Be Loving

Scripture Passage: John 13:33-35 “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Theme: Be Loving.

Introduction: With obvious evidences of division in this country, the world could use seeing the right example of what it means to love others. Unfortunately, sometimes the world fails to see in the church, Christ’s representative in the world, what it means to Biblically, genuinely love others.

In reading an article by noted Greek Grammarian, Daniel Wallace out of Dallas Theological Seminary, he made the following observation, “The Christian Army is the only army in the world that shoots its own wounded.”

Tell me, what usually happens when Christians hear about another Christian who has made sinful choices? Do Christians usually surround that Christian with compassion, attempting to help that Christian back into right fellowship with God and others? Or when they see something posted on social media, or hear something firsthand do they jump on the gossip train? Full steam ahead to total information and next stop: ruined reputation.

Oppositely, I believe that Christ teaches us in John 13:33-35 that, as disciples of Christ, we must, Be Loving.

Passage Context: In this second division of John’s Gospel, John focuses on Christ’s teachings to His disciples and “the triumphant hour of [Christ’s] passion.” We take up our reading just after Christ has washed the disciples’ feet, patterning humble service over prideful ambition, and indicated that Judas would betray Him. Keep in mind, Jesus is sharing with His disciples some last things just before His crucifixion. I almost think of these discourses leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion like the most important, final words an individual on their deathbed would impart to loved ones.

Transition: As we approach this passage, we’re immediately faced with the question, “Why does Jesus have to address the topic of ‘love’ anyhow?” I mean, love should be easy, right? The truth is, love is not easy. It can be very hard.

(FCF): We will always face the temptation to be unloving.

Being loving is hard because we’re sinners.

Due to Adam’s rebellion and our own sinfulness, we are now sinners who will struggle, during our time here on earth, to truly, Biblically love others just like Christ loves. (Romans 5:12)

We react unlovingly because others don’t give us what we want, because we've been wronged and because of our own pride.

We often confuse liking someone with loving someone when, in reality, both are very different.

Liking someone involves our feelings, which can change.

Loving someone is an action, as we’ll consider from Christ’s example and instruction.

When others are giving us what we want, it’s easy to like them and even say, “I love you,” as, probably, many of us have encountered and maybe even said and done to others.

When others aren’t giving us what we want, we get angry, cease liking them and react in such a way as to demolish them into never going against our wants again. (James 4:1-2)

When others have wronged us, we’re tempted to exact our own justice rather than responding lovingly. (Romans 12:19)

When our view of ourselves is inflated with pride, we arbitrarily choose who we let into our circle of friends based on how they look, act or speak and what we perceive they can do for us.

Unfortunately, Jews manipulated the Mosaic teaching about love to the extent that they could love and hate whoever they wanted, evidencing that we can go as far as to manipulate God’s Word to justify who we love and don’t! (R. Kent Hughes)

Social and Ethnic problems: Hughes further adds that the situation was compounded by prejudicial divisions as master and slave, Jews and Gentiles relationships.

When we’re unloving, our testimony that we’re one of Christ’s disciples is compromised.

If Christ-like love is the genuine indicator of a disciple of Christ, then when disciples react unlovingly towards other Christians, it confuses, not only other Christians, but also the unsaved.

There have been times where I felt like I received more gracious treatment than from other Christians.

It's no wonder that there's confusion when Christ calls us to loving patience with and gentleness towards one another.

Tragically, this is how Christians are often accused of hypocrisy, by reacting unlovingly, in opposition to their fundamental calling to love other Christians.

When we, as Christ’s disciples, are unloving, we risk fellowship with the Lord and other Christians.

As Christ’s disciples must love other Christians, to disregard this command is a sin and thus compromises a Christian’s fellowship with God. (1 John 4:20-21)

Being out of fellowship with the Lord and other Christians brings consequences.

Constant feeling of guilt which can affect one physically (Ps. 32:3-4)

Troubled mind that lacks peace. (Isa. 57:20-21)

Unanswered prayer. (Ps. 66:18)

Broken fellowship, not only with God, but also with other Christians. (1 John 1:7)

As Christians, we must confess to God and repent of being unloving, seeking restoration with others as necessary.

For every unloving thing you’ve done against another Christian, and anyone else for that matter, God punished Himself on the cross!

Think about that: every time you gossiped about another, God punished Christ in your place.

Every time you said something in unbiblical anger to someone else to destroy them rather than the problem, God punished Christ in your place.

God promises when we confess our sins He will always forgive us. (1 John 1:9)

If you’re unsaved, without the intervention of Christ, sin separates you from God forever.

Jesus freely offers salvation to you through His sacrifice and resurrection.

Trust in Jesus today to save you from your sins rather than being separated from Him forever, ultimately in hell and the lake of fire.

Transition: In verse 33, Jesus addresses His disciples in a very affectionate way by referring to them as little children and demonstrates His supreme concern for them to the end and also provides for them the standard of conduct that He expects from His disciples ...

Be loving because, as Christ’s disciples, we represent Christ and His love in His physical absence. (v. 33)

Identifying that He’s going away, only Jesus’ disciples can impart Jesus’ teachings and model Jesus’ love towards others.

