Love One Another- Version 3

Bill Woody

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Love

Brotherly Love

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Love One Another

Text: John 13:1-17 (KJV)

1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Introduction:

* By way of introduction to my sermon this morning, I would like to give you a few observations about our text:

1). Jesus knew this would be his last sermon.

(TEXT) 1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

2) Jesus illustrated his love for his brethren by humbling himself before them.

* The dusty and dirty conditions of the region necessitated the need for foot washing.

* Although the disciples most likely would have been happy to wash Jesus’ feet, they could not conceive of washing one another’s feet.

* When Jesus lowered Himself to the lowly task of washing his disciples’ feet, it embarrassed them greatly that He would do such a thing.

* This was because in the society of the time foot washing was reserved for the lowliest of menial servants.

* Why is it that the people of Jesus day were so vehemently opposed to washing someone’s feet? The answer is that they were filled with pride.

* People of equal social status did not wash one another’s feet, except very rarely and as a mark of great love. When Jesus moved to wash their feet, they were shocked.

(TEXT) 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

* Pride in our hearts is the enemy of true love. Pride is the first and original sin. In the Bible the sin of a prideful heart is mother of all sin, the sin that God hates the most.

Proverbs 8:13 (KJV 1900)

13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the froward mouth, do I hate.

Proverbs 11:2 (KJV 1900)

2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: But with the lowly is wisdom.

Proverbs 13:10 (KJV 1900)

10 Only by pride cometh contention: But with the well advised is wisdom.

Proverbs 14:3 (KJV 1900)

3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Proverbs 16:17–18 (KJV 1900)

18 Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 29:22–23 (KJV 1900)

22 An angry man stirreth up strife, And a furious man aboundeth in transgression. 23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: But honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Proverbs 6:15–19 (KJV 1900)

16 These six things doth the Lord hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, Feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.

* Pride is the source of all marital and family problems- Humility is the antidote for all marital and family problems.

* The same principles that Jesus set forth concerning how believers should love one another in the church, are also the same principles that we are to use to guide love in marriage and family.

* If we love our mates and our children the way that the Bible tells all Christians to love one another, our marriages and families would be strong the way God intended them to be.

* If a couple having problems in their marriage come to me for help as their pastor, I don’t have some special passages of Scripture to deal with their marital problems- I could only take them to the same passages that I will share with you in this sermon this morning.

3). This act of humility was done as an example of how we should humble ourselves before our brothers and sisters in the church.

(TEXT) (14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

4). There is a twofold aspect to this symbolic act that Jesus performed.

1). Through this action Jesus taught the lesson that believers must love on another in the same manner that Jesus loved us.

2). Jesus taught that this Devine object lesson was symbolic of the spiritual cleansing that Jesus does after that we are saved.

(TEXT) John 13:6–8 (KJV 1900)

6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

* Peter, perhaps on behalf of others, spoke up in indignation that Jesus would stoop so low as to wash his feet. He failed to see beyond the humble service itself to the symbolism of spiritual cleansing involved.

* Jesus’ response to Peter made the real point of His actions clear: Unless the Lamb of God cleanses a person’s sin (as portrayed in this symbolism of washing), no one can have no part with Him.

1 John 1:7 (KJV 1900)

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

* Here tucked in this passage of Scripture we find a precious nugget of Bible truth! The cleansing that Christ does at salvation never needs to be repeated— Listen closely to the words of Jesus.

(TEXT) John 13:10 (KJV 1900)

10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

* At the moment of salvation atonement is complete. Jesus told Peter there was not need to wash him all over again!

* Believers are cleansed and granted the righteousness of Jesus. His righteousness is given to us, and by his blood we were total cleansed from sin.

(TEXT) John 13:9 (KJV 1900)

9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Hebrews 6:4–6 (KJV 1900)

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance…

* We see here in our text this morning something new in Christ’s teaching- even though we have all been cleansed by the blood of Christ we need constant washing, not of our soul, but of our fleshly mind, as we battle sin in the flesh.

* Day by day we must cleanse our fleshly minds to keep close fellowship with God the father because God is a Holy and pure God and He require that we also be holy and pure.

Romans 12:1–3 (KJV 1900)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

* This Bible calls this daily confession of sin after salvation Sanctification. Sanctification is the process in which after applying Jesus’ righteousness for total forgiveness of Sin, He daily cleanses our hearts and minds from those sins that we do in the body.

