Love One Another

Introduction

While you’re doing that, just want to take time to make a few comments before we get into the lesson this morning. First and foremost, Brent is out, so I’m filling in for him today, and I look forward for the opportunity to look at God’s word this morning on the topic that we’re going to be talking about. I’ll warn you ahead of time to a couple things. We’re going to be looking at a lot of scripture. Most of the scripture is going to be on the screen for you. You’re welcome to turn to your Bibles and keep up if you can. But we’re going to let God’s word speak to us this morning on the topic that I have selected. So I appreciate it if you could make close attention to that.

I’ll stop where appropriate and make a few comments, but I’m not going to elaborate a lot on some of the things that we’re going to read from God’s Word this morning. In Ephesians chapter 3, starting in verse 14, we’re going to read from there to the end of the chapter. And if you haven’t figured out figured it out already, if you look to your right on the wall, our theme this year is filled with the fullness of Christ.

Verse 14.

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, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width, the length, and the depth and the height, to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, and to him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Now, if you want to go ahead and open your Bibles also to Matthew chapter 22, we’re going to be starting there as part of our lesson.

1. The Common Theme Is Love

The fullness includes, and that we just talked about the fullness of Christ, I believe includes an understanding and knowing about the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, as we just read about. It is his example or Christ’s example of this demonstrated love that we’re going to study about this morning. So turn, if you haven’t already, Matthew 22, verse 36. The first scripture reads, Teacher, what is the great commandment of the law? And he said to them, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And this comes from a passage in Deuteronomy chapter 4. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.

And these words which I command you today shall be on your heart. And then he went on to say, What is the second commandment? And we see this from Matthew chapter 22, verse 39. And a second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depends all the law and the prophets. And this passage is from Leviticus chapter 19, verse 18. You should not take vengeance to bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

And the reason I bring that up is because it ought to, the repetitiveness, if you will, of that ought to impress upon our minds the importance of this particular command to love your neighbor as yourself. However, Jesus introduces another command that we’re going to primarily spend our time talking about this morning, and that is found in John chapter 13, verses 34 and 35. 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 love, if you have love for one another. So, how do these scriptures play together? How do they work together? Well, if you’re like me, I like I’m a visual person.

And I put together a chart that kind of does that for me that hopefully will help you as well. Our prior passage we first understood that we should love God with our heart, soul, and mind. Then we looked at the passage that says, we should love your neighbor as yourself. And then in John chapter 13, as we just read, we also have a new command that we should love one another as I have loved you. The common theme in all three of these, if you haven’t figured it out, like was mentioned earlier this morning, and by the way, I appreciate Daniel leading the songs. The common theme is love. Thus making love the greatest commandment, if you will. The three objects of each command give you a give you a different perspective or different person or group to love.

And we see that we should love God, we should love our neighbor, and we should love one another. Loving God, how should loving God, why is that the first and the greatest commandment? And as we read, we are to do that with frankly our whole being. Everything that we have within us, we should have that type of attitude toward God and our love toward God. One of the things that I think if you have that type of love, I’m convinced if you love God the way that you should love God, the other two will take place to love your neighbor and to love one another. As I consider the audience of love, it includes everyone when you think about it. There’s no one left out when you consider what we just looked at, and the fact that we should love God, our neighbor, and one another.

But loving one another is the topic that I do want to spend our predominant time on this morning. I want to focus on looking at what Jesus said here and why he said it.

We already know that you know we should love our neighbor or a stranger, and Jesus, again, like I mentioned earlier, gives us plenty of examples of why that is to be the case, including the example for example of the Good Samaritan. But when it comes to our fellow brothers and sisters, and to those who are fellow Christ followers, the love that we that we should have for them, I believe, should even exceed the love for ourselves, and it should it should be the same as just as Christ loved each of us. Like he said, as I have loved you.

When you think about it, that we should have a great love that our love should for our brothers and sisters that we have seen and read about regarding Jesus, our Lord and Savior, that we should demonstrate that same type of love for one another.

Like I said, a number of scriptures this morning. So follow along with me on this topic of loving one another. More importantly, as we have talked about recently, we want to use Jesus as our example.

2. We Must Love One Another: It Is a Command

That love and ask ourselves the question are we loving each other like Jesus loved us. Before we get into those three areas, I’m going to talk, I’m going to look at several passages to set the stage, and let these passages speak for themselves. John chapter 15, verse 12. This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Above all, keeping love, keeping loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sin. And then Romans chapter 12, verse 9. Let love be genuine, abhor what is evil, hold fast to what is good, love one another with brotherly affection, outdo one another in showing honor.

