Text: Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 13
Introduction
1. Since Christ dwells in our hearts by faith,
a. we should be
"rooted and grounded in love (Eph. 3:17).
b. Our love should be
genuine or sincere (Rom. 12:9)
1. as we walk in love (Eph. 5:2),
2. and speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).
2. Pray a prayer...
Lesson
1. But WHY?
a. Because He first
loved us (1 John 4:19).
b. Because all things
will then work together for our good (Rom. 8:28).
c. Because God has
PREPARED many wonderful things for those who love Him (Read 1 Cor.
2:9-10).
1. He has PREPARED a kingdom for us to inherit
(Matt. 25:34).
2. The mysteries of this kingdom have been
revealed unto us (Matt. 13:11).
a. The one body or church
on earth
is that kingdom (Matt. 16:18-19),
b. and the Heavenly city,
the New Jerusalem,
c. is also prepared for us
after this life (Heb. 11:16; Rev. 21:2).
1. We who love God are
chosen heirs of this kingdom (Jam. 2:5).
2. What a blessing...for
many are called, but few are chosen (Matt. 22:14).
2. Friends, we should love God because, "If any man loves God
the same is known of Him" (1 Cor. 8:3).
a. The Bible says,
"The Lord knows them that are his" (2 Tim. 2:19).
b. And He has promised
a "crown of life" to them that love Him (Jam. 1:12).
1. But we must depart from iniquity (2 Tim. 2:19)
2. and be faithful unto death to receive that crown (Rev. 2:10).
3. We should also love the Lord our God for a negative
reason...
a. The Holy Spirit
says "If any man love not the Lord..."
b. he will be accursed
when the Lord comes (1 Cor. 16:22).
c. We hope that none
of us will be in that number!
4. The next question is, HOW do we love Him?
a. The answer is
simple but profound.
b. We love Him by
keeping His Word (Read John 14:15, 21-24).
1. We perfect or make our love complete by
keeping His Word (1 John 2:5).
2. Jude commands us to keep ourselves in the
love of God (Jude 21).
3. "This is the love of God, that we keep his
commandments..." (1 John 5:3).
1. Who is our neighbor?
a. Jesus taught that
our neighbor is anyone
b. upon whom we show
mercy (Luke 10:36-37).
c. Thus, any man, any
where can be our neighbor.
2. But WHY should we love our neighbor?
a. To fulfill the
royal law.
b. Read James 2:8-9.
3. HOW are we to love our neighbor?
a. By seeking
the best for him (AGAPE).
b. Read Matthew
5:43-47.
1. WHY?
a. So that the world
will know we are Christ's disciples (Read John 13:34-35).
b. God also teaches us
to love one another (1 Thess. 4:9),
c. and our love will
fulfill the law (Rom. 13:8).
2. The Apostle of Love gives us many more reasons
a. WHY we should love
one another.
b. Let's read a few of
them together.
c. Read 1 John
2:10-11; 3:10, 14-15; 4:7-12, 20-21.
3. So HOW do we love one another?
a. Already we know we
are to love each other as Jesus loved us (John 13:34).
b. "Greater love hath
no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John
15:13).
4. Peter tells us to "love as brethren" (1 Pet. 3:8-9).
a. We are all members
of the same family - the family of God.
b. Part of this family
is in Heaven
c. and the rest of it
is on the earth (Eph. 3:15).
5. Brethren should be "kindly affectioned one to another, in
honor preferring one another" (Rom. 12:10).
a. We should forbear
or put up with one another in love (Eph. 4:1-3).
b. To do this we must
"love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1 Pet. 1:22).
1. Our love should cause us to "serve one another" (Gal. 5:13).
2. That's why the apostle John says (Read 1 John 3:16-18).
6. HUSBANDS, love your wife like Christ loved the church (Eph.
5:25).
a. Love your wife like
you love your own body (Eph. 5:28).
b. Don't be bitter or
harsh against your wife,
c. but love her (Col.
3:19).
7. Women, love your husband and your children (Tit. 2:5).
a. All of us should
love our leaders
b. and esteem them
highly for their works sake (1 Thess. 5:12-13).
1. The World (Read 1 John 2:15-17).
2. Money (Read 1 Tim. 6:10).
3. Neither should we love self, pleasures,
a. father, mother, son
or daughter
b. more than we love
God (2 Tim. 3:1-5; Matt. 10:37).
4. And finally, we should not love lies (Read Rev. 22:15).
Conclusion
1. As Paul prayed for the church at Thessalonia, even so do WE
for you...
May "the Lord make you to
increase and abound in love one toward another,
and toward all men..." (1 Thess. 3:12).
2. Invitation to come to Jesus..."The Spirit and the bride say,
Come" (Rev. 22:17).
a. Come as you hear
the Word of God, for "faith comes by hearing" God's Word (Rom. 10:17).
b. Come believing in
God, for without faith you cannot please Him (Heb. 11:6).
c. Come believing in
Jesus, for if you don't you will die in your sins (John 8:24).
d. Come with a
repentful heart, for God "commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts
17:30).
e. Come confessing
your faith in Christ, as you believe in Him with your heart (Rom.
10:9-10).
f. Come and be
IMMERSED (baptized) in water into Christ (John 3:5; Gal. 3:27)
1. so that you can be saved (Mark 16:16)...
2. Having all your sins washed away
3. by the blood of Jesus (Rev. 1:5).
g. The Holy Spirit
will then indwell you (Acts 2:38; Rom. 8:9-17),
1. and the Lord will then add you to His
CHURCH (Acts 2:41, 47)...
2. the church of Christ (Rom. 16:16).
Go
To: From Heaven With Love