* These sins that we commit after we are saved hinder our daily fellowship with the God and must be cleansed from our fleshly mind and body.

* This is the true meaning of those familiar words that we quote so many times in I John 5:

1 John 1:5–2:6 (KJV 1900)

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

* Let me ask you a question right here- When you accepted Christ did He at that moment cleanse you from ALL sin?

* So if all your sins have been forgiven, then why are we commanded to continue to confess our sins after salvation?

* The answer to this perceived dilemma is that even though our souls have been saved from sin and sealed unto the day of redemption by the power of the Holy spirit, kept by the power of God to be raised up in the last day, our bodies, which includes this fleshly mind, remain under the influence of sin.

* The Apostle Paul illustrated this very well in Romans 7:

Romans 7:14–25 (KJV 1900)

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

* For this reason, our mind and body must continually be cleansed of the influence of this world we live in.

* There were to lessons that Jesus taught by washing His disciples feet in our text:

1). We must love and forgive one another in the same manner Christ loves and forgives us.

2). Even though we have been justified by Faith and we have been cleansed from the GUILT and Penalty of sin, (that is what we call the doctrine of JUSTIFICATION),

as long as we continue to live in these corrupt bodies, we are continuously being cleansed from the INFLUENCE of sin.

5). There is a promise associated with our text this morning.

John 13:16–17 (KJV 1900)

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

* I want to take a few moments this morning to bring out the greatest truth of our text this morning- “By our love one for another, we bear witness that we are God’s people and our message is truth.”

John 13:35 (KJV 1900)

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

I. Jesus had given us a new commandment in addition to the 10.

John 13:31-35 (KJV)

31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another,

II. How far should we go in obedience to this new commandment?

* We see now that we have been given a new commandment by Christ to love each other, but how far should we go in obedience to this new commandment?

* Well the answer is that we should be willing to die for each other.

John 15:7-17 (KJV)

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

III. This is our greatest witness of the love of God to the world.

* We have learned that we have been given a new commandment to love one another, and that love should be so great that we would be willing to die for one another, but I want you to realize this morning that it is this love that authenticates our message of Christ’s love to the world.

John 13:35-35 (KJV)

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

VI. A God given love for the brethren is evidence that you have been truly been saved.

* We have learned that we have been given a new commandment to love one another, and that love should be so great that we would be willing to die for one another, and we know that it is this love that authenticates our message of Christ’s love to the world.

* Not only is our love for one another evidence to the world that our message is true, but this love is also evidence to us that we have truly been saved.

* Listen to the words of I John 3:14:-16:

1 John 3:14–16 (KJV 1900)

14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 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.

V. What does this brotherly love look like?

* Not only is our love for one another evidence to the world that our message is true, but this love is also evidence to us that we have truly been saved.

* But what does true and genuine love for each other look like?

* The Bible tells us that our love for one another should be genuine.

I John 3:18-19 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

* I don’t believe that God is pleased with the trend within our churches today.

* We see our fellow believers at church and without thinking we say “Love you brother” out of some sense of Christian duty to say the words.

* Most of the time we haven’t given one fleeting about that person since the last time we saw them!

* How can you say that you love someone when you have no relationship with them?

* How can you say you love someone when you have never prayed for them? I find it difficult to say that you love someone and you don’t even know where they live.

* There was a time in our past when the churches would meet at members houses for mid-week prayer meeting.

The church ate meals together, prayed together in one another’s homes. Christians suffered together, they helped one another build their houses, gather their crops, care for the sick, comfort one another in death and prepare the body for burial.

* In these days the church had a strong and powerful witness in the community. The Devine love of God was clearly demonstrated to those outside the church by our love one for another.

* Could it be that our churches have lost their influence on our communities because Christians no longer show forth the love of God by loving one another?

* What are the characteristics of love unfeigned- (not fake)?

* This love that Jesus commanded is a divine love, a love given by the Holy Spirit!

* This is a Godly kind of love, not a worldly kind of love.

* God is not pleased with this fake “lip service” we do when we tell someone “we love you”, and it means nothing.

* If you don’t mean it, you would be better off not to say “I love you.”

* If you utter the words I love you to someone you have entered into a Devine commitment with that person.

* What the world calls love is nothing more than an emotion. Our emotions are part of this sinful, fallen body that we live in. Or emotions are totally corrupt and fickle.

