A New Commandment A New Day

A New Commandment, a New Day I Jn.2:4-11 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. I Jn.2:4-6 Maturity is a process I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. I Jn.2:12-14 New believers delight in the forgiveness of their sin and the familial bond with the heavenly Father. Mature believers delight in loving others “The love of God is perfected” No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. I Jn.4:12 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1Jn.3:18 Love is an action, not a discussion. Love can be seen. God can be seen through our love. The Plan and Purpose of God to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, …For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love (dear children), may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge (young men and Fathers); that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Eph.3:9-11 (ESV); 14-19 (NKJV) An old or new commandment? 1 Jn.2:7-11 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jn.13:34-35 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 1 Jn.2:7-8 How does an old commandment become a new commandment? The Kingdom of God has been launched through Pentecost Our Gospel; Our Mission From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone in Christ, a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. II Cor.5:16-21 God has already forgiven the sins of the world, but we need the life of God giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Col.1:12-14 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Col.3:8-15 Chuck Colson famously noted that the Kingdom of God will not arrive on Air Force One. Americans may elect the "Leader of the Free World," but the "King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God" will still rule the universe (1 Timothy 1:17). Jim Denison Which Banner Would Jesus Put in His Yard? Questions to ask ourselves Do my values reflect the kingdom of God or the kingdom of this world? Am I a divisive person? Is it “Us vs. Them”? Am I harsh and critical towards those who think differently than me? Do I seek to find common ground? Do I care to know what’s important to them? Am I a peacemaker?