Bible Study - One Another - Love One Another - John 13, 1 John 3 and 1 John 4 - August 7, 2011

Bible Study – One Another – Love One Another - August 7, 2011

We begin a new series of study entitled “One Anothering” as in “Love One Another”, Forgive One Another”, “Don’t Criticize One Another” and “Agree with One Another.” Unity of the living body is important but not to the extent that Christians condone or overlook bad behavior in fellow believers. But it is important that Christians be honest with each other and deal with issues to avoid letting them fester and grow.

Our scripture of today’s lesson is John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:10-12, 16-18; 4:7-13, 19.
We just completed a five (5) week study of the “freedom” Christians have in CHRIST. Christians are free to love or not love one another. Christians are to love the sinner but hate the sin.

Unity is important in the living body of CHRIST, the church. This is not the brick and mortar churches. It is the true church, which is made up of those who are true born-again believers in CHRIST. True Christians are members of the brick and mortar churches. This includes members of the institution of the church who are seeking a relationship with CHRIST or at various stages of Spiritual growth and maturity within the church.

It is difficult to love in our own strength. That is why Christians must have and be in the right relationship with CHRIST. When they are in the right relationship, they are grafted into the vine of CHRIST and produce the fruit of the Spirit. The first attribute of the fruit of the Spirit is love. It is love for fellow Christians, love for those seeking a relationship with CHRIST and those oblivious to the message of CHRIST.

Let’s read John 13:34-35: (JESUS was nearing HIS crucifixion and HE was speaking to HIS disciples to prepare them for the times when HE would no longer walk with them physically.)
34 “I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

JESUS was speaking to HIS disciples who included Judas, who would betray JESUS, and Peter, who would deny JESUS. JESUS had already expressed the need to love others, so what was new about this commandment? It was to love one another as HE loved. HE gave HIS life for them and the world. They would only understand this command after HIS crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and being indwelled by the HOLY SPIRIT. Agape love speaks loudly to fellow Christians and non-Christians alike without uttering an audible word. It reaches into the hearts of those lost in sin and makes them thirst for the love of CHRIST. It reaches into the hearts of fellow believers who have lost their zeal to serve their LORD.

When Christians bicker, gossip, cheat one another, stab each other in the back so-to-speak and the list goes on, it sends the wrong message to others. Unity in CHRIST’S love is vital. HIS love is produced as a result of being grafted into the vine and HE produces fruit through us. It is vital to have the right relationship with HIM and when Christians are in right relationship, they reflect the love of GOD which is in them.

The Apostle John wrote the Gospel of John, as well as, three (3) letters which are titled, first, second and third John and the Book of Revelation.

Let’s read 1 John 3:10b-12, 16-18: (The Apostle John wrote a pastoral letter to several Gentile congregations to reassure Christians in their faith and to counter false teachings.)
10 This is how God’s children—and the Devil’s children—are made evident.
Love’s Imperative
Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another, 12 unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered[6] his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
Love in Action
16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need but shuts off his compassion from him—how can God’s love reside in him? 18 Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth;

In essence, the Apostle John was saying to his readers, if you want to recognize a true Christian versus a person acting like a Christian, then look at their love quotient. We all know of people who have a lot of love but are not Christians. What is the source of a person’s love? Is it love as the world defines it or as CHRIST lived it? CHRIST was consistent in HIS love for all - Those who hated HIM and those who loved HIM. CHRIST gave HIS life for those who hated HIM, as well as, those who would love HIM by accepting HIM as their SAVIOR and making HIM LORD of their lives.

John was saying look at a person’s fruit or actions. Look at what happened between Cain and Able. Cain became jealous of Able and solved that jealous rage by killing Able. This happens today. A mother kills her daughter’s rival or used-to-be friends are targeted because their new group of friends dislikes this person’s used-to-be friend. That is not the love CHRIST has and it is not the love of a true Christian.

A word of caution - those who desire to deceive Christians know the language of Christians. Pray for discernment when you encounter folks that speak the Christian jargon, especially when they are using their supposed walk with CHRIST to sell you something, get you to donate, or looking for a handout. I am not saying not to help anyone in need but be careful.

