vs Conocer Knowledge ➔ Love Most people saber (know of) Jesus and kind of like Him. It’s when you conocer Jesus (know Him personally and intimately) that you can’t help but love Him. Who is Jesus? Jesus is sovereign “ 15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. 17 He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together.” Colossians 1:15-17 (NLT) Jesus is gentle “ 28 Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’” Matthew 11:28- 30 (NLT) Jesus is savior “ 6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:6-8 (NLT) “ 16 For God so agapē the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16-17 (NIV) “ 37 ‘You must agapē the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38 (NLT) How do we agapē God?  Know (conocer, not saber) Jesus. o Love is spelled T-I-M-E.  Live According to His commands o “If you agapē me, obey my commandments.” John 14:15 (NLT) o (John 14:23; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6; Psalm 40:8)  Surrender and submit our entire life to Him. o “ 24 If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” Matthew 16:24-25 (NLT) o We must die to self before we can live for Him. “ 37 ‘You must agapē the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important ... ” Matthew 22:37-39 (NLT)