If you have a complaint against another, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these, put on love that binds everything together in perfect harmony. Then in John chapter 4, verses 7 through 12, we read, Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not does not love does not know God, but God is love. In this, the love of God was made manifest among us that God sent his only son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love. Not that we have loved God, but that he had loved us and sent his son to be a propitiation for our sins.

Verse 11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God abides in us, and love is perfected in us. Then first John chapter 4, verse 18 as well. There is no fear in love, but perfect love cast out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him. Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1 John chapter 3, verse 23. And this is the commandment that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he has commanded us.

Ephesians chapter 4, verse 2, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love. 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 9. Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

Honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the emperor. So if you don’t think there’s passages that deal with this topic, you’re sadly mistaken. And we have just started looking at a few more as we get into the rest of the lesson. So when we go back to 1 John chapter 3, and we see this new commandment, we see a number of other passages that deal with this topic and with this commandment, that we should love one another. And that’s my first bullet, if you will, in terms of making note. Sometimes I think we get this idea that when we read passages like this, it’s an option. We can do it if we want to. That’s not what these scriptures say. It’s not an option, brothers and sisters.

We must love one another. It is a command. It’s not an option. Second. Verse 35 says, By this for one, by this love for one another, all people will know you are you are my disciples. You know, when I look at verse 35, the thought that comes to my mind is what do other people see when they see how we deal with each other and how we either love each other or don’t love each other. What does that say to others about us?

Not only to ourselves, but frankly to others as well. We see from these passages, it was demonstrated by Jesus. He is our example, and that’s what we’re going to look at three different areas to help focus even further the points and the idea that I’m trying to get across this morning. Are we loving one another like Jesus loved us? That’s a question that all of us need to keep in mind. Every day, no matter what we do, what we say, how we say it, how we treat each other. Are we loving each other like Jesus has loved us? How did Jesus show his love for others?

3. The Example of Jesus Being a Servant

We’re going to get into three different areas, and we need to follow that example. The three areas that I want to consider for us is the example of Jesus when it comes to being a servant for one another. We’re also going to talk about his sacrifice for one another. And finally, his goal, his desire for salvation, and for all of us to help each other get to heaven. So let’s look at each of these and look at a couple of passages that I think helps us understand and look at the example of Jesus in these three areas. More importantly, how we should be manifesting ourselves, our lives, and everything that we do to pattern these things toward one another.

Excuse me, John chapter 1, verse 14. And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and faith. Philippians chapter 2, verse 5 through 7. Have this mind among yourselves, which is which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God, a thing to be grass, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being worn in the likeness of men. 2 Corinthians chapter 8, verse 9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. Matthew 20, verse 28.

Even as a son of man came not to be not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and your teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. So how do we put these things into practice that we just read about? As fellow Christians, how do we put into application the same example that Jesus had to be a servant to one another? There are a number of things that come to mind, and these are just a few, and trust me, you’re getting you’re getting the cut down version.

This lesson was probably about twice as long as previously. So bear with me. There’s a lot here. Get to know one another. Build relationships. How well do we know each other? Yes, we come here and we spend time with each other for three hours a week. Is that enough? I suggest it’s not. We need to cultivate and to take the time to build a relationship with one another. We need to seek the best interest of each other. And that the key here is to remember it’s not about me.

And how we help each other and how we serve each other? Understand what others need and provide it. You can only do this if you know your brothers and sisters and what they need. Again, you have to take the time to be able to have that relationship and to be able to do that and do it correctly. Love one another and being a servant go hand in hand. I don’t know how you separate the two.

4. His Sacrifice for One Another

You know, I know the customs are different. I got it. We don’t do that today. I got it. But from an example perspective, when have you literally done something like washing someone’s feet to help them out? That’s something we need to each of us think about. And again, this lesson is for all of us. And we can see how here that Jesus was a servant to all of us and the examples that we need to be toward one another. The next area I want to look at is sacrifice. There are a couple of passages again that deal with this idea of what Jesus and His love for us and what he has done for us in the terms of sacrifice. Ephesians 5, verse 1. Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children, and walk in love as Christ loved us, and gave himself to be a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God.

Not that we have loved God, but he loved us and sent his son to be that propitiation, that sacrifice for our sins. First Timothy chapter 2, verse 5 and 6, we see here in this passage that he gave himself, that’s Christ, gave himself as a ransom for all. Romans chapter 5, verse 8, but God chose his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Hebrews chapter 9, verse 12. He entered once for all of all into the holy place, not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. Hebrews chapter 10, verse 12. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

So how do we understand and use this idea of Jesus’ example of what he has done for us when it comes to sacrifice to help each other and to love one another? How do we do that? So, how can what you do from a day-to-day perspective demonstrate this same kind of sacrificial attitude and idea for one another? Some of the things that come to mind.

