NO GREATER LOVE

 

John 15:1 2 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

 

1.        This is known as the Great Commandment it is one of the 49 commandments and seven things instructed his disciples to do but this is besides the Great Commission separates us from, he religious world.

 

a.        Inviting us to His eternal home and welcoming us

b.       Forgiving us when we repent

c.        Sacrificing everything, including His own life, for our benefit

d.       Teaching, serving, and embracing people

e.        Tearing down barriers and hate and approaching the oppressed and marginalized.

 

2.        These seven things are simple but meaningful ways we can demonstrate our love and appreciation for God that will speak volumes to Him personally: giving Him praise, praying to Him, reading the Bible, loving those around us, giving of time, talents and resources, fasting, and being hopeful.

3.        Jesus healed the sick, raise the dead, fed the hungry, preach the Kingdom, casts of demons, interceded for the disciples and the church and gave his life all in love.

4.        The following is agape love.  1 Cor 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

 

13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

 

1.        This is sacrificial love.  Jesus would lay down his life for us.  Our celebration this morning of communion demonstrates this love.  While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.  It was through his broken body and shed blood, death burial, and resurrection we have been redeemed, saved, sanctified and fill with the Holy Ghost.  The interesting point is that Jesus did it whether we were friends or not. 

2.        The mark of the early church is that they knew what love was.  Today we do not know that is why messages like today are so important.  The watered down, lukewarm, inclusive, delusional, worldly and manmade view of love has even corrupted the church.  You do not love someone if you allow them to hurt themselves or others.  Godly love does not permit, tolerate, applaud, promote things that are contrary to the word of God.  It does not bend truth to accommodate the ideas of the day.  Love does not allow destructive and damaging behavior.  So today love as illustrated in 1 Cor 13, John 3:16 and out passage today