A New Way To Love? ()

I want you to take a moment and look at the person next to you. Now look at the person in front of you and behind you. When you look at these people are there multiple thoughts going through your head concerning each one of them? Maybe you look at one person and think, “I’d like to get to know them better” and the next person you think, “they were rude to me today when I was trying to get a donut before service”, and finally maybe you’re thinking about some future plans you have with another person you saw. In some form or fashion we have a relationship with each other. It may be small, it may be a deep friendship, it could involve hurts, maybe the love for a spouse, some will involve joys, some may spawn thoughts of jealousy, disappointment, dislike, compassion, and the list goes on..

In some form or fashion we have a relationship with each other. It may be small, it may be a deep friendship, it could involve hurts, maybe the love for a spouse, some will involve joys, some may spawn thoughts of jealousy, disappointment, dislike, compassion, and the list goes on..

But, do you love them? No, not just the ones that you have looked at and have a positive relationship with, but also the one’s you barely know, have been hurt by, or have a less than ideal experience. Do you love them too? Do we even know what it means to love?

Today, as we think of the thoughts we might have for others who are here in this service, good or bad, we will grapple with a commandment that Jesus left to His disciples before he left for the cross. It’s a question that tears at our core, challenging us to change, and grow in godliness. The sobering reality is that before you believed in Jesus you were an enemy of God and if you haven’t, you still are. You were that person who let him down. That person who said something rude to him. That person who hated Him, but through belief in Him you are forever forgiven, saved, and loved. God loved us while we were against Him, so how much more does he love us who are for him?

Scripture Reading:

Defining Love (Humanly v. Godly)

Merriam Webster : a (1) :  strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties maternal love for a child (2) :  attraction based on sexual desire :  affection and tenderness felt by lovers After all these years, they are still very much in love. (3) :  affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests love for his old schoolmatesb :  an assurance of affection

Context

Context

Read Verse Here?

How was Jesus’ command new? ()

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” This had already been commanded to the people. Now Jesus challenged them to love their neighbor as He has loved them.

How are the two loves different?

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

It commanded his disciples to imitate Jesus in seeking the lost, the poor, the sinners. In other words caring for those society might neglect. (scripture ex.)

It commanded his disciples to imitate Jesus in seeking the lost, the poor, the sinners, the diseased. In other words caring for those society might neglect, those that weren’t in the popular crowd. (scripture ex.)

Mounce, R. H. (2007). John. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Luke–Acts (Revised Edition) (Vol. 10, p. 557). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.It commanded his disciples to imitate Jesus in seeking the lost, the poor, the sinners. In other words caring for those society might neglect. (scripture ex.)

.It commanded his disciples to imitate Jesus in seeking the lost, the poor, the sinners. In other words caring for those society might neglect. (scripture ex.)

This love is new in that it stretches past the most well intentioned forms of human love that gives to those who are “deserving” or that we deem worthy of love.

Jesus’ love is freely given to those who are not deserving, even to the point of death (expand) unlike humans ()

Jesus’ love is freely given to those who are not deserving, it is sacrificial to the point of death (expand)

Why Love Like Jesus? ()

He wants everyone to be saved (that means people you don’t like). It’s selfish to think Jesus wants only us and maybe a few of our friends.

Out of love, God allowed His one and only Son to die a horribly painful and disrespectful death for those against him ().

His desire is that all would be saved () and a means of this is that believers in Jesus would would attract non believers by their actions of overwhelming love and care for each other that isn’t dependent on worthiness.

Jesus died for the world

Jesus died for the world. Out of love, God allowed His one and only Son to die a horribly painful and disrespectful death for those against him ().

Out of love, God allowed His one and only Son to die a horribly painful and disrespectful death for those against him ().

Jesus died for you

Without Jesus’ love for us we would be lost and we know that right? Can you fathom the unbelievable gift God has given you by faith? Without it we would be separated from Him forever at death.