What role does belief in Jesus play in experiencing God's love, per John 16:27? The verse at the center “For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.” – John 16:27 Love and belief woven together • God’s personal love is directed toward those who love and believe in Jesus • Loving Jesus and believing His divine origin are inseparable in Christ’s teaching • Experiencing the Father’s love is therefore not a vague sentiment but a promised reality tied to faith in the Son What belief means in John 16:27 • Accepting Jesus’ full identity: sent “from God,” therefore divine and authoritative • Trusting His words, works, death, and resurrection as the only way to the Father (John 14:6) • Relying on Him, not personal merit, for reconciliation with God (Ephesians 2:8–9) Why belief opens the door to God’s love 1. Belief unites us to Christ – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36) 2. Union with Christ brings adoption – “To all who believed…He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12) 3. Adoption grants family love – “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1) 4. Family love is experienced, not merely acknowledged – “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith… to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:17–19) Confirming passages • John 3:16 – universal offer of love, received through believing • Romans 5:8 – love demonstrated at the cross before we believed, applied to us when we do believe • 1 John 4:9-10 – God’s love revealed by sending His Son for atonement • 1 John 5:1 – whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ “is born of God,” and love for the Father follows Practical implications for the believer • Assurance: the Father’s love is not based on fluctuating feelings but on the settled fact of faith in Jesus • Daily fellowship: belief invites continual communion—talking to the Father with confidence of welcome (Hebrews 4:16) • Obedience fueled by love: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15) • Security in trials: nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39) Living it out • Keep the gospel central—regularly rehearse who Jesus is and what He has done • Remain in His words—scripture deepens belief and multiplies awareness of divine love (John 15:9-10) • Celebrate communion and fellowship—visible reminders that faith in Christ seals us in the Father’s love Summary Belief in Jesus is the God-ordained gateway to experiencing the Father’s personal, covenant love. Trusting that Jesus “came from God” unites us to Him, ushers us into God’s family, and anchors every assurance, comfort, and joy in the Christian life. |
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