STRIVE TO LOVE JUST AS CHRIST LOVED TO SAVE
Many Christians can quote John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
How many can quote 1st John 3:16? It says, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us, And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. The question is, are we willing, as it says, to « lay down our lives for our brothers”? Do we want to give like get?
Memorize John 3: 16, but don’t stop there. Let John 3: 16 (God’s loving sacrifice) move you to fulfill 1st John 3: 16 (your loving sacrifice) As John insists, love is much more than words.
Love must be true and active! John 13: 34 – 35 says, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Same in 1st John 2:7–11, it says, dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in Him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. “Love” itself is not new, for the Old Testament emphasized it in Leviticus 19:18 and 34 say, do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt, I am the Lord your God. But John 13 records “a new command” in its greater measure, in its deeper level of sacrifice, in its sheer intensity! Love as Jesus Loves! Imitate the sacrificed Son so closely that the world can recognize your family likeness.
It is true, life holds many questions for us, especially when we suffer. But this one question, « Does Jesus love me?” as been answered finally and forever. "The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me” See Galatians 2:20, Paul says, I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. In 1st Timothy 4:12 – 16, it says, Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. Life’s problems may drive us to ask « Why » or « How long » and “Whether?” -- Whether He still loves us – we need never doubt. Jesus is God’s resounding “Yes” See 2nd Corinthians 1:20–21 says, for no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. Yes, He means what He says in all His precious promises to us, Yes. His great heart cares for us today as much as when it burst with love on the cross. Yes, His powerful hands hold us securely keeping us safe from the devil - See Romans 8:38–39, Paul says, for I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The goal of Christian teaching is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. See 1st Timothy 1:5 says, the goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. See also 1st John 4:7– 12, it says, dear friends let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.
Our relationship with God is one of faith.
We cannot see Him, but we believe in Him. 1st Peter 1: 8–9 says, though you have not seen Him, you love Him ; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. We cannot touch God, or hug Him, as children do to show love for their parents. But God gives us a way to express love for Him – by caring for His family members! (The believers) We show respect for the Father by respecting His children. See Matthew 18:10, Jesus says, see that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. We give priority to God by giving priority to His spiritual family. We smile at God by smiling at His children. We hug our Father by treating His children with warmth and kindness. This includes giving them the family handshake and the family kiss. See Acts of Apostles 20:37, it says, they all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. Then see Romans 16:16, it says, greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
To be reconciled means to be made friends again. So we become friendly people. We are God’s hands to welcome visitors so that they want to learn more about Him. We are God’s arms that make His family – including new members – feel at home. We don’t just teach about entering God’s family. We help new and old members to feel that they belong, that they are welcome.
Each good deed, each gift, each consideration that says to a brother or sister, « I love you » is also a way of saying to the Father (God ) “I love you” No act of kindness is too small. Jesus values even a cup of water given for Him. Matthew 10 : 42, Jesus says, and if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward. Mark 9:41 says that, I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. He assures us that these loving actions reach Him personally. See Matthew 25:34 –40, says, then the King will say to those on His right, come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer Him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink ? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
Many Christians can quote John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
How many can quote 1st John 3:16? It says, This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us, And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. The question is, are we willing, as it says, to « lay down our lives for our brothers”? Do we want to give like get?
Memorize John 3: 16, but don’t stop there. Let John 3: 16 (God’s loving sacrifice) move you to fulfill 1st John 3: 16 (your loving sacrifice) As John insists, love is much more than words.
Love must be true and active! John 13: 34 – 35 says, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Same in 1st John 2:7–11, it says, dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in Him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. “Love” itself is not new, for the Old Testament emphasized it in Leviticus 19:18 and 34 say, do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt, I am the Lord your God. But John 13 records “a new command” in its greater measure, in its deeper level of sacrifice, in its sheer intensity! Love as Jesus Loves! Imitate the sacrificed Son so closely that the world can recognize your family likeness.
It is true, life holds many questions for us, especially when we suffer. But this one question, « Does Jesus love me?” as been answered finally and forever. "The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me” See Galatians 2:20, Paul says, I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. In 1st Timothy 4:12 – 16, it says, Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. Life’s problems may drive us to ask « Why » or « How long » and “Whether?” -- Whether He still loves us – we need never doubt. Jesus is God’s resounding “Yes” See 2nd Corinthians 1:20–21 says, for no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. Yes, He means what He says in all His precious promises to us, Yes. His great heart cares for us today as much as when it burst with love on the cross. Yes, His powerful hands hold us securely keeping us safe from the devil - See Romans 8:38–39, Paul says, for I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The goal of Christian teaching is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. See 1st Timothy 1:5 says, the goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. See also 1st John 4:7– 12, it says, dear friends let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.
Our relationship with God is one of faith.
We cannot see Him, but we believe in Him. 1st Peter 1: 8–9 says, though you have not seen Him, you love Him ; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. We cannot touch God, or hug Him, as children do to show love for their parents. But God gives us a way to express love for Him – by caring for His family members! (The believers) We show respect for the Father by respecting His children. See Matthew 18:10, Jesus says, see that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. We give priority to God by giving priority to His spiritual family. We smile at God by smiling at His children. We hug our Father by treating His children with warmth and kindness. This includes giving them the family handshake and the family kiss. See Acts of Apostles 20:37, it says, they all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. Then see Romans 16:16, it says, greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
To be reconciled means to be made friends again. So we become friendly people. We are God’s hands to welcome visitors so that they want to learn more about Him. We are God’s arms that make His family – including new members – feel at home. We don’t just teach about entering God’s family. We help new and old members to feel that they belong, that they are welcome.
Each good deed, each gift, each consideration that says to a brother or sister, « I love you » is also a way of saying to the Father (God ) “I love you” No act of kindness is too small. Jesus values even a cup of water given for Him. Matthew 10 : 42, Jesus says, and if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward. Mark 9:41 says that, I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. He assures us that these loving actions reach Him personally. See Matthew 25:34 –40, says, then the King will say to those on His right, come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer Him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink ? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.