Sermon 030396

Mat. 22:34-40                       The Second Great Commandment                                  3/3/96

ABCC

I.  Review of the Great & 1st Commandment                                                                    # 514

    A.  True love seeks to please the object of your love (Mt. 3:17; 8:29)

·        Perseveres in seeking ways; ongoing = “always”

B. Love for God is interrelated with forgiveness for sins (Lk. 7:40-43)

·        Oh how great our love ought to be for God; He has forgiven SO MUCH SIN!!!

II.  The Second Great Command (v. 39)

     A.  It has no significance or meaning apart from the 1st Great commandment

          (1Jn. 4:7-8) = “love is from God”, you must be “born of God” to know this love

     B.  It is similar because the two commandments are inseparable

     C.  It is similar in the quality of love that is called for in both - will, emotions, intellect

     D.  Involves people personally & individually - “You”, “your neighbor”

     E.  It requires personal involvement in the life of other people

          1.  Begin with believers whom the Lord has brought in your life (Gal. 6:10)

          2.  Respond to people who you know are hurting & helpless (Lk. 10:29-37)

          3.  Respond to others as you would to yourself (Mt. 7:12)

               - When you’re hungry, hurting, lonely, rejected, …., how do you treat yourself?

               - This is not a command to love yourself!  We already love ourselves too much

                  (Eph. 5:29)

The Second Great Commandment - Pg. 2

III.  Conclusion

      A.  All of scripture expands & explains these two commandments (v.40)

      B.  These two commandments summarize the entire Christian life (1Jn. 4:20-5:4)

·        Love for God compels us to sanctification, purity, holiness = Fellowship

·        Love for people compels us to take deeds of mercy & truth to people (1Jn. 3:18)

Is your life really that uncomplicated, so these two commandments sum up your daily goals?  Have you allowed sporting events, home repairs, excessive workload, poor health, financial problems,…to prevent you from loving PEOPLE?  Are you practicing hospitality as we are commanded by Jesus Christ?…contacting ill brothers & sisters? When was the last time you helped a neighbor with a repair, cutting grass, or shoveling snow?  When did you last invite someone to worship service or Growth Group meeting?  What excuses are you using for not having daily devotion & quiet time with the Lord?  How did your life get so complicated & priorities so confused that love for God is no longer the highest priority in you life?  How is it that we find ourselves with very little or no time to express love for our neighbor?  In the name of Jesus Christ, we must repent of these sins TODAY.  WE CANNOT GO ON THIS WAY!  JESUS OUR MESSIAH DIED & ROSE FROM THE GRAVE TO GIVE EVERY BELIEVER POWER TO OVERCOME THESE SINS.  Let’s demonstrate our love for God & our neighbor beginning TODAY!

READ 1JN. 4:7-8