* This kind of worldly love comes and goes and lasts only until the heart sees something it loves even better. This corrupt, fickle, worldly, view of love is why over half of all marriages fail in our society. When it comes to love the world says “follow your heart.” The Bible says don’t’ follow your heart:

Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV 1900)

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

* Worldly love comes from the emotions. Emotions come and go. The worldly kind of love is a mere mirage.

* We fool ourselves and fall in love with what we want someone to be, instead of who they really are. This kind of love never lasts.

* Real love is a decision that is controlled by the mind, not the emotions.

* True love is a decision based on the truth, not emotion.

* Sometimes the illusion of worldly love is over the very next morning after the honeymoon when you wake up and see what you really married!

* At some point in marriage, or any other relationship for that matter, all the warm fuzzy feelings of worldly love are gone and you are left with only the mental decision “Will I continue to love this person or should I strangle them!?

* We love our husbands, or our wives, or our children, because we know with our mind that this is the right thing to do, even when it is not convenient.

* We love our brothers and sisters in the church because Jesus has commanded that we love the brethren- even when it is not convenient. It is a mental decision, based on a Biblical truth.

* The Apostle Paul shows us what a Godly kind of love looks like:

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (KJV)

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

* While we are on this note of love endureth all things, listen also to what the World of God says in the Song of Solomon 8:6-7…

Song of Solomon 8:6-7 (KJV)

6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

Proverbs 10:12 (KJV)

12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

1 Peter 4:7-9 (KJV)

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

John 3:16-17 (KJV) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* (Now back to I cor. 13)

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

* So in theory, this is all well and good. But the old saying applies here “easier said than done!”

* If you have been married for any amount of time, you will recognize that loving one another is not easy! We must strive and work to love one another! Really, really hard!

*let’s go now and see what the practical side of this love really looks like down where the rubber meets the road.

A. Love is not a respecter of persons.

James 2:1-13 (KJV)

1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

B. We have compassions on our brothers and sisters when they are in need.

* Not only is this love of the breather not a respecter of persons, but this love is marked by compassion:

I John 3:17- 24

17 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? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

James 2:15-17 (KJV)

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

James 4:17 (KJV)

17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Acts 2:42-47 (KJV)

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 4:32-35 (KJV)

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

C. We speak to our brethren with kindness.

* Not only is this love for the breather not a respecter of persons, marked by compassion, but this love is also identified by its kind speech and conduct:

Proverbs 31:26 (KJV)

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Ephesians 4:29-32 (KJV)

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

James 3:1-18 (KJV)

1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

D. We don’t lie to one another. (We keep our word)

* Not only is this love for the breather not a respecter of persons, marked by compassion, identified by its kind speech and conduct, but it is truthful and not deceptive in nature.

Colossians 3:8-9 (KJV)

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Ephesians 4:25 (KJV 1900)

25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

E. We forgive on another.

* Not only is this love for the breather not a respecter of persons, marked by compassion, identified by its kind speech and conduct, truthful and not deceptive in its nature, but it is marked by forgiveness and patience.

Colossians 3:12-14

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

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Ephesians 4:29-32 (KJV)

F. We don’t go around angry with one another.

* Not only is this love for the brethren not a respecter of persons, marked by compassion, identified by its kind speech and conduct, truthful and not deceptive in its nature, forgiving and patient, but it does not allow for bitterness and anger toward one another.

Matthew 5:22 (KJV 1900)

22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Ephesians 4:26–27 (KJV 1900)

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.

Ephesians 4:29–32 (KJV 1900)

Colossians 3:8 (KJV 1900)

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

James 1:19-26 (KJV)

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 (KJV)

1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

G. We pray for one another.

* Not only is this love for the brethren not a respecter of persons, marked by compassion, identified by its kind speech and conduct, truthful and not deceptive in its nature, forgiving and patient, does not allow for bitterness and anger, but is causes us to pray for one another.

James 5:13–16 (KJV 1900)

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;

and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Conclusion:

* We, by the example and commandment of Christ, are love one another as Christ loved us. So what does this love for each other look like:

* This love for the brethren is not a respecter of persons, it is marked by compassion, it is identified by its kind speech and conduct, it is always truthful and not deceptive in its nature, it is forgiving and patient, it does does not allow for bitterness and anger, this love causes us to pray for one another.

* If we obey the command of Christ to love one another as Christ loved us we would be protected at all times from the tools that the Devil uses to destroy our Churches, our marriages, and our families-

the evil tools of pride, hardness of heart, un-forgiveness, impatience, bitterness, anger, and prayerlessness.