Love Like You’ve Been Loved

Intro/Illustration

I've had relationships in my life where I've had to remember the why.

Times when I was the one who was wrong, and I let my wrongdoing linger longer than it should have.

Times when someone offended me... disappointed me... or hurt me.

And in those moments, God kept giving me opportunities to reset the relationship.

Sometimes I took it.

Sometimes I didn't.

I've learned something over the years:

Most relationships don't fall apart overnight.

They drift.

Pride.

Misunderstanding.

Offense.

Silence.

Little by little, what was once healthy becomes distant.

But the gospel is full of resets.

The same God who reconciled us to Himself now sends us into the world as people of reconciliation.

Love Like You’ve Been Loved

Scripture

Context: All of this = old becoming new

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 NLT

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.

Transition

Before we talk about restoring our relationships with one another, we need to remember why relationships matter in the first place.

God didn't reconcile us only so we could enjoy being reconciled. (Saved now sit down)

He called us to become people who help bring reconciliation through Him.

IOW: Reconciled people become reconcilers!

Remember What God Did For You

2 Corinthians 5:18 NLT

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.

Everything begins here.

We don't pursue peace because people deserve it.

We pursue peace because we didn't deserve reconciliation either.

Remember:

We were enemies.

Christ pursued us.

Christ forgave us.

Christ reconciled us.

You can't love people the way Jesus calls you to love them until you've remembered how Jesus first loved you.

Application

Reconciliation almost always costs someone the first step.

Jesus took the first step toward us...

Now we become the kind of people who take the first step toward others.

I’m saying sorry first!

I’m forgiving first!

I'm doing everything I can to leave the door open for God to do what only He can do.

Transition

Reconciled people become reconcilers.

So what does that actually look like?

It changes the way we treat people…

Treat People Like Jesus Treated You

Scripture gives us two primary relationship circles.

Our family in Christ...

Those who don't yet know Christ

Jesus loved both groups!

Scripture tells us this…While we were yet sinners!

Believers

Ephesians 4:2–3 NLT

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

Humility - built on the grace extended to us.

Gentleness - “handle w/ care” - Y b/c God has handled me with Care = Christ

Patience - God isn't finished with them... just like He isn't finished with me.

So don’t give up on someone God hasn’t given up on.

Bearing with one another - Loving imperfect people because God loves imperfect people.

Keep ourselves united in the Spirit - Unity doesn't happen naturally.

Division happens by accident. Unity happens on purpose

Romans 12:18 NLT

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

"As much as it depends on you..."

Not everyone will choose peace.

But Christians shouldn't be known for creating unnecessary conflict.

Reconciliation takes two people.

But building bridges only takes one obedient believer.

Non-Believers

Matthew 5:44–45 NLT

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. …

Love your enemies and Pray for them

Jesus didn't say...

love what they did

love their politics

love every opinion they hold

He Said… Love them

That means pray for them anyway!

That means serve them anyway

That means sacrifice for them anyway

It's hard to hate someone you're genuinely praying for.

Colossians 4:5–6 NLT

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 5 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

While loving them > Speak with grace!

Why…

Paul isn't telling us to control someone else's response.

He's telling us to control ours.

Grace changes how I respond.

Truth guides what I say.

And together they leave the door open for reconciliation.

Our job isn't to win arguments, our job is to point people to Jesus

Leave room for the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do.

So we leave the door open for reconciliation.

That's what reconciled people do.

They become reconcilers.

Transition

Healthy relationships aren't maintained by pretending nothing is wrong.

They're maintained through honesty.

Healthy Relationships Require Humility

James 5:16 NLT

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

Reconciliation doesn't survive where confession doesn't exist.

Confess.

Pray.

Heal.

Hidden things separate people.

Secrets build walls.

Confession builds bridges.

Confession isn't the goal.

Reconciliation is.

The Reality is: Pride builds walls. > Humility builds bridges.

Look at someone and say “Don’t Disconnect. Discuss it.”

Reconciled people don’t avoid hard conversations. They redeem them!

Some of you are really good at confessing.

Really good at reconciling.

Really good at showing grace.

Don't stop checking on the people who disappear.

Sometimes people isolate because they're hurting.

Love goes looking.

Transition

So why does any of this matter?

Because relationships were never the destination.

They're the platform.

Closing

Context: In Peter’s letter about suffering, He told us how to live. In in that, he gave us insight as to why relationships are important…

1 Peter 3:15 NLT

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

People ask because they've seen something different.

Relationships create credibility. IOW = Truth travels farther on the bridge of relationship.

Many people will hear the Gospel...

but relationships often determine whether they'll listen.

We began today with reconciliation...

and we end with reconciliation.

Reconciliation isn't just what Jesus did.

It's what Jesus calls His Church to do.

This is what the ministry of reconciliation looks like in everyday life.

Every apology...

Every forgiveness...

Every difficult conversation...

Every bridge rebuilt...

Every restored friendship...

Every healed marriage...

Every act of grace...

points people to the God who first reconciled us.

This week...

somebody is waiting on a phone call.

Somebody is waiting on an apology.

Somebody is waiting on forgiveness.

Somebody is waiting on grace.

Maybe...

they're waiting on you.

Maybe it’s time to open the door again.

Because...

reconciled people...

become reconcilers.