In verses 12-15, the Apostle John was addressing the attitude of the heart. What springs from an unconverted heart versus a heart that has been changed through CHRIST by the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT? The measure is the love you have toward your fellow brothers and sisters in CHRIST.

The measure of a Christian’s love toward others is measured by the love that CHRIST has for them. HE gave HIS life for each Christian. When GOD opens our eyes to a need, we are to respond. Christians are to put their love into action as led by the HOLY SPIRIT. Christians are not to make others dependent upon them by enabling them in bad habits or lifestyle but to help them to be able to be able to function as a person and most especially as a Christian.

Let’s read 1 John 4:7-13, 19:
Knowing God through Love (My inserts)
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves (As CHRIST loved) has been born of God and knows God (Because they have been born-again and indwelled by the HOLY SPIRIT). 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way:[3] God sent His • One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the[4] propitiation[5] (The perfect atoning sacrifice) for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God.[6] If we love one another, God remains in[7] us and His love is perfected in us. 13 This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given to us from His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses[8] that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. 16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; for we are as He is in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment.[9] So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love[10] because He first loved us.

Love is the measure of a Christian’s relationship with GOD through CHRIST. The kind of love that John is writing about cannot come from the human heart; it has to come from a heart that has been redeemed by the blood of The Lamb, CHRIST. It is a natural love coming from a changed life. The love that a child has for a loving parent is natural. A child does not have to generate love for his/her parent(s). It comes as the result of being their child. More closely is the love that a mother has for her child. The mother has bonded with the child because she has cared for the child. Fathers who care for their children develop that same bond with the child and most often the children bond with the fathers.

Now, I realize that in this day and time that not all parents and children have this natural love for each other. It is a shame. So you may not be able to relate because you had a bad relationship with your parent or parents. Just know that GOD is the source of love and HE revealed this love through CHRIST. HIS love for you is unconditional. CHRIST gave HIS life for you because HE first loved you. HIS part has been completed and your part is to respond to that love by accepting HIM as your SAVIOR.

Verses 9 and 10 – All people were dead in their sins and GOD knew that. People were oblivious to that fact. GOD could have remained silent and let people go their own way and be eternally separated from HIM. GOD knew that one day there would be judgment day and HE would be the judge. Love compelled HIM to reveal the way from sure eternal death to sure eternal life. That way was not through the law or jumping through hoops to appease HIM.

GOD reached down to all people by allowing HIS ONLY SON, JESUS, to leave HIS home in heaven to come to earth and live as a human. JESUS was willing to come to earth because HE also loved us. JESUS was willing to leave HIS Glory in heaven and live as a human who was subject to being tempted in all ways as a human. HE knew that HIS mission was to live a perfect, sinless life, to fulfill the law so that HE would be the acceptable sacrifice to atone for the sin of mankind.

As a result of JESUS living as a human and living a sinless life, HE became the atonement or perfect sacrifice for sin to remove the wrath GOD had for sin. The love of GOD, Who imposed the sentence, also provided the full and complete pardon through HIS ONLY SON, JESUS, for all who would believe. Adam had committed the original sin and CHRIST paid the price for that original sin that resulted in the penalty of death. CHRIST’S death, the shedding of HIS blood, removed the barrier of sin that separated GOD from mankind.

GOD made mankind free to choose. HE did not make them robots. Therefore, GOD does not force a person to accept CHRIST but HE does lead him/her to the point of choosing CHRIST or rejecting HIM. HE has made it clear that CHRIST is the atoning sacrifice for mankind for all who will accept HIM as their SAVIOR. The choice is yours. How will you choose? I pray that you will choose CHRIST and eternal life. If you reject HIM, you are choosing eternal death - Hell. Yes, I believe Hell is a real place and you do not want to be there. Some may say but I will be with my friends. That is Satan’s lie. You will be in a place of torment because you rejected the love of CHRIST.

Verse 11 – Since Christians know that GOD loved them in this way, they are in turn to love their fellow brothers and sisters in CHRIST. GOD did not discriminate and neither should Christians toward fellow Christians. GOD’S love is the common bond between Christians.

