SHOWING GOD'S LOVE TO OTHERS

 

John 13:31-35

A new commandment Jesus gives to His disciples, to which is passed on to all those who are His. “Love one another” (v34) To love one another is to love fellow believers as Christ loves us. Those who love like Christ in the Holy Spirit’s power, will give evidence that they are disciples, or learners, of Jesus Christ. The early church demonstrated this commandment well as the Roman society took notice of them. “At no other time in the history of Christianity did love so characterize the entire church as it did in the first three centuries. And Roman society took note. Tertullian reported that the Romans would exclaim, “See how they love one another!” 

Justin Martyr sketched the commandment of Christian love this way. “We who used to value the acquisition of wealth and possessions more than anything else now bring what we have into a common fund and share it with anyone who needs it. We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies.”

 

How are we doing as a body for the Lord Jesus Christ

when it comes to loving one another?

 

I think sometimes as Christians we spend more time studying, memorizing, talking around round tables among one another about what we are to be like in a fallen world; but we never end up doing what we learn and discuss together. Don’t get me wrong! Studying, talking about the Bible, and how that applies to my changed Christian life, are vital for life and godliness. But, if these life changing principles are not put into daily practice, then all were doing is filling our selfish hearts with biblical truth to make ourselves feel better about our Christian life.

 

God’s word and truth is to be

exemplified in our lives.

 

Paul reminded Timothy to teach others these principles. “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1 Tim 4:12

Paul told the church to test everything to these virtues. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Phil 4:8

 

As Jesus continues His teaching in the Upper Room, He begins to fill His disciples with more practical biblical truth, that they will be able to pass on to others. But first Jesus says something that would seem strange to the common man, but it helps us to understand this love. The Father and the Son will be glorified; but you said you are going to die on a cross though Jesus?

 

How can that bring glory to you Jesus?

His death purchased salvation by satisfying the demands of God’s justice for those who put their faith and trust in Him. His death demonstrates His compassion, His patience and His power. His death destroyed the power of sin and death.

 How can God the Father, get glory in your death Jesus?

 

Christ’s death displayed God’s power by raising Jesus from the dead. Christ’s death declared God’s justice because sin is a violation against His holy Law. Christ’s death revealed God’s holiness and His hatred for sin. Christ’s death expressed God’s faithfulness to provide a redeemer since the garden. Christ’s death demonstrates God’s love towards sinners.

 

What we need to learn as Jesus teaches His disciples is that… The cross demonstrates the glory of God, this is the highest expression of self-sacrifice and by doing this Jesus and the Father are glorified through the cross

 

What does God want us to do?

 

Jesus answers these questions by telling His disciples a truth that we should all exemplify in our daily lives. He says one of the hardest and most distorted virtues to do. “Love one another” This is not a new theology that Jesus is teaching. We have seen this thought-out the Old Testament. “You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” Lev 19:16-18

 

Job spoke these words, “He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” Job 6:14

 

Proverbs 3:27 says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.”

 

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

 

A true, hearty, faithful friend, loves in times of adversity as well as in times of prosperity. Unfortunately, there seems to be a NEW THEOLOGY, or a NEW VERSION, of the bible in resent years that is says, “It’s ok to love Jesus, but hate His church. This is what we call an “oxymoron” If you profess to love Jesus and hate the church, then you truly don’t understand what it means to love Christ and one the another’s. The gospel displays that Christ died for His church, and to hate His church is to say “Jesus you are crazy for dying for those losers.” It’s an insult to His divine plan, and providence, by preserving His bride for future glory with Him. It’s an insult to His redemptive plan to save lost sinners out of this broken world system. Why? The word “church” is a translation of the Greek word “ekklesia”, which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.”

 

You can’t love Jesus and hate His assembly

of called out ones.

 

Listen to the warning by the apostle John, “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar (The sense is, that this must be a false profession); 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 4:20-21. This is why we have so many issues in the church. This commandment is a sad rebuke to the church, someone on the outside doesn’t have to look very long at the church to discover that believers often do not love each other as they ought. Where do we see this in the church? R C Sproul said, “the proliferation of denominations is one example of this. While it is true that many were formed out of a legitimate need to maintain the purity of the Gospel, it is also true that others started because individuals could not lovingly tolerate disagreement on matters not essential to the faith. Even now, what should be minor issues become major ones and insults are hurled across denominational lines at those who share the true faith. Perhaps more troubling is the fact that even believers within the same church have trouble loving one another. How many of us dislike others in our own church simply because they have certain quirks or have not progressed as far in their sanctification as we might like?”

 

Jesus is telling us that there is no room for this kind of behaviour among God’s called out ones, His church. You will find nowhere in the Scriptures, that we have the right to hate, dislike or not able or equipped to get along with others. Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” Matt 5:43-44. This is what will sustain the church and hold it together for many generations to come. I know this is hard, but it’s a command that our Lord gives. Jesus, exemplified this for us to live by and He ultimately demonstrated that through His death on the cross for sinners. In fact, His sacrificial death provides the greatest example of love, as well creates a new community in which we are to love one another because of that.

