Walking in Love

The word “followers” means “mimics”

Children are like their parents

We are God’s children - we should be like our Father.

God is love() so we should walk in love (5:1-2)

God is light () so we should walk as children of light (5:8-14)

God is truth () so we should walk in wisdom (5:15-17)

God is a Spirit () so we should walk in the Spirit (5:18)

Walking in Love (5:1-8)

We are God’s children so we’ve been made partakers of His nature. ()

2 Peter 1:4 KJV 1900

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Our old nature was selfish, built walls and declared war.

Our new nature is loving, builds bridges and seeks peace.

We are God’s “dear” children so we know what it’s like to be loved. (vs. 1)

Romans 1:7 KJV 1900

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”

He calls us the same thing.

Means favorite, esteemed, not just loved but GREATLY LOVED!

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED TRUE LOVE AND THEREFORE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO LOVE.

Some people struggle to love in this life because they have never experienced the kind of unconditional love that comes from knowing Christ.

-they’ve experienced rejection, so they reject others.

-they’ve experienced hurt, so they hurt others.

-they’ve experienced

We are His purchased possession so we know what love requires. (vs. 2)

We’ve witnessed what real love looks like, what it DOES!

It sacrifices.

“given himself” “an offering” “a sacrifice”

John 15:13 KJV 1900

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

He did it for His enemies!!!

“sweetsmelling savour” - pleasing; satisfying

When you savour a meal

The cross of Christ satisfied the demands of the Law and was therefore acceptable and pleasing to the Father.

So, as believers, we understand that love requires sacrifice but that it will be an acceptable sacrifice that is well-pleasing to the Father.

Though we know what real love looks like, the apostle Paul warns us in this section of that which “appears” to be love but is actually not.

THE ATROCITIES OF THE WORLD’S LOVE

Fornication - Sexual activity outside of marriage.

1 Corinthians 7:1–2 KJV 1900

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

The world thinks this is what love looks like.

The only way you “avoid” sexual sin is through the God-sanctioned miracle of marriage.

Uncleanness - Immorality

Any activity, physically or mentally, which defiles the participant.

Bill Clinton - I did not have sex with that woman.

Technically he did not commit “fornication”.

But what he did was immoral and it defiled him.

Pornography, An emotional affair

Key Word: Covetousness - Satisfying the appetite with that which does not belong to you.

Sex outside of marriage is satisfying your physical desire by taking that which doesn’t belong to you.

ILLUST - Haley (Is your husband out there somewhere?)

That girl would be taking something that will ultimately belong to you....

That boy (your future husband) would be taking something that ultimately would belong to someone else.

Hebrews 13:4–5 KJV 1900

Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

God: Covetousness is saying “God, you’re not enough to satisfy me”

I need a husband, wife, boyfriend, more money, better toys, nicer car.

God: I gave you life, I gave you my Son, I gave you eternal life, I’ve given you everything you have.....still, not enough?

2 Corinthians 11:2 KJV 1900

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

We are the bride of Christ.

When we covet other things - money, sex outside of marriage, etc. we are taking things that are not ours to try and satisfy ourselves and we are supposed to be completely satisfied in Him!

COVETOUSNESS IS SATISFYING WITH THAT WHICH DOESN’T BELONG TO YOU. (THAT’S THE ATROCITY OF THE WORLD’S LOVE)

When

The world’s love - LUST : An intense desire or longing for an object, person or circumstance with the intent of fulfillment.

Love: Sacrificing what DOES belong to you for the sake of another.

We just said that love requires sacrifice.

Covetousness - Taking what isn’t mine.

ILLUST - Haley (Is your husband out there somewhere?)

That girl would be taking something that will ultimately belong to you....

Love - Giving what is mine. (my time, my energy, my needs, my heart, my plans, my life)

With no thought of a return on the investment.

If I cook dinner for my wife for the purpose of “dessert” later.

(It wasn’t a sacrifice, it wasn’t love - it was a business transaction)

Great “love” chapter in the Bible ()

Archaic KJV - Forgot to use the word “love” instead “charity”.

Charity - the forfeiture of rights or resources solely for the good of another.

When we give to “charity” we are giving with no anticipation of reciprocation. Those we give charity to are not in a position to return the favor.

1 John 3:16–18 KJV 1900

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

John 15:13 KJV 1900

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

I Jn. 3:16-