The Command of Love

COMMANDMENTS

Text 1 John 3:23

“This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment” (1 John 3:23).

Divine commandments are not to be taken lightly. There are more Divine commandments in Scripture than the ten commandments. Our text speaks of some of those commandments which you will not find listed among the ten commandments but nevertheless are commandments we must address in this life.

I. Introduction

A. Background on 1 John 3:23

1 John is a New Testament letter written by John the Apostle

Chapter 3, verse 23 is a significant passage about love and obedience

B. Overview of the passage

In this verse, John commands believers to love one another

He also explains that this love is evidence of our relationship with God

C. Purpose of the sermon

To emphasize the importance of love in the Christian life

To encourage believers to show love to one another

To explain the benefits of loving one another

(Prayer)

II. The Commandment of God

A. Love for one another

Love is a central theme in 1 John

Love for one another is commanded by God

B. The type of love we should have

Turn John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

We are to love one another as Christ has loved us!

What kind of love doesGod have....what kind of love should we have?

1. Unconditional

Romans 5:8-10 “8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

God loved us without condition.

We were altogether unlovely

2. Sacrificial

John 15:13 KJV - 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

3. Sincere

Romans 12:9 KJV - 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

dissimulation= undisguised, sincere

The type of love we should have is God’s Love.

Again: John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

That’s a big goal!

C. Importance of love in the Christian life

(Turn to 1 John)

1 John 4:7 “7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”

Love is of God! Because God is Love

1 John 4:8 “8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

Love has always been a part of God's plan for his people

Love is just as important today as it was in ancient times

Love is the cornerstone of a healthy Christian community

Love should be a defining characteristic of believersLove is essential for spiritual growth and maturity

III. The Evidence of Love

A. Keeping of God's commandments

Loving one another is a manifestation of obedience to God's commands

Our love for one another demonstrates our love for God

B. Evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives

The Holy Spirit enables us to love one another

Love for one another is a sign that the Holy Spirit is at work in us

C. Love as proof of our relationship with God

Our love for one another shows that we are truly God's children

Our love is evidence of our salvation

IV. The Benefits of Loving One Another

A. Unity in the body of Christ

Love brings unity and harmony in the church

Love helps us to work together effectively for the kingdom of God

Col 3:14 “14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”

B. Growth in our own faith

Loving one another helps us to grow in our own faith

Loving one another helps us to become more like Jesus

1 Thess 3:12 “12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”

C. Conquers our obstacles

Romans 8:37-39 “37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Through Him that loved us…and through Love itself, we can conqueror our fears, conquer our sin!

When you begin to love God, His Word, and others, you will see victory!

Put aside your pride and love people!

ILL: The other day, bro. Funchess said that he can tell I love people. And honestly loving people does not come natural to me! I have to make a choice! And I have made a choice.

I do love the people at FBC.

Many times I’ll text people, Love in Christ, Pastor Clay. and I mean that with all my heart. I do love you.

I do love the people in Carlsbad

I’ve found that when I love God and others, it enables me to conquer my pride, to conquer my sin, to have a desire to reach the lost.

It’s all found by Loving God and others.

Luke 10:27b Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”

C. Testimony to the world

Our love for one another is a testimony to the world about the power of the gospel

Our love for one another shows that we are truly followers of Jesus

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

V. Challenges to Loving One Another

A. Selfishness

Selfishness can get in the way of our ability to love one another

Selfishness can cause division and strife in the church

Phil 2:4 “4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

B. Pride

Pride can also get in the way of our ability to love one another

Pride can cause us to put our own needs above the needs of others

Proverbs 16:5 - Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 29:23 - A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit

C. Bitterness

Bitterness can also prevent us from loving one another

Bitterness can cause us to hold grudges and not forgive one another

Eph 4:31 “31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”

D. Difficult People

Luke 6:27-29 “27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.”

There are some challenges we must all face to love others

but God has given us a command and the tools necessary to complete his commandment

VI. Conclusion

A. Recap of the main points

Love is a central theme in 1 John

Love for one another is commanded by God

Love is evidence of our relationship with God and the Holy Spirit

Love has many benefits, including unity, growth, and testimony

Selfishness, pride, and bitterness can get in the way of our ability to love one another

B. Final thoughts on the importance of love

Love is the hallmark of a Christian life

Love is essential for spiritual growth and maturity

Love should be evident in our relationships with one another

C. Call to action for loving one another

Encourage believers to love one another.

John 13:34 - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 1 John 4:20 - If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (Read More...) 1 Peter 4:8 - And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 1 John 4:7-10 - Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (Read More...) Romans 12:10 - Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 1 John 3:18 - My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. Luke 6:31 - And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 1 John 4:11 - Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 - Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (Read More...) Luke 6:35 - But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 1 John 3:17 - But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? Deuteronomy 6:5 - And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Romans 13:8 - Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 1 John 3:16 - Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

FIRST—THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMAND

“His commandment”

This commandment is coming straight from God!

ILL: Several times my sisters would tell on me....they would say....you have to go see dad!

I’m not going to see dad!

Yes you are!

Says Who?

Dad says!

( I would immediately go and see dad)

Our text begins and ends with the mention of “commandment.”

This emphasis on Divine commandments will be too much for the carnal.

They do not mind having a repeated emphasis on the love of God but having a repeated emphasis on Divine commandments, which is a repeated emphasis on our responsibility, is too much for carnality.

But if your life is going to have any kind of success in God’s sight, you must give due emphasis to Divine commandments.

SECOND—THE SPECIFICS OF THE COMMANDMENTS

The commandments in our text are twofold.

A The belief commandment.

“This is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ.”

The first commandment in this text has to do with our faith in Christ.

To believe in Jesus Christ is not an option in life, it is a Divine command.

“God … now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).

Therefore, those who reject Christ are being disobedient.

Being saved is commanded by God, if one is lost, it is because he had refused to obey the command to be saved.

B. The behavior commandment.

“Love one another, as he gave us commandment.”

This commandment is a reference to John 13:34 in which Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you.”

There are two thoughts here.

1. First, the power to love.

This command is for the saints. It says to love all the saints. Some of the saints are not easy to love, but if God has commanded it, it can be done. God will enable you to love them. When God commands, He gives the power to obey.

2. Second, the purpose of the command.

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

Obeying this command would identify the disciples and thus honor the Lord.

THIRD—THE SEQUENCE OF THE COMMANDMENTS

“Believe … and love one another.”

Belief comes before behavior.

If you cannot love the most lovable (loving Christ is involved in belief), how can you love the less lovable (man).

The world puts the emphasis on loving others, but does not address the need to love Christ.

But if Christ is not loved then others will not be loved.

That is why there is so little love in this vile world.

The Practical Application of the Commandment