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Something Old, Something New. I John 2:7-11. Love is losing its values in meaning Life is real: life, love, & light Christian love is affected by light & darkness Christian love : matter of life & death (I John 3: 10-24); matter of truth & error (I John 4:7-21)
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Something Old, Something New I John 2:7-11
Love is losing its values in meaning • Life is real: life, love, & light • Christian love is affected by light & darkness • Christian love : matter of life & death (I John 3: 10-24); matter of truth & error (I John 4:7-21) • Reasons why Christians should love one another • God commanded us to love (2:7-11) • We have been born of God & His love dwells in us (3: 10-24)
God revealed his love to us (4:7-11) • Beloved • In English love has many shades of meanings • Love in Greek: agape – God’s love toward man, Christian love of other Christians, & God’s love for his church (Eph 5:22-33) • Philia – friendship love • Eros – sensual love (erotic); not used in New Testament • Old & new commandments • New: new in time (recent); new in quality
(fresh) • It Is New in Emphasis (2:7) • Love is the fulfillment of God’s law (Rom 13:8-10) • Love for God & others motivate a person to obey God without thinking about it • Not because of fear, but of love • “From the beginning” (2:7) • I John 1:1 – He existed from the beginning (John 1:1) • I John 2:7 – the beginning of the Christian life • “from death into life because we love the brethren” (3:14)
The unsaved may be selfish & hateful (Gal 5:19-21) • Born again receive new life & nature • Holy Spirit lives in us & the love of God is shed abroad in heart by the Holy Spirit (Roman 5:5) • Love one another is repeated at least 12 times in New Testament • Love is a matter of will rather than emotion • Allowing God’s love through you • I Cor 13: description of Christian love • It Is New in Example • Jesus is the greatest example in loving one another
He hated sin, bur He loved sinners • Jesus’ love for His disciples • His love for all kinds of people • “No greater love” (John 15:13) • His love for enemies • “As he is so are we in this world” (4:17) • Those walking in the light practice love; those walking in darkness practice hatred • “And the light is shining in darkness, and the darkness is not able to put it out” (John 1:5) • Satan, the Prince of darkness; Jesus, the Sun of righteousness (Mal 4:2) • Jesus is the standard of love for Christians
Easy to talk about love, but hard to practice • Reason for the local church: fellowship of the believers • Christian life has 2 relationships: vertical (Godward) & horizontal (manward) • A gift on the altar is no value when a worshipper hasn’t settled with a brother (Matt 5:21-26) • Unforgiving, unloving spirit causes more harm to ourselves • It Is New in Experience (2:9-11)
What we say should be the expression of our character • Many Christians need to be accepted, loved, and encouraged • Christians who love out of heart will have a great understanding & perception in spiritual things (Phil 1:9-11) • Blinding power of hatred • Christians love is the practical thing • Wash one another’s feet (John 13:14) • Prefer one another (Rom 12:10) • Be of the same mind one to another (Rom 12:16) • Do not judge one another (Rom 14:13)
Receive one another (Rom 15:7) • Admonish one another (Rom 15:14) • Edify one another (I Thess 5:11) • Bear one another’s burden (Gal 6:2) • Confess your faults one to another (James 5:16) • Use hospitality one to another (I Peter 4:9) • The point is to treat one another as God treats them • Results of the believers who do not love the brethren • He lives in darkness (2:9) • He thinks he is a spiritual giant when he is actually a babe with a very little understanding & perception • He is living a lie even when he prays & read faithfully
He becomes the cause of the stumbling • He stumbles himself & causes other to stumble • Blind man with a flashlight • To prevent stumbling love one another • Hatred retards the believer’s progress • Like the flowers need sunshine, God’s people need love if they need to grow • Positive results • We will be living in light – living in fellowship with God & our Christian brothers • We will not stumble or become a stumbling block • We will grow spiritually & progress toward Christlikeness • Contrast – the works of the flesh (Gal 5:19-21) vs the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23)
A couple for counseling • The secret of Christian growth: walking in light & love • We can’t generate love in our own power, but we can through Holy Spirit • The love of God is shed in our heart by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5) • Holy Spirit can take the old things into new • The life that is real is the life of active love in Christ meaning forgiveness, kindness, long-suffering, joy, peace, & victory