In also being Christ's disciples, we are the heirs of this same injunction and are no less obligated than the first disciples.

Be Loving because Christ commands us as His disciples. (v. 34)

Be encouraged to be loving because love is something that you do as indicated by Christ’s command.

The newness of this commandment consists in the new standard: Love the Disciples as Christ loves.

The phrase “as I have loved you” carries with it the idea that our love for one another must conform to the standard that Jesus set with His disciples.

Jesus effective use of His Words has the force of summing up all the love He has shown in His contact with His disciples, every single act of Love that Christ demonstrated and would demonstrate is summed up here.

Christ’s example supplies for us a definition of Christian love: sacrifice. (Summarized from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on John) Here are just a few applications of Christ's example of love.

Love affects what we say to others, how we say it and what we say about others.

We speak to others God’s Truth in kindness in order to help them in the moment. (Eph. 4:29)

What an impact for Christian growth we could have on others if we would intentionally use each moment with had with our fellow disciples of Christ if we discerningly used our words to encourage each other with God's Word.

This demands not just discernment but discipline in both what we say and in studying God's Word.

We compassionately confront when a Christian has sinned so that they may be restored to fellowship with God and us. (Gal. 6:1-2)

Confrontation over sin isn’t about hammering the person for being wrong.

Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who consistently wants to drop the hammer.

The problem with this is that when we drop the hammer we make the offense all about us rather than being against God.

Furthermore, when we drop the hammer and it smashes the individual, that creates a wound in the person wherein they are less likely to trust you again.

Rather, confrontation over sin always has as its goal the restoration of the sinner to either fellowship with God and other Christians, if they’re a Christian, or salvation through Jesus Christ, if they’re unsaved.

Love affects our actions towards others: we serve in humility, casting off pride.

Just before Christ’s teaching in John 13, Christ humbly donned the attire of the lowest servant in an ancient household and washed the feet of His disciples.

Humility demands deflating our opinion of ourselves and inflating our esteem of our Christian brothers and sisters, thus prompting us to serve them fervently in obedience to our Lord. (Philippians 2:3)

Truthfully, this will change your perspective on ministry where you will look at it as opportunity.

Personally, a few years ago, I was called upon to minister week after week cleaning bathrooms and I still look back with fondness on that time serving Christ and others cleaning.

Love affects our attitudes towards others, particularly in what could be considered small offenses: we compassionately overlook, avoiding gossip.

Folks, gossip, simply put, destroys fellowship between others, and proudly inflates the gossiper. (Proverbs 17:9)

Christ commands us to choose unity over division. (1 Corinthians 1:10)

Love affects the way we view other Christians, regardless of background and surface differences: our common faith in Christ unites us! (Gal. 3:28)

Furthermore, we may also consider Jesus’ willing sacrifice on the cross as another example of His great love for the disciples.

A Command demands obedience.

The emphasis of “That ye love one another” also underscores that this is a command we must continuously observe!

Be encouraged to be loving because Christ enables us to obey through His strength and power.

This takes the power of God to accomplish; this takes resurrection power; thankfully, all disciples have both at their disposal.

Possessing the presence of the Holy Spirit, Christians have the power to obey God’s Word.

The Holy Spirit helps us to remember God’s Word. (John 16:13)

The Holy Spirit helps us to change our former sinful ways to serving God, and others, in righteousness. (Titus 3:5)

Tapping into this power demands dependence upon the Lord in prayer and demonstrating prompt obedience to God’s Word.

Be loving because such clearly identifies Christians as Christ’s disciples. (v. 35)

Discipleship

Definition - “The state of following Jesus Christ, and serving and obeying Him.” (The Dictionary of Biblical Themes)

Following Jesus - John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”

Serving Jesus - John 12:26 “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”

This is lifelong commitment to accomplishing the tasks of getting the Gospel to the world through the outreach of the church.

How are we doing this morning in serving Christ as we selflessly love other disciples?

Obeying Jesus immediately - 1 John 2:3 “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.”

This really underscores our prompt obedience to God's Word.

How are you doing this morning following Christ’s command to love your fellow disciples?

Purpose - become Christlike 1 Peter 1:14-15 “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;”

Requirements - denial of self Luke 9:23 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

The Badge of Christianity

A Badge is a way of identifying someone - their position.

Hughes further states that, “Where there is no love, there can be no discipleship.”

In line with Paul’s admonition in 1 Corinthians 13, we are ruined without love.

What does that badge of your attitude, actions, words and choices identify you as?

Conclusion: This world needs to see something different about Christianity. Relating the conversion of a Christian name Tertullian, “The early Latin writer, Tertullian of Carthage, declared that the one thing that converted him to Christianity was not the arguments they gave him, because he could find a counterpoint for every argument they would present. ‘But they demonstrated something I didn’t have. The thing that converted me to Christianity was the way they loved each other.’” Would it not be wonderful if that could be said about this fellowship here, the love with which the family of church membership at Tabernacle Baptist Church loved each other bore such testimony to their discipleship in Christ that the surrounding community was compelled, through the Spirit, to repent of sin and trust Christ for eternal salvation. May God accomplish through His Word that which He desires.