Show them your love, show them things that you can do to demonstrate that love. And again, you could be off doing something else, but you’re going to take the time to show them that you care. To demonstrate to them your love, not just in word, but also in deed. To give up yourself for one another. Are you willing to give up everything for someone else? Regardless of circumstance. Jesus did.

What should our example be to those that we love, those around us? Sacrifice everything for one another. And love, loving through forgiveness, as Jesus did for all of us. And I think we need to keep that one in mind that sacrifice that was provided by Jesus, provided that propitiation for our sins and that forgiveness of our sins. How do we treat others when it comes to things that maybe we do that we shouldn’t have done and we transgress or sin against somebody else? Or they sin against us. Are we willing to forgive them? Like Jesus forgave us.

5. Salvation: Help Each Other Get to Heaven

So the last thing is salvation that I want to talk about, and then we’ll close the lesson out. There are several scriptures that we want to look at to talk about this example that we need to also imitate. Acts chapter 4, verse 12. And there is no salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which you must be saved. 1 John chapter 5, verses 11 through 12. And this is a testimony that God gave us eternal life. And this life is in his is in his son. Whoever has the Son has life. Whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. Titus 2 11. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.

Titus 3, verse 5. He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy by the washing and regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.

So how do we follow this example? What do we do to follow the same example that we just read about regarding our Savior?

Who’s made a sacrifice we looked at earlier for our salvation and ensure that we have a salvation? One of the things that I wrote down is to help a brother or sister when they are spiritually weak. This gets back to a point that I made earlier. We need to understand the needs of our brothers and sisters. We need to know when they’re not doing well, when they’re weak, they’re down. How often have you walked up to somebody and said, How are you doing? Not just from a casual perspective, but I mean, how are you doing? Because you are concerned about them. You’re concerned about them spiritually. They may be down, and you need to lift them up and help them along their journey. Speak truth and love, to grow up in every way unto Christ.

But we can do it with the right attitude and love toward one another to help each other, to help each other get to heaven. Encourage one another to love and good works.

What do you do outside these walls to help? And I could name people, but I’m not going to do it. Help people, your brothers and sisters around you to encourage them and to help them. Followers of Christ are recognized by their love for each other. This is verse 35 that I talked about earlier. And I think this is a verse that we need to be very careful of. How are we known outside these four walls for how much we love one another? And if we’re not known for our love for one another, do we understand that is deterring from our ability to save others? Because they’re going to see that we don’t love each other. Why would they want to be a part of this group?

So my point here is be careful. And follow that example that we see in Christ to show that proper love to one another in all manner of life, in all situations, because others could see that. And if they see that, they’ll want to be a part of that. If they don’t see that, they won’t want to be a part of it.

We demonstrate each day who we are, what we are, and how much we care and show our love to one another is going to be seen, not just by ourselves and each other, but including those that are outside of our group. And last one I have up here is help each other get to heaven. That gets back to the whole theme, if you will, this third bullet. Are we following that same example that Jesus demonstrated for each of us? That we love one another to the point that we want each other to get to heaven. And everything that we do in this life is going to strive to help each of us do that very thing to get to heaven.

Conclusion

Love one another. Remember the new commandment that Jesus gave to us that we should love one another. Follow his example that we read about and that we talked about in his being a servant, the sacrifice that he made, and his desire for all of us to be saved.

Why this lesson today? As I mentioned earlier, it does fit nicely into our theme this year. That is true. But this lesson comes from a different perspective as one of your elders. As elders, we have had some challenges over the last several months. And some of those challenges have been manifested in some respect by attitudes perhaps that are not as good as they should be. And perhaps this lack of loving one another the way that Christ has demonstrated his love for us. Are we following that example? That’s my encouragement to each and every one of you here this morning. To consider yourself. Consider your thoughts, your ideas, your attitude, and how are you demonstrating that to one another? And are you demonstrating again what God would have for us and the great love that he had for us for the example of Jesus that we talked about?

So therefore I encourage you to love one another in all things. In 1 John chapter 5, verses 11 and 12, we read, and this is the testimony that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in and through his Son. Whoever has the Son has life. Whoever does not have the Son of God, does not have life. Do you have life this morning? You’re sitting in this audience and you’re not a Christian. That’s the question I have for you this morning. Do you have life? If you are a Christian, the question is, what kind of life are you currently you currently have? Is it the life that you want and you desire and you need to be fulfilling and to be the kind of servant that you should be in this kingdom?

Our access to eternal life is through our obedience to God’s word. And if you’re here this morning and you haven’t been obedient to God and express that obedience and been baptized, this is a time for you as well. And please consider that. And if you have any other need, please come as we stand this.