11-22-2020 – Loving God, Loving Others

11-22-2020

"Loving God, Loving Others"

1John 3:10-18
"¹⁰ By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother and sister.  ¹¹ For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we are to love one another; ¹² not as Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And for what reason did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous.  ¹³ Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death. ¹⁵ Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. ¹⁶ We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ But whoever has worldly goods and sees his brother or sister in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God remain in him? ¹⁸ Little children, let’s not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth."

Last week, while we were studying 1John3:4-11, I mentioned the Greatest Commandment [Foremost, Supreme, Number One Commandment] which is all about Love [agape = the sacrificial, uncompromising, unmerited, and intentional act of serving God and anyone who is in need].

1John3:4-11
"⁴ Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. ⁵ You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. ⁶ No one who remains in Him sins continually; no one who sins continually has seen Him or knows Him. ⁷ Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; ⁸ the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ No one who has been born of God practices sin, because His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin continually, because he has been born of God. ¹⁰ By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother and sister.  ¹¹ For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we are to love one another;"

The foundation for this commandment is found in:

Deuteronomy 6:5
"⁵ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

Leviticus 19:18
"¹⁸ You shall not take vengeance, nor hold any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord."

We find those commands in the New Testament, coupled as one command: Please turn to the references in Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Matthew 22:36-40
""³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the great and foremost commandment. ³⁹ The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Mark 12:28-31
"²⁸ One of the scribes came up and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one; ³⁰ and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”"

Luke 10:25-29
"²⁵ And behold, a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶ And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” ²⁷ And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁸ And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” ²⁹ But wanting to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”"

Jesus then uses a parable to illustrate the priority of His teaching about loving God, loving others.

Please turn to Luke 10:30-37…
"³⁰ Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he encountered robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. ³¹ And by coincidence a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³² Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan who was on a journey came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, ³⁴ and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return, I will repay you.’ ³⁶ Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” ³⁷ And he said, “The one who showed compassion to him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”"

The command from Leviticus 19:18, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself,” that is found in Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27, is also repeated in Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; and James 2:8 [Royal Law, Golden Rule], reiterating that God expects His children to demonstrate agape love [God’s love] toward others.

Leviticus 19:18
"¹⁸ You shall not take vengeance, nor hold any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord."

Matthew 22:39
"³⁹ The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’"

Mark 12:31
"³¹ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”"

Luke 10:27
"²⁷ And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”"

Romans 13:9
"⁹ For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”"

Galatians 5:14
"¹⁴ For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”"

James 2:8
"⁸ If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well."

Read 1John 3:10-12…
"¹⁰ By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother and sister. ¹¹ For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we are to love one another; ¹² not as Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And for what reason did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous."

John reminds us of how Cain murdered (1John 3:12) Abel. Cain was so angry that Abel’s offering was accepted by God, and his own was not, that he murdered his own brother (SEE Genesis 4:1-8).

1John 3:12
"¹² not as Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And for what reason did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous.""

Genesis 4:1-8
"Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have obtained a male child with the help of the Lord.” ² And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground. ³ So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground. ⁴ Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering; ⁵ but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his face was gloomy. ⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why is your face gloomy? ⁷ If you do well, will your face not be cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” ⁸ Cain talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him."

God is righteous and merciful, and though it is not recorded in Genesis, both Cain and Abel had to know what was required of them as an offering unto the Lord. How do we know that (SEE Hebrews 11:4).

Hebrews 11:4
"⁴ By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks."

Abel obeyed the Lord and offered a firstborn lamb from his flock. Cain did what he felt like doing, he brought some of his produce; but this was evidently not in accordance with what God had directed him to do.

Not only did Cain disobey God by what he brought as an offering; but I believe Cain got angry with God and jealous of his own brother all at the same time. Cain couldn’t take his anger out on God, but he could take it out on his brother, and so he did.

By his actions, Cain showed himself to be a child of the devil. As I said last week, in the eyes of God there are really only two groups of people on earth: God’s children and the Devil’s children. Those who are unwilling to do what God requires are showing hatred, not love, toward God; whereas, God’s children, all those who have received eternal life, will not act like Cain who expressed hatred; but instead they will show love because God is Love (see 1John 4:7-10).

1John 4:7-10
"⁷ Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Read 1John 3:13-16…
"¹³ Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death. ¹⁵ Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. ¹⁶ We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters."

Jesus Christ is God’s sovereign example of what

God’s love is, i.e., to love sacrificially, showing compassion toward others. God’s love is demonstrated completely in Jesus Christ, who gave up His own life so that we might have life from God (John 10:10), (John 15:13), (Philippians 2:5-8).

John 10:10
"¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly."

John 15:13
"¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends."

Philippians 2:5-8
"⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross."

We are called to demonstrate love for God.  What does that look like? How do we do that?  By demonstrating God’s love toward others.

