Belief & Love
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Dallas Thunder game. May 19, 2011. 106-100 Thunder. Nobody said anything to us.
Some assumptions were probably made by the Mavericks fans because of what we were wearing.
That connection between an identity and expectations.
OU. OSU. NASCAR. Golf. Theatre/Musical. Hunter. Republican. Democrat.
Usually these are inaccurate expectations because it’s a bottom-up reality.
But, as followers of Christ, we are given a mandate from Jesus to live by.
Jesus calls His followers to be identified by love.
Your Spiritual Identity
Your Spiritual Identity
v. 1
The confusion of expectations of a Christian. More of what we are against than what we are for.
Based on love.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
So, as we are called disciples or followers of Jesus, we are children of God.
Notice that there is a particular quality of love that is being expected.
God’s children have a particular kind of love.
Lots of ways to use the word “love.” Eros // Phileo // Agape.
Agape is unconditional love. Not dependent upon reciprocated or returned love.
I will love you regardless.
Why? Because God is love. This is what is confusing to the world. The “Why are you doing this??”
You don’t have to agree with someone to love them.
I don’t have to win the argument…or even enter into it!
Christians have a love mandate. If you are struggling with that, remember God’s love for you!
You Are What You Practice
You Are What You Practice
vv. 2-10
Practice makes perfect (or perfect practice). Free throws. Lay-ups. Post shots. Over and over. Second nature. Muscle memory.
Practice = perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain one’s proficiency.
From a good habit to a bad habit - practice makes actions routine and second nature.
We naturally make a practice of sinning and lawlessness. Performing it repeatedly. It is second nature.
But, as followers of Jesus, we are called to practice righteousness because of that second origin God creates in us.
God’s seed = Spiritual DNA.
What are the effects of DNA? Hair (or lack of). Eyes. Height and shape of body. Ear lobes.
There is an effect of our spiritual DNA also. It changes how we live out love and righteousness.
But, it’s something that we work on. It’s a guy that’s 7-2 but never has picked up a basketball or a girl with a perfectly lyrical voice who has never sung a note!
We start with such potential for righteousness and love, but it is something that we must work on. We must practice.
Intentionally repeat loving others.
Intentionally identify temptation and reject it.
Will we sin? Yes. We’ve already established God’s preservation of His children (v. 3).
And we continue to move forward, walking the path of sanctification.
And this gives us HOPE! Which is something we need right now. Hope to look forward and grow.
Believe And Love
Believe And Love
vv. 11-24
The love mandate from Jesus was not new.
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.”
Based upon texts from Deuteronomy and Leviticus.
All the way back to Cain as an example of the opposite of this.
Fueled by jealousy and bitterness, Cain commited the first murder.
But, for followers of Christ, love is the mandate.
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
The application that John makes is found in vv. 17-18.
Do you see a need? Can you meet the need? This is proof of love!
Belief leads to love.
Keep His commandments - that is to love.
It reveals that you are in God and that God’s Spirit is in you.
It is this love that gives you hope and gives hope to others. It gives you reassurance.
By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;
When you take root in God, this is the fruit!
Conclusion
Conclusion
The farmer and the cowman should be friends.
A real friction that occured there because of the fences the farmers put up, preventing the cattle from grazing freely.
Other areas where boundaries are helpful and right.
But, when it comes to love, there should be not boundaries.
In a time when contention and bitterness are raging in our nation, the church should be leading the way.
Check your heart for boundaries.
Then destroy them.
Show intentional love. Go out of your way to do so.
Christ came from heaven, to be rejected and executed, because of love.
He has set the example. He has set the mandate.
Love one another.