 

That is why this New Commandant is not a suggestion for God’s children, but a demonstration of the new life we have in His Son. “Command” by definition is to give someone an order; to tell someone to do something in a forceful and often official way; to have authority and control over a group of people, such as soldiers. Was this a really a New Command? No, not really. Jesus is commanding a deeper expression, or a higher standard, than the Old Testament command that God gave to His people. This command didn’t wipe the old command away, all it did was help the listener or the reader to understand the vital importance of this command. This command Jesus gave them as He was about to leave them, was to be a badge of discipleship, or badge of honor, for the world to observe.

 

This was for His friends and followers, that they might

be distinguished from all others.

 

Why? To love others requires personal sacrifice for the sake of others, and that is foreign to a fallen world. The “one another” in these verses is a reference to fellow believers. A distinguishing mark of being a follower of Christ is a deep, sincere love for brothers and sisters in Christ. But this doesn’t remove the fact that we are commanded to extend beyond the church to embrace all people, as we read for example in 1 Thess 3:12 Paul wrote, “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,” But it starts here! So that we might increase not decreases the love that was displayed for us in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This command is very important not just to memorize, put on a T-shirt, but to put into action daily as God’s children who are saved by grace and mercy. It’s important because people don’t naturally love with a 1 Corinthians 13-type love. To love like that, there must be a change of heart.

 

My question is “Are you doing this?”

Loving one another demonstrates we are born of God.

Loving one another demonstrates we know God's love.

Loving one another demonstrates we obey God.

Loving one another demonstrates we are indwelt by God.

Loving one another demonstrates we have confidence before God.

Loving one another demonstrates we are truthful.

 

Again, we must ponder the cross, which is the spotlight of God’s kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and love displayed, towards sinners like us. This is the only way we are going to be able to truly love others, the unlovable, the rebellious, and ultimately the family of God. Your church family who at times annoy you because were selfish and want people to be more like me. By looking to the cross and His finished work; through the continual daily work of the Spirit in our lives, helps us, to see others through this grace. The Scriptures declare according to Paul, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 

1 Cor 13:4-7

This means that…..

“Love is patient [a person is slow to anger when abused, not quick of resentment, nor hasty to revenge when affronted; but exercises forbearance, suffers long, and bears much, and is ready to forgive]

and kind [does good to all men, even to enemies]. Love is not jealous [does not envy the temporal happiness of others], 

not boastful, [is not flashy of what he has, a proud boaster to promote his own honour and interest, without considering what will be the consequence of things] 

not proud [to inflate with pride] and not rude [will be careful that no filthy and corrupt communication proceed out of his mouth, which may offend]. 

It does not demand its own way. [This person will make most for his honour and glory; and the things of Christ, and what relate to the spread of his Gospel and the enlargement of his kingdom, seeking the interest of others well-being before their own]

It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. [It means that love, or that a person under the influence of love, is not malicious, critical, inclined to find fault, or to attribute improper motives to others].

It does not rejoice about injustice [Does not rejoice over the “depravities” of other people; does not take delight when they are guilty of crime, or when, in any manner, they fall into sin. It does not find pleasure in hearing others accused of sin, and in having it proved that they committed it.] 

but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. [This person loves to rejoice that good is done, and the truth is defended and advanced whether by them or others.]

This should be the theme 
song of our lives.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” The test for and you are, “Can we do this?” Can you do what Paul is saying here? If you struggle in this area of your life, then my suggestion is seek His face until you can do it. Through the glory of the cross, God has called you, and through this demonstration of love we exemplify possibly to someone who has harmed you in the past, or someone you’ve always had a hard time getting along with, is coming to the cross because of the love you exemplified towards them in Christ. Remember were all sinners, sinners who desire to be loved and forgiven; that has been fulfilled in the finishing work of the cross. The very act of love which glorifies the Son, which ultimately glorifies the Godhead, three in one. (v31-v32) 

This all begins in the house of God, the church, His set apart ones to be a loving demonstration of God’s grace towards a dying culture. And when it’s being done in the house of God, it will be much easier to love our neighbor, our enemies, our fellow man who walk in darkness. Are you doing what you can to love earnestly and overlook a number of minor offenses from other people? Or Do you tend to hold grudges? Are you expressing your love for others in your church through hospitality, or do you routinely avoid fellowship with others? Ask the Lord through prayer to help you love other Christians, so that you can fulfill God’s will for your life. Paul would tell us, “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another (the true church) and to everyone (outside of God’s grace). Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess 5:15-18. And he would later close out his letter to the church by saying, “Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.” 1 Thess 5:26

We will never be able to impact this generation with the gospel, if we are not visibly demonstrating this command to love one another. Why do I say this? Because Jesus does in (v35) “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” From this time forward, this mutual and unbiased love shall become the essential and distinctive mark of all His disciples. When they love one another with pure hearts, fervently, even unto death, then shall it fully appear that they are disciples of that person who laid down His life for his sheep, and who became, by dying, a ransom for all. The love they practiced towards each other especially after such a betrayal of Judas, would draw the attention of the world, just as, Jesus said it would. The same is true of the church today as we are ambassadors for Christ. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is 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. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor 5:17-21

Let’s follow the example of Jesus and the disciples

as we love one another.