Love One Another

Love One Another
The Mark of the Christian
Displaying Symbols of faith …
Nothing wrong in this, but there is a much better sign – the distinguishing mark given by Jesus to identify true Christians everywhere for all time …
John 13:33-35 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer…'Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Love One Another…
A new commandment …. love one another
As I have loved you …. that you love one another
All men will know will know you are my disciples …… if … you love one another
Love One Another…
A new commandment …. love one another
As I have loved you …. that you love one another
All men will know will know you are my disciples …… if … you love one another
The old commandment …
Purpose of the Law ..
Not justification – Rom. 3:20; Galatians 3:8-11
To bring us to Christ - Galatians 3:24-25
A New Commandment…
A new way to be made righteous …
By grace through faith Ephesians 2:8-9
A new way to make this known ….
Love one another John 13:34-35
Love One Another…
A new commandment …. love one another
Love one another ….. As I have loved you
All men will know will know you are my disciples …… if … you love one another
Christ’s Example of Love…
Our perspective … His death on the cross
Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
1 John 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
The disciples’ understanding …
Observing Passover feast with Jesus in upper room
Earlier arguing among themselves – Luke 22:24
Christ had already demonstrated his love, yet they did not understand …
Jesus washes their feet…
John 13:14-15 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
The heart of Christianity…
Cuts across cultural, social barriers …
Slaves–masters - Eph. 6:5-9
Rich-poor – James 2:1-4
Jews-Gentiles, Men-women - Gal. 3:28-29
Loving as Jesus…
John 15:12-13 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
Loving as Jesus…
1 John 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Love One Another…
A new commandment …. love one another
As I have loved you …. that you love one another
All men will know will know you are my disciples …… if … you love one another
Jesus preparing to depart…
John 13:1 Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father ...
John 13:31-35 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you.
You are My Disciples…
1 John 4:11-12 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
Relating to One Another
We need the fellowship of other Christians to experience the quality of love Christ wants …
An individual Christian is limited in the way he reflects Christ to others …
Limited with NonChristians
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ... Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
Love for all men …
Galatians 6:10 Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Luke 6:27 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you …
By loving one another in the presence of non-Christians we can best communicate God’s love to them …
Acts 2:46-47 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Love reaches Non-Christians, also uncommitted followers …
A condition of answered prayer…
John 15:7-12 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples…10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's command-ments and abide in His love... 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Love One Another…
A new commandment …. different from old law
As I have loved you …. imitating Christ’s love
All men will know will know you are my disciples …… if … you love one another
Love is not automatic …
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love One Another
The Mark of the Christian