Part 4: Loving Your Neighbor

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come before You with open hearts, eager to learn from Your Word. As we discuss what it means to love our neighbor, may Your Holy Spirit guide us to understand and live out this command in our lives. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Opening Remarks:

Good morning, Church. Today we will be concluding our series on “Living in a Divided World” So far we have explored the scriptures on topics such as....

Part 1: United in Christ

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Focus: Emphasize the importance of unity within the body of Christ despite differing backgrounds and opinions.

Part 2: Overcoming Conflict

Scripture: Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:18

Focus: Teach practical ways to handle conflict and promote peace in personal and communal relationships.

Part 3: Responding to Injustice

Scripture: Micah 6:8;

Focus: Knowing that God requires from His children to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with the Lord.

Introduction:

In today’s message, we are focusing on one of the most fundamental yet challenging commands of Christ: to love our neighbor as ourselves. This command, found in both the Old and New Testaments, is often misunderstood. It is not a call to indulge in selfish desires but a call to extend the same care and concern for others that we naturally extend to ourselves. This love is pure, sacrificial, and extends even to those we might consider our enemies. It is a love that reflects the very heart of God.

So lets begin of course with our key passage and build from there Matt. 22.32-40

Matthew 22:32–40 NKJV

32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching. 34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

1. The Nature of True Love: Self-Denial and Concern for Others

The command to love our neighbor as ourselves is not an endorsement of the selfish love that comes naturally to us in our sinful state.

Ephesians 5:29 NKJV

29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

Ephesians 5:29 tells us that no one hates their own body but instead cares for it. This natural inclination to care for our well-being should be directed toward others, seeking their true well-being and eternal salvation.

Jesus calls us to a higher standard, where true love is marked by self-denial. It is impossible to genuinely love others while being consumed by selfishness and egotism. True self-love, as Scripture teaches, is not about indulging our desires but about seeking our true well-being in God. This same concern should drive us to care for our neighbor’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs as fervently as we care for our own.

2. Love in Three Dimensions: Brother, Neighbor, and Enemy

According to Scripture, love extends to everyone we encounter, but it manifests differently depending on the relationship.

a) Love of Brother (1 Cor. 12:27; 1 Peter 2:17; Acts 2:44-45; Genesis 13:8-9)

In 1 Corinthians 12:27 and 1 Peter 2:17, we see that all believers in Christ are part of one body and, therefore, brothers and sisters in the Lord. Brotherly love is essential within the body of Christ, where we are called to forgive one another, support one another, and share in each other’s burdens.

Acts 2:44-45 shows how the early Christians shared everything in common, illustrating the depth of their love and unity.

We are reminded of Abraham’s love for Lot in Genesis 13:8-9, where Abraham, in humility, gave Lot the first choice of land to prevent strife. Brotherly love seeks peace, unity, and the well-being of fellow believers.

b) Love of Neighbor (Luke 10:25-37; Acts 17:26; Isaiah 58:7)

Jesus broadened the definition of "neighbor" in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Here, the question "Who is my neighbor?" is turned into "To whom am I a neighbor?" Everyone, regardless of race, religion, or background, is our neighbor, especially those in need.

Acts 17:26 reminds us that we are all made from one blood, and Isaiah 58:7 challenges us to share our resources with those in need. True love of neighbor compels us to act, to meet the needs of those around us, and to extend grace and kindness without prejudice.

c) Love of Enemy (Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:19-21; Luke 23:34; Acts 7:59)

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of love is extending it to our enemies.

In Matthew 5:44, Jesus commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This love goes beyond refraining from retaliation; it involves actively doing good to those who wish us harm.

Romans 12:19-21 exhorts us not to seek revenge but to overcome evil with good. Jesus exemplified this love on the cross when He prayed for His executioners (Luke 23:34), and Stephen followed His example as he prayed for those who stoned him (Acts 7:59). Loving our enemies is a powerful testimony to the transformative love of Christ in our lives.

3. The Royal Law: Love in Action

James 2:8 calls the command to love our neighbor as ourselves the "royal law."

James 2:8 NKJV

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;

It is the law that governs the kingdom of God and reflects His character. This love is not just a feeling; it is an active, deliberate choice to seek the best for others, even at a cost to ourselves.

We are not to say with Cain: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Gen. 4:9.

Philippians 2:4 NKJV

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2:4 challenges us to look beyond our interests and consider the needs of others.

Matthew 7:12 NKJV

12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

In Matthew 7:12, Jesus gives us the Golden Rule, which encapsulates the essence of the Law and the Prophets: to treat others as we would want to be treated.

Conclusion:

In a world that often asks, "Am I my brother’s keeper?" the answer for Christians must be a resounding "Yes!" We are called to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, our neighbors, and even our enemies with a love that reflects the heart of God. This love is not based on convenience or preference but on a deep commitment to live out the command of Christ to love others as ourselves.

Remember Christ’s words John 13:35

John 13:35 NKJV

35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

There will always be conflicts and things that try to divide us but we must let love prevail.

As we go forth, let us examine our hearts and lives, asking ourselves if we are truly loving others as Christ has loved us.

Are we willing to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him in this radical, selfless love?

May the Holy Spirit empower us to live out this love daily, bringing glory to God and drawing others to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the love that You have shown us through Jesus Christ. Help us to love others as You have loved us, to deny ourselves, and to seek the well-being of our neighbors. May we be known by our love, and may that love draw others to You. Empower us by Your Spirit to live out this royal law of love in every aspect of our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.