Derek’s study today goes into more detail regarding agape love. Agape love is self-giving, it goes the second mile, it is unconditional, and it is perfectly demonstrated in Jesus. Finally, we must see that love proceeds out of faith. The death of Christ would accomplish God’s purposes, based on both God’s faith and Christ’s faith.

In today’s session, Derek looks at four different words for love, how they are used in Scripture, and how they differ from one another. This understanding is important so that we will know what is meant when Scripture talks about the love of God. What is this picture of agape love demonstrated in Christ dying for us?

Today Derek points out that Holiness requires both a sacrifice and a priest to offer it. In the all-sufficiency of Jesus, both of these were provided. Jesus became both the sacrifice and the High Priest. Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away our sin, and through the eternal Spirit He offered Himself without blemish to God.

Scripture speaks of God dwelling in unapproachable light, and yet His love for mankind draws them to Him. Derek looks at how this love of God took on flesh with light inside in the person of Jesus, so He could draw near to them.

Derek begins this Christmas season study on the love of God by stressing the need to know the One from whom it comes. We can only know God as Father if we know His Son, Jesus Christ. This love is so vast. Paul prayed for believers to have a revelation of it, as he continued all his earthly life seeking to know this One, and exhorting all to follow after him.

Derek finishes this week’s teaching by looking at how we should respond to God’s extravagant love. Consider: What does your worship consist of? How much time do you spend with God? What can you do for His people that is out of the ordinary? If the Holy Spirit touches your heart to do something, respond extravagantly, no matter what the cost. Let Him see your love.

Derek reveals the vastness of our inheritance in Christ—all that belongs to Him is ours. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to teach us about the riches of our inheritance in Christ. As heirs of this inheritance, though, we must lay claim to these benefits and receive them by faith from the One who loves us.

Today Derek shows seven ways Jesus shed His blood for our redemption. Through various Scriptures we are introduced to the prophecies given about the love of God, and then we see how they were fulfilled. Jesus did not simply give up His few earthly possessions as a man on earth, but He gave up Himself—His own life—as the redemptive price.

Derek looks at the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value and through his eyes we see Jesus, gazing upon that pearl. As individuals, we are that pearl and we are worth all He gave for love. God’s love is individual, everlasting, it precedes time, and it is irresistible. It cost Him all He had.

Derek begins this week with a parable of how much God was willing to pay for mankind. “For God so loved the world” that He gave His only Son to die for us. He gave His treasure because He saw the immense value of the treasure He would be getting. He bought the entire field to gain the treasure that was hidden in it.