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Lesson Note

Subject: Christian Religious Studies
Topic: God’s Love For Man (John 3:16 – 18)
Lesson Objectives: At the end of the lesson, learners should be able to:
i. Identify various types of love,
ii. Recognise the extent of God’s love for human beings,
iii. State the need for humans to respond to God’s love,
iv. Recognise that no one can claim to love God without loving his brothers and sisters,
v. List the qualities of love,
vi. State the various ways of showing love to one another and to one’s country.

Discussion:

God’s love for man started from the creation of the world. Man was the only creature God created in His own image. When He created man, He gave man domination over all other creatures. God, in His deep love for man, sent His only son Jesus Christ into the world to die and shed his blood to save man from sin and for man to gain eternal life. The gospel of John summarises this as follows:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not repent but have eternal life. For God sent the son into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only son of God”. (John3:16 – 18)
The love of God for man is unconditional; He loves man despite his singular nature. He made provision through His son for the redemption of man from sin.

Significance

Having seen the love of God for mankind, man can only show his appreciation to God by maintaining intimate relationship with God, worshipping and praising Him for His love and kindness and also having strong faith in Him.

Jesus’ Message of Love for One Another (1John 4:7 – 8, 1Corinthians 13:1 – 13)

Jesus’ message of love emphasized the need for us to love one another as Jesus loved us. John put it this way:
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who doesn’t not love does not know God; for God is love” (1John 4:7 – 8)
If anyone claims to love God but hates another, such one is far from knowing God because God’s nature is love.
Paul also declared that if one has the gifts of the Holy Spirit but does not have love for others, he is a noise maker. He listed the attributes of love as follows; Patience, kindness, humility, selfishness, accommodation, righteousness, trust, endurance.
Gifts of the Spirit such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, knowledge will all pass away but love does not end.
Faith, hope and love abide , but he concluded that the greatest of these is love.

Significance / Lessons to learn

i. Christians should learn to live their lives according to the gospel of Jesus Christ which is love. They should not discriminate in their love. They should show love to everyone as Jesus Christ did when he made the supreme sacrifice for mankind. Jesus put it this way:
“This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for hos friends” (John 15:12 -13)
ii. Also, Jesus continually showing his love for men by providing for their needs spiritually and materially. He gives to Christian the gift of the Holy Spirit to help them in their day-to-day activities. Christians should then reciprocate the love of Jesus by showing love to one another through caring, donating to social welfare, taking part of evangelism, sponsoring fellowship and other activities in the church.

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Take a quick test for this lesson!
i. How did God demonstrate His love for man and what should be man’s response to God?
ii. What is Jesus’ message of love and how can Christians demonstrate this love towards one another?
iv. In what way did Jesus show his love for mankind?
v. List the attributes of love
vi. Discuss what it means to know and love God.
Questions answered correctly? Kudos!!

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