Bonded by Love

The New International Version Chapter 15

9

“Bonded by Love”

Text: John 15:9-13

Background Scripture: John 15

Introduction: What is it that keeps the church from falling apart? Christian beliefs and various passages of scripture teach us that the church cannot fall apart because of what keeps it together. Whether you are a student on doctrine or practice, we soon find out that however correct the teaching and preaching of doctrine, there really is no guarantee that we as a people will do the right thing. A person of right practices is not always doctrinally sound. That will depend on whether the practice is supported by scripture. In the business world it will depend on whether the practices are legally binding by the laws that govern what you are practicing or what you put into practice. Division has escalated itself among our Christian ranks because many have missed the one thing that will keep us together and motivate us to obey and that is we all must abide by and in the love of God. If the church desires to be fruitful as Christ desires us to be, it is vital and we must obey and abide in His love!

The kind of love that will bind us together is, sovereign, it’s a love that secures, and it’s a love that is willing to make a sacrifice.

Sovereign Love (John 15:9)

God only has and expresses a perfect kind of love. We as believers are to be motivated by the wonder of Christ’s love, which is patterned after His Fathers love in its quality and extent. Abiding or remaining in Christ’s love might seem to be mystical but Jesus paints a very vivid picture with His choice of words. One should gather from this verse that, obedience to the Fathers commands is the same for a disciple as it was for Christ the Son of God. “If you love me, you will obey what I my command” “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.” Active dependence and loving obedience are the proper responses for all children of God. Christ experience His Father’s love, which caused Him to obey His Father. Sovereign love is a perfect, penetrating, and productive love that diffuses or spreads throughout the environment or atmosphere in which it exist. Christ duplicated the Father’s love and He expects us to duplicate how He has loved us.

Secure Love (John 15:10-12)

To abide means to continue, to endure, or to persist. could it be that, Christ is alluding to if we are obedient it will produce stability and security. The kind of security that assures us as believers that our love is genuine because it models His and His Father’s perfect love. When it is our desire and passion to keep our eyes on His commands. Christ informs His disciples in this chapter and those of us who desire to follow Him to duplicate His love. Christ had great joy for pleasing His father by living a fruitful life. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The commands for His disciples to obey are for their (our) joy. In His intercessory prayer, He prays to His Father, “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they (my disciples) may have the full measure of my joy within them.” This primary command to”Love each other as I have loved you.” We are to grow by caring for and nurturing each other. The standard for that love is Christ’s example.

Sacrificial Love (John 15:12-13)

This is the kind of love that is willing to put yourself at a disadvantage so that someone else can have an advantage. It is such a selfless love that focuses outwardly instead of inwardly. Our Congregations will do well to adopt this attitude. But this is what Jesus did for us! When we demonstrate this attitude of love we are in obedience to the command to love one another. When we are willing to put others before us. When we are moved to do something for others to assist them along the way, to help them when the going through the difficulties of life, to encourage them to be better and provide for them a better quality of life, worship, and living. This is what God the Father and Christ His son wants us to duplicate.

Closure: God our Father loved us so much, that His love for us moved Him to do something for us that will have everlasting and eternal implication. This text clearly teaches us that the most a person can do for his friend is to die for him, feelings of jealousy must die, feelings to control or have dominion over must die, feelings of contempt must die, hatred must die, racism must die. If I am, If we are to love like Christ loved these are issues that must be governed by the love of God which constrains us or compels us to duplicate His love.