How to Love

Just to refresh your memory, 2 weeks ago we took a hard look at ourselves as a church and determined that we are failing in some areas. One of the areas that we discussed is that we have often failed to obey the commands of Jesus. We have failed to put into action the things we have learned.

So I said we are going to have to RETHINK the way we do church here at FBC.

Last week we started a message series with that in mind… The series is called Neighbors.

This message series is based on what Jesus defined as the Greatest Commandment. Someone approached Jesus and asked whats the greatest of all the commands of scripture.

Jesus said

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind... Love your neighbor as yourself.”

How to Love

Big Idea: What does love require of me?

About 18 months ago… I was privileged to listen to Andy Stanley speak in Atlanta GA… When I began formulating this idea to have this neighbors series I dug around and found my notes from Andy… so if you here something that sounds too profound… Chalk it up to Andy...

This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him: 6 The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.

7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old command that you have had from the beginning. The old command is the word you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother or sister is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother or sister remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he’s going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

John here is reminding his readers in the early church and by extension each of us that obedience is is paramount. He says that if we say we are disciples of Jesus and yet do not do the things Jesus commanded… we are lying to ourselves and to each other.

Isn’t it interesting also, that when John speaks about obedience he immediately refers to the command to love one another.

This old command is the message you have heard.

But why does John refer to a new commandment, then says it is an old commandment? This command is the message you have heard. John calls this an old commandment because these Christians had known it “from the beginning.” Beginning does not refer to the beginning of time, but the beginning of the gospel age, or at least the beginning of their acquaintance with the gospel.

It wasn’t new when John said it but it was revolutionary when Jesus said it. “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers. “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Womack, M. M. (1998). 1, 2 & 3 John (). Joplin, MO: College Press. “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Jesus gives a new command… He was telling the Jews and his disciples…and now us. We have to RETHINK our relationship to God.

Before there is a New way there must be an Old way. (old covenant)

In the Old Covenant, the Israelites were required to obey God and keep the Law, and in return He protected and blessed them.

If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules. Deuteronomy 30:16

Old way = Vertical Morality

Peace with God by keeping Peace with God

The Old Covenant required people to please God, but no one can measure up to perfection, and the Old Covenant resulted in a string of failures.

In the Old Covenant, God also established that the way to atone for sin is through the shedding of blood … SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM

Old Covenant… 10 Commandments.... Sacrificial system… Waiting for the Messiah

The ultimate purpose of the Old Covenant was to point people to Christ.

John the Baptist declares There he is... the messiah ...the lamb of God that completes the sacrificial system and ushers in a New Covenant.

Old covenant is replaced by the New covenant

The Old is obsolete the new is relevant

THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY...

As a dad I have a very hard time loving someone who has wronged my kids… Does that make sense? If someone speaks poorly about my kids, they are not going to be my favorite person. If they treat one of my kids like they are not good enough to hang out with them… I’m going to be upset. If my kid is struggling and you notice they are struggling but you don’t help them… you and I are probably going to have a problem.

If you are a parent you understand that logic.

But what if that person who obviously does not love my kid really loves me? Well it really doesn’t change things.

That person can give me money...

They can study my every word...

They can tell other people about how great I am...

They can even sing songs about me...

Doesn’t matter… If you have a problem with my kids… you got a problem with me.

If that is true for me a good dad but an imperfect dad.... How much moe so is that true of a perfect father… Abba Father… Father God?

The Old is Vertical Morality… The new is Horizontal Morality

Horizontal Morality= We are right with God based on how we love one another. How we treat others… how we respect people… how we help those around us.

Jesus said we need to change the way we approach our relationship to God from vertical to horizontal.

I am saying that means we need to change the way we do church.

We’ve got to stop acting like discipleship is about information, and realize discipleship is about relationships.

Vertical to Horizontal we must show our vertical commitment through our horizontal actions.

If you really love God (Vertical)… But drop the ball with people (horizontal)

It doesn’t matter if you give God money… study the bible… tell others about him… or sing songs of worship…

If you have a problem with God’s kids… You got a problem with God.

Most of us as adults have a hard time going horizontal. And as a result we have a hard time teaching the next generation the new covenant… horizontal morality that Jesus calls us to.

If we are not careful— intentional— we will orient our children and students to be devoted to an invisible God rather than being obedient to Jesus by loving visible people.

So let’s get practical… What does horizontal morality look like.

Horizontal does not abolish the vertical it completes it.

Why tell the truth? Vertical = thou shall not lie. Horizontal= lying devalues the person you lie to and breaks relationships....

Why tithe? Vertical= Don’t rob God.. and he will bless us if we do. Horizontal= Generosity helps people. (feeds, clothes, pays bills, funds ministry that may lead to salvation.

Why not gossip? Vertical= false witness Horizontal= gossip diminishes the value of people and destroys the credibility of the gossiper.

Sexual sin? Vertical = abomination Horizontal= I don’t want to do anything that diminishes the other person. That may cause regret. That may damage his/her future relationships.

Young people listen up… If it isn’t best for the other person. If it isn’t best for the other persons future spouse… It is sin.

God doesn’t answer the question: ‘How close can I get to sin without sinning?’

You see how that takes God’s vertical law and brings it to a horizontal relationship?

You can’t dismiss people and be in love with God.

Your love for God is demonstrated and authenticated by how we treat those around us.

I mentioned that if you hurt my kids… you are hurting me… God feels the same way...

But listen to this… The equal and opposite is also true… When you help my kids in their time of need… you are helping me. When you give my kid grace when they don’t deserve it… you extend me grace… when you love on my kids you are loving on me...

Guess what.... God feels the same way.

Remember when Jesus said you fed me when i was hungry gave me drink when I was thirsty, clothed me when I was naked, visited me when I was in prison. The people said when did we do that? Jesus said what you do for the least of these you do for me.

When you love on Gods kids you love on God.

If you are to go through scripture and look at all of the NT imperatives. The New covenant directives… they are all applications of Jesus’ new command that we love one another as our selves.

So what does Love require of me?

Well my love of God requires my love of others.

My love for others requires all of me.

The new command sounds simple… but it demands our all.

FBC #ForCameronTX

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What does love require? Everything.

Your love for God is demonstrated and authenticated by how we treat those around us.

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