Verse 12 – No one has ever seen GOD. The world has seen CHRIST who is GOD incarnate. JESUS’ disciples wanted to see GOD. JESUS told them, when they looked upon HIM, they saw GOD. As born-again Christians, when others see us, they see GOD. Now that is heavy. It is through the process of sanctification and the renewing of their minds that HIS agape love is perfected in Christians.

Verse 13 – How do Christians know that this life changing work is going on in their lives? It is through the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT.

Verse 14 to 19 – Just as JESUS willingly came to earth to reveal GOD, Christians are to reveal GOD to others, as they obediently serve HIM. Christians are to put their faith into action as led by the HOLY SPIRIT. As GOD’S love is perfected in Christians, it is their assurance that they are GOD’S children and do not fear judgment day.

The Apostle John recorded the words of JESUS in John 5:24: (My insert)
24 “I (JESUS) assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

JESUS gives believers assurance of salvation, which is confirmed by the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT. All who believe in CHRIST are secure in HIM for eternity.

The following scripture supports the function of the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT to assure Christians have eternal security here upon earth:

2 Corinthians 5:5:
5 And the One who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

GOD does not want HIS children to question their salvation, so HE gives them the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT as down payment as a security deposit. I know I wanted this assurance before I took the step of faith to accept CHRIST as my SAVIOR. It does not work that way. Take the step of faith to receive CHRIST as your SAVIOR and then the HOLY SPIRIT comes into your life.

2 Corinthians 1:22:
22 He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts.

The HOLY SPIRIT seals our salvation until Christians are glorified, which is the moment they see JESUS.

Ephesians 1:14:
14 He is the down payment[12] of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession,[13] to the praise of His glory.

GOD gives Christians the HOLY SPIRIT as a down payment so they know that they belong to HIM and will be fully redeemed the moment they see HIM.

Ephesians 4:30:
30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit, who sealed you[17] for the day of redemption.

Christians are sealed until the day of redemption which occurs when we meet JESUS. Christians can grieve the HOLY SPIRIT by making light of the treasure they have in them or through disobedience by rejecting the urging of the HOLY SPIRIT to respond to GOD’S call. Christians must keep in mind that obedience to GOD equals rewards. GOD, as any loving father, loves to give good gifts to HIS children. When the HOLY SPIRIT urges a Christian to respond to something GOD desires for him/her to do and he/she refuses and refuses and refuses it blocks the communication between that person and GOD. It is a form of rejection. I want to live life as I choose. That is your choice but when you do, you lose what GOD had planned for you. The Christian can grieve the HOLY SPIRIT as can the non-Christian. For the Christian, it is loss of heavenly rewards but for the non-Christian it is the loss of eternity with GOD and CHRIST.

Romans 8:16:
16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

The HOLY SPIRIT, The third person of the Trinity, confirms within our hearts that we are Christians and belong to GOD as the result of salvation through CHRIST, plus so much more – comforter, teacher, guide, assurer, revealer, protector, empowers, enlightens, convicts of sin, leads those seeking CHRIST to HIM, leads Christians to witness and confess CHRIST as LORD, leads Christians to explore and understand the depths and mysteries of GOD, to pray for Christians when they do not know how to pray, produce the fruit of the Spirit in a Christian’s life, transforms the mind and builds the loving relationship with CHRIST. These are a few attributes of the HOLY SPIRIT. HE reveals the love of GOD and CHRIST and manifests this love to all who believe in CHRIST.

The measure of our love for GOD can be seen in our love for our true brothers and sisters in CHRIST. Do we love one another?

GOD loves us whether or not we love HIM. Human love expects something in return. GOD loves us unconditionally and as HIS children, HE expects the same from us toward others. I think this is impossible without having the right relationship with CHRIST and fully empowered by the HOLY SPIRIT. That is why Christians must walk in the Spirit/live in the Spirit. For Christians living in their own strength this is overwhelming. Paul said it best, “We must die to self.” That is why CHRIST must live through us and we abide in HIS strength.