True Love 5

True Love Is Lived Out In Biblical Community

1 John 3:11–24 NASB95

For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Intro: John 13:34

John 13:34 NASB95

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

“It takes a village to raise a child” Proverb/Quote

Unknown origin, possibly African roots

It isn’t a biblical truth but it does have practical truth.

We are built to be in community with others.

The question is are we centered around worldly concepts or centered around the truth of Jesus.

Biblical Example: Church in Acts

1. True love leads to SINCERITY in His community.

11For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 13Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 3:11-15

Main Point: Worship and community are joined so tightly that they can’t be separated. Sincere community is tied to one another but centered on Jesus.

True love has a human target…aka community of believers. Here is Paul’s description of how our community should look…

1 Corinthians 13:4–5 NASB95

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,

· John takes the idea of a blood brother and his murder and puts it in context of our spiritual brothers.

· Our spiritual brotherhood/community is just as important and deep as our physical brotherhood.

· Cain’s sacrifice was a sacrifice of works that he offered to God – we still try to offer/please God by works

· Abel’s sacrifice was a blood sacrifice of a lamb that God provided. God provided a spotless lamb sacrifice

· Slew – To kill or murder, to do so by the cutting/slashing of the throat as in sacrifice

· Naturally we progress from life to death but in Jesus we miraculously pass from death to life.

· Jealousy in brother communion leads to hatred and spiritual murder

· Without proper worship there isn’t proper community

· God is glorified in sincere community (which is following Christ example)

o Sincere faith leads to sincere community which leads to sincere worship.

Illustration: Joe Millionaire (Evan Marriott worth $50 million) was going to choose 1 woman among 20 to be his wife. In reality he was a construction worker that made less than 20k a year. He broke the news and they didn’t make it a year.

2. True love leads to SACRIFICE for His community.

1 John 3:16–20 NASB95

We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

Main Point: Jesus is our ultimate example of sacrifice. This sacrifice should be emulated in the community. Sacrifice is observable, identifiable and reproducible.

· True community is marked by sacrifice for other’s

· Jesus is the ultimate example. (Abel was sacrificed by Cain unwillingly but Jesus willingly sacrificed Himself.)

· Jesus saw our need and didn’t close the door on us.

· Jesus didn’t love in JUST WORDS or TONGUE but in DEED and TRUTH!

· True love and community has a visual and tangible identification…SACRIFICE for the BRETHERN

· Doubts are natural and in those times we can look at the fruits of our faith to gain confidence (19)

· God is glorified in sacrificial love and deeds (which is following Christ example)

Hebrews 13:15–16 NASB95

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

James 2:14–17 NASB95

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

Illustration:Michael Jordan sacrificed his salary to for the Bulls to win Championships. He was grossly underpaid to add other quality players. By surrounding himself with great talent he sealed himself as the GOAT (in basketball).

3. True love leads to SUPPLICATION for His community.

1 John 3:21–24 NASB95

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Main Point: The world condemns us all of the time. Our heart condemns us some of the time. BUT, through Jesus we have confidence to come before the Father.

· How do we know that we aren’t condemned?

o 1st and primarily God’s word. (Rom. 8:1, Romans 8:34)

o 2nd our fruits/actions align with our words. (1 John 1:7, John 3:18)

§ Our words. Our obedience. Our deeds. Our community. Our beliefs/creed

o 3rd the Holy Spirit within us confirms and seals His presence (2 Cor. 1:21-22)

Illustration: Coke machine that doesn’t deliver. We become frustrated and walk away. Reluctant to use that machine again.

God’s Word:

Romans 8:1 NASB95

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:33–34 NASB95

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Fellowship/Community:

1 John 1:7 NASB95

but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Believes In Jesus:

John 3:18 NASB95

“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Holy Spirit:

2 Corinthians 1:21–22 NASB95

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.