9 The Love Test
Notes
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Intro:
Intro:
AG: The behavior of the early church
Tertullian, an early Christian author, reported that the Romans would exclaim,
“See how they love one another,” Tertullian
Justin Martyr, a Greek speaking Christian apologist, sketched Christian love this way:
“We who used to value the acquisition of wealth and possessions more than anything else now bring what we have into a common fund and share it with anyone who needs it. We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies.” Justin Martyr
Clement of Alexandria, describing the person who has come to know God, wrote,
“He impoverishes himself out of love, so that he is certain he may never overlook a brother in need, especially if he knows he can bear poverty better than his brother. He likewise considers the pain of another as his own pain. And if he suffers any hardship because of having given out of his own poverty, he does not complain.” Clement of Alexandria
Compare these statements with a Gallup poll from several years back…
There's little difference in ethical behavior between the churched and the unchurched. There's as much pilferage and dishonesty among the churched as the unchurched. And I'm afraid that applies pretty much across the board: Religion, per se, is not really life changing. People cite it as important, for instance, in overcoming depression--but it doesn't have primacy in determining behavior. George H. Gallup, "Vital Signs," Leadership, Fall 1987, p. 17.
George H. Gallup, "Vital Signs," Leadership, Fall 1987, p. 17.
TS: The Bible teaches us differently!
As we have gone through the years, the people of God have “settled down” and quit applying passages such as our text in 1 jn 3:11-18. They no longer love as Christ commanded.
RS: Today, we need to be reminded of the deep commitment to love each other.
ESV
For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.
Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Love’s command
Love’s command
For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
EX: Believers are commanded to love
From the beginning of the proclamation of the gospel, love has been the command.
Jesus placed a priority on love
He gave a clear command
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
He also said our love identifies us as His disciples
He also said our love identifies us as His disciples
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love for others is the 2nd greatest command, second only for loving God.
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the great and first commandment.
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Mt 27:
Peter also emphasizes love:
Peter also emphasizes love:
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
Loving each other grows from the new nature we are given when we are saved by the grace of God.
God is love, and He creates in us the ability to really love others as He does.
Our new nature brings with it a habit of love.
Our new nature brings with it a habit of love.
God’s love for us and the love we are commanded to have for each other is unconditional.
It is a choice to love no matter what
You are my brothers and sisters and I love you in the good and bad times.
All people on earth are to be loved.
They matter because they are people!
Even those who don’t know the Lord
In love we must reach out and share the good news with them.
Love’s absence
Love’s absence
We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.
Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.
Apart from Christ, there is an absence of love.
In the human nature is sin
. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.
Sin leads not just to a lack of love, but to hate.
Cain and Abel
Sons of Adam and Eve
Offered a sacrifice
Abel- an animal
Cain- produce
God accepted Abel’s
it was given as required
blood sacrifice like the animal He had killed to make clothes for Adam and Eve after they sinned.
Cain got jealous and murdered his brother
We see this today in the false idea of the world that if we disagree, we must hate them and the clear indication that they hate us.
I have recently seen people which shocked me.
gentle people
People I used to have great respect for.
Speaking of hitting others over “hate speech”
But the speech in question wasn’t displaying hate!
They meant they disagreed with the speaker
Watch the news for long, and you will see people being hateful and disrespectful over differences of opinion.
Jesus had also warned us:
Watch the news for long, and you will see people being hateful and disrespectful over differences of opinion.
Look at the actions of the last week.
Elections- attacking each other
Protests over difference of opinion turned into near riot
Sin brings hate which leads to actions that harm others.
It doesn’t have to be that way
I may not vote your way.
I may prefer a different team than you
I may say yes when you say no and say no when you say yes.
NONE of that means I hate you!
In fact, for children of GOD, it MUSTN’T be that way
John warns us and tells us to not be surprised when we face hate.
Jesus had also warned us:
In fact, Jesus had also warned us:
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
Love’s revelation
Love’s revelation
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
1 Jn 3:14-15
Love displayed revealed the change which has occured.
John displays a contrast:
Love the family of God:
We know we have passed from death to life
We have proof and assurance of the new nature Christ gave us.
Hate the family of God:
We abide in death
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
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Still in spiritual death
We are murderers
All murderers (those walking around in hate) do not have eternal life within.
Remember, We don’t love to gain eternal life, we love because we HAVE eternal life.
God’s unconditional love for us enables use to unconditionally love each other
Finally, lets get practical as we examine:
Love’s application
Love’s application
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
John gives us a clear picture of what love is:
We lay down our life for others
put them ahead of us
Seek their best interest
We call people who do this heroes!
We give generously
Acts 2:42:47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Live out a life of love
Not just talk about it
DO IT
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Does your life demonstrate love?
Are you laying aside your self so that you may serve others?