The Hall-Mark of Christianity

Introduction

What are the three lenses through which each of us uses to define ourselves?

—Looking IN

—Looking AROUND

—Looking UP

Are any of these lenses wrong to use?

—No!

What order does the culture live in say we should use these lenses?

—IN, AROUND, UP

What order does Jesus say we should use the lenses?

—UP, IN, AROUND or

—UP, AROUND, IN

So why is looking UP first so important?

UP Is Foundational

Today, there is a huge disconnect between what we say we believe, and how we actually live our lives. In fact, I want to read you a headline from yesterday.

President Biden told a crowd that he is personally not a supporter of abortion and that termination procedures in the last three months are not clear-cut.

Biden, speaking to a crowd in Maryland on Tuesday, claimed that his relationship to Catholicism makes him personally uncomfortable with abortion—but that Roe v. Wade “got it right.”

The president went on to say, “So I’m, you know, I happen to be a practicing Catholic. I’m not big on abortion. But guess what? Roe v. Wade got it right.”

That tells me that our president is not looking UP to guide him as he leads our nation. Because I know that God hates the annihilation of unborn children.

What Does Looking UP Mean?

Turn with me to John 15. In our passage today there are two keys to Looking UP.

John 15:9 says:

John 15:9 NIV

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

So here is a thought. Remaining in Jesus is really remaining in His love. Now, if you have been around church very long, you may know that there are three Greek words for “love.”

Anyone know one of those words?

—Agapao—unconditional love

—Phileo—brotherly love

—Erros—erotic, sexual, sensual love

The word here that Jesus tells uses is agapao. Now notice, the statement is in the imperative—or command form.

Now let’s keep going. Look at verse 10.

John 15:10 NIV

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

Follow this. Keeping Jesus’ commands helps us remain in His love.

Now listen we are still loved by Jesus wither we keep His commands or not. The difference is that when I refuse to keep His commands, I am no longer listening to Jesus—and I stop looking UP. But let’s keep reading!

John 15:11 NIV

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Here’s the next problem that happens when I don’t keep the commands of Jesus. I lose a part of my joy!

Jesus’ Command

So what is Jesus’ command? Look at verse 12.

John 15:12 NIV

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Did you catch what Jesus’ command is? That we love each other—like Jesus loved us!

What I love is that Jesus tells the disciples to love one another like he loves them. And then He gives us an example of how Jesus loved His disciples—and ultimately how He loves us! Look at verse 13.

John 15:13 NIV

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Jesus tells us that the greatest love anyone can give is to give up their life for someone else. I don’t know about you, but that is amazing!

Do you love anyone enough that you would give up your life for their life.

How many of you have seen two little girls running around camp? How many of you realize that they are 2 of my granddaughters? I can tell you, that I love them enough to give up my life for their lives, and never think a thing about it.

But Jesus says great love is to lay down your life for a friend. How many of you have a friend here in camp?

Would you be willing to lay down your life for that friend here in camp?

Now don’t miss this! In the next verse, Jesus tells His disciples that they are His friends—and you are His friend.

John 15:13–15 NIV

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Jesus tells us that He called us friends, and it was for his friends that He died. But also friends are privy to information about each other—and we can know some of the master’s business.

Now don’t get the big head, because Jesus reminds His disciples of one little fact. Look at verse 16.

John 15:16 NIV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.