God-centered resources from the ministry of John Piper

This week's sermon: "The New Birth Produces Love"

The new birth and love for others are deeply connected.

For one, God is the one who brings about the new birth. Those who are born of God have his nature in them, and his nature is love. Therefore, those who are born again love others like the one who bore them. It's in their DNA.

Secondly, God not only is love, but he has demonstrated his love in history by sending his Son to bear his just wrath for those who will believe in him. The love of God has triumphed over the wrath of God in the Son of God.

And this most magnificent manifestation of love is the gospel word that brings about the new birth and permeates the new life of the born again. Therefore, the born again love. The nature of God as love that is seen in the sending of his Son is the very nature that has been put in the born again as an internal impulse. Those who are born of God can't help but love others like the God who sent his Son for them.

How then do we love others? We don't despise the goodness we see in our brothers but commend it, and we give of ourselves—even at great cost—to meet others' needs.