Bible Study - Glue (1) - Stick with Love - John 15:9-14 - April 26, 2015

Bible Study – Glue (1) – Stick with Love – April 26, 2015

This is lesson (1) in our series entitled “Like Glue: Making Your Relationships Stick.”

Our focus scripture is John 15:9-14.

In this new series of study, we will explore various scripture selections for the next six (6) weeks, which act as glue in relationships: Love, Encouragement, Forgiveness, Service, Humility and Acceptance. We begin with love. The source of love is GOD.

Let love permeate every relationship. Mutual love brings unity. We were created to live in relationship with GOD. GOD made mankind to love and fellowship with HIM. We read in Genesis 1:26-27:

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.

Another look at GOD’S formation of mankind in Genesis 2:7-9:

7 Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. 8 The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there He placed the man He had formed. 9 The Lord God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Life was good in the Garden of Eden until disobedience, which resulted in sin entered the Garden. Sin changed the dynamics of mankind’s relationship with 

GOD as we read in Genesis 3:8-9:

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

What an intimate, personal relationship mankind had with GOD until sin separated them and the death penalty came upon them. But GOD loved mankind and had a plan to redeem mankind as we read in John 3:16-18:

16 “For God loved the world •in this way: He gave His •One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.

As you recall in last week’s lesson, we studied in Ephesians 1:4, GOD had HIS redemptive plan in HIS mind before HE created the world.

What is love? Today, many young people confuse lust with love. The Greek language has four words for love:

Agape – Self-giving love. It is a love that does not require or demand love in return.

Phila – Brotherly or love based upon friendship.

Eros – Erotic or sexual love.

Storge – Family love.  It is the love that family members have for each other. The love parents have for their children.

We will focus upon agape or self-giving love.

In general, a person cannot be made to love another person. There are exceptions such as the “Stockholm Syndrome.”

So what produces love? Love can begin as a friendship and develop into a deeper relationship. But there is usually an attraction. I do not mean a sexual attraction but an interest in a person, subject, work, etc. Love for these things is manifested in many different ways.

Our focus is upon the love GOD has for HIS Only Son, JESUS, and the Son’s love for HIS Father. This is the example and goal GOD and JESUS desire for all who place their faith in CHRIST as their Savior to have.  This love for Christians begins at the moment of salvation and grows and matures through the process of sanctification as we build our relationship with CHRIST. Let’s explore!

Those who experience an intense event in their lives bond with each other quickly. Those in the military form lifelong friendships based upon the situations they experience and live through as a team. They form bonds that often cannot be broken.

When we consider love, let’s think of the love a mother and dad have for their child. No one has to teach normal parents to love their child or children.  Their love began even before their child was conceived in the desire to have children or when the child was conceived or adopted.

Consider marriage. Every marriage gives the opportunity for love which develops as a couple work together to build their lives as one in harmony and unity.

Salvation is just the beginning process of every Christian building a new life with CHRIST and GOD based upon knowing and doing the will of the Father. It is a relationship of trust. Ground zero is confession to JESUS anything that we attempt to hide or withhold from HIM. HIS desire is for us to be honest with HIM as we walk with HIM.

GOD desires each Christian to develop such a bond with JESUS that through that relationship, each Christian will develop that same intimate, personal relationship with HIM. When Christians are in unity with JESUS and GOD they are also in unity with fellow Christians, who are in that same relationship with JESUS and GOD.

How do Christians develop this bond? It is all about getting to know CHRIST and trusting HIM to lead and guide you in the direction GOD would have you to go through the indwelling Holy Spirit. When you take a step of faith, HE will give you another step of faith. As you gain experience through obedient service, your bond with HIM will grow. It is all about trusting GOD in obedient service.  But ground zero is being grafted into the source and that comes as the result of salvation. JESUS said it best as we read our next scripture.

Let’s begin by reading John 15:1-8: (Foundational)

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He (GOD) removes, and He (GOD) prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. 3 You are already • clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.

Salvation grafts Christians into the true, living vine, CHRIST and obedient service keeps them grafted into the vine for the purpose of producing fruit. 

Christians are to remain or abide in CHRIST through Whom all blessings flow. All Spiritual nutrients flow through CHRIST, the true vine, to Christians who are the branches and the fruit bearers.

The Apostle Paul identifies some of the fruit that is produced in Galatians 5:22-23:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

There is no law that can force a person to manifest these attributes; such attributes are the result of abiding in the true vine, CHRIST as his or her life source.  

Let’s read John 15:9-10:

9 “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love. 10 If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.

This is JESUS talking. The same love the Father has for HIS Only Son JESUS, JESUS has for all who place their faith in HIM. JESUS admonishes Christians to “remain” in their relationship.

How do Christians “remain?”  They abide in HIM. They are obedient to HIM as the Holy Spirit leads them and they take the time to learn of HIM and from HIM through Bible study, prayer and Holy Spirit led activity.

Will remaining in JESUS mean that I will be a religious nut? Was JESUS a religious nut? HE was obedient to the commands of the Father. HE knew the scriptures and HE stayed in contact with the Father through prayer. HE only took action and spoke as the Father gave HIM direction and revealed to HIM. Yet, HE functioned among those seeking truth and since HE was truth, HE revealed truth. Not notions but truth. Do you know the truth and do you speak the truth or speak those things that sound good?

JESUS is the example which we are to follow.

Let’s read John 15:11-12:

11 “I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12 This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you.

What is joy? Joy denotes gladness and happiness which comes from favorable circumstances. In this world, circumstances can change on a dime and that is why Christians must remain in relationship to GOD through their relationship with CHRIST. GOD and CHRIST’S love does not change. It is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. But for Christians to continually experience that unfailing love they must remain in obedient relationship to CHRIST.

This is not a work your fingers to the bone relationship but an abiding relationship. It is “Here I am dear JESUS, as I am, but willing for You to use me according to Your plan and purpose for my life. You must be my strength as I obediently walk with You each moment.” It is not the magic of using specific words; it is all about the attitude of the heart. But when the opportunity is presented, take action.

JESUS’ greatest joy is for Christians to know and experience the “JOY” HE experienced in being obedient to HIS Father. HIS desire is for Christians to experience “HIS Joy” to the max, full and overflowing. When our joy is overflowing it spills over to others and others see CHRIST in us. The Holy Spirit gives Christians balance but the joy of the LORD is apparent. Then others see that CHRIST is the light of the world. Not to bring glory to them but to bring Glory to CHRIST and GOD.

When Christians know they are being used by GOD, they are the happiest.

Christians are to love one another “as I (CHRIST) have loved you.” This statement reflects the “ongoing” nature of CHRIST’S love for us. HE loved us so much that HE gave HIS life for us in that while we were yet sinners, HE died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Love is the glue that holds things together.

I know when my dear wife experiences something of great joy; she wants to share it with me as I want to share with her the things that being me joy.

Let’s read John 15:13-14:

13 No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.

JESUS defines love in verses 13 and 14. To love like JESUS is to love unconditionally and sacrificially. The Apostle John captures this idea in 1 John 3:16:

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.

Humans are made up of body, soul and spirit. Life refers to the essence of a person’s being and to “lay down his life for his friends” means he or she is willing to die for that person.

JESUS leads by example. HE gave HIS life for each person who will place his or her faith in HIM. JESUS paid the penalty for sin in full. But HE has called each Christian to die to self and to give his or her life to obediently follow HIM that others may get to know HIM as his or her Savior.

Do you want to be a friend of JESUS? If so, remain in HIM and do what HE commands you. Blessings!!!