Read 1John 3:17-18…
"¹⁷ But whoever has worldly goods and sees his brother or sister in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God remain in him? ¹⁸ Little children, let’s not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth."

Love is not a feeling, it is behavior that reflects the gracious and unmerited love we have received from God. When a Christian brother or sister is in need, we are to reach out and help as God has prospered us to be able to do so.

God doesn’t want us to express our love toward Him through sacrifices on the alter, as was required all through the Old Testament under the Law. God’s requirement for New Testament Christians, living under Grace, is very practical and easily exhibited through day to day situations and circumstances.

1Timothy 6:17-19
"¹⁷ Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, ¹⁹ storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."

James 2:14-17…
"¹⁴ What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."

If a person is unwilling to reach out and help those in need, it is questionable as to whether or not that person really belongs to God’s family. Anyone who lives in a manner that does not demonstrate a loving concern and willingness to help those in need, is either being disobedient, or they are not a child of God.

According to the Bible’s eschatology in reference to future events, at the end of the Seven Year Tribulation Period (which follows the Rapture of the true Church, i.e., all born-again Believers and Followers of Jesus Christ. Matthew 25:31-33), “when the Son of Man comes in His glory… …He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep (believers) from the goats (unbelievers); and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.

Matthew 25:31-33
"³¹ “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. ³² And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; ³³ and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left."

See Matthew 25:34-40...
"³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; ³⁶ naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ³⁸ And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ³⁹ And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’"

The believers (sheep) on His right are those who lived through the most turbulent time in eternity, a time when God’s wrath is poured out upon those who take the mark of the beast, those who reject the Word of God, Jesus Christ; in fact, Revelation 8, 9, 16 is a narrative of the catastrophic destruction of the earth’s salt water and fresh water turning to blood, the trees and vegetation will burn up, and the planets and stars will fall from the sky.

The faith of true believers during this time is made evident by their actions toward Christ, symbolized by their care for those who belong to God. In Matthew 25:37, the believers ask, “when did we do these things, when did we provide food, drink, clothing, care and comfort to You?”

Matthew 25:37
"³⁷ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? "

All the writings of the Prophets and the Apostles, both Old and New Testament, is summed up in the Greatest Commandment: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and Love your neighbor as yourself.

Believers living during the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation will be in great need of food, drink, shelter, clothing, hospitality, and encouragement, because the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and all those who take the mark of the beast (666) will be hunting them down.

See Matthew 25:41-46...
"⁴¹ “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; ⁴² for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; ⁴³ I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ ⁴⁵ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’ ⁴⁶ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”"

Those on His left (goats=unbelievers) didn’t show care or compassion toward God’s children; and so they will be cast into the eternal fire, where there will be no care or compassion shown to them for all of eternity.

God’s Love (Hebrew, ahab; Greek, agape] will be eternally experienced by those who believe in His Son, but those who rejected His Son will exist apart from the love of God for all of eternity.

The first time the word for God’s love is used in the Scriptures is in reference to Abraham’s love for the long awaited son that God promised and finally gave him (Genesis 22:2), God tells Abraham “take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love [Hebrew, ahab], and offer him as a burnt offering.” In Genesis 22:12-13, it is clear that God never intended for Abraham to harm his son, for God provided a ram to be sacrificed in his place; this was an illustration of the future sacrifice of God’s One & Only Son.

Genesis 22:2
"² Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”"

Genesis 22:12-13
"¹² He said, “Do not reach out your hand against the boy, and do not do anything to him; for now I know that you ^[a]fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” ¹³ Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by its horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in the place of his son."

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the first use of the word love [agape] is by God, speaking from heaven about Jesus Christ saying (Matthew 3:17; 17:5).

Matthew 3:17
"¹⁷ and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”"

Matthew 17:5
"⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!”"

In John’s Gospel the first use of the word love is in John 3:16.

John 3:16
"¹⁶ “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life."

Jesus, is the standard by which all love is evaluated, given, and received; and we can only realize, be redeemed by, and become recipients of God’s love through the once for all sacrifice of God’s Son; everyone who calls upon Him for the forgiveness of sins is eternally saved, becoming a child of God the Father in Heaven.

Claiming to be a Christian and claiming to love your brothers and sisters in the Lord is not enough. The love we demonstrate must be more than words of concern or wishing someone well; our actions must be rooted in a desire to do that which pleases God, and what we do must align with that which is taught in God’s Word .

1John 3:14
"¹⁴ We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death."

1John 3:16
"¹⁶ We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters."

1John 3:18
"¹⁸ Little children, let’s not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth"

So, let’s sum up what we have studied today: If you belong to God the Father through Christ the Son, you have God the Holy Spirit indwelling you, compelling you to express your love for God by demonstrating your love for others.

And all God’s children said? Amen!

Pastor Mike Hale