Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:7-11
Character Building: Love (Part 9)
Intro.
1. Col 3:14: Put on love. The world has so abused and misdefined love that the very concept of loving someone, much less saying it, has become trite and empty, void of its true definition (cf. “love” – eroticism, sensualism, selfishness, greed and covetousness, etc.).
2. Man-made religions have helped to misdefine love:
a. Love is not emotionally defined (mushy-gushy, warm and tingly).
b. Love is not always smiling and cheerful (2 Cor 2:4).
3. God is love; to know God we must love as He loves us, 1 Jno 4:8.
a. Law hangs on the commandments to love, Matt 22:36-40.
b. Characteristic of disciples, Jno 13:34-35.
c. Our obligation to all, Rom 13:8.
d. Love is motivational, 1 Cor 13:1-3; Gal 5:6. Love is an action word!
4. Love is such a broad subject; Highlights of love in action.
I. LOVE IS… (agape: “Unconquerable benevolence, undefeatable goodwill”, Wm. Barclay)
1. Keeping God’s commandments, 1 Jno 5:3; 2 Jno 6.
̃“…love without law is not sufficient. Love begets a desire to bless, but the law guides to the accomplishment of that desire. Perfect righteousness is the result of wisdom as well as affection. Love without law is power without direction, and law without love is machinery without a motor (#1Co 13:1-3).” McGarvey, The Fourfold Gospel, 604)
̃To be saved and to serve righteousness (Rom 6:17-18)
2. Doing good to enemies, Luke 6:35-36.
̃As we wish to be treated (Lk 6:31).
3. Disciplining loved ones, Heb 12:5-6; Prov 13:24; 1 Cor 5:5.
̃Children, brethren, ourselves
4. Forgiving brethren, 2 Cor 2:6-9.
̃A time of rejoicing as we show our obedience it all things
5. Sacrificing ourselves for others, Jno 15:13.
̃Gives itself to benefit others
6. Helping the needy, 1 Jno 3:14-18.
̃Love looks at its ability and helps relieve suffering.
7. Preaching the gospel, Phil 1:15-17 (Eph 4:15; 1 Cor 13:6).
̃Without compromise or quarter, to save some (Gal 1:10; 1 Cor 9:22)
8. Contributing of money to do the work of the church, 2 Cor 8:24.
̃Sign or evidence of love for the saints (and God)
9. Encouraging the saints, Phil 2:1 (4).
̃Comfort, warn, urge; help be faithful to Christ
10. Sacrificing for your wife, Eph 5:23, 28-33.
̃Love your wife as yourself.
11. Obeying your husband, Eph 5:22-24 (Titus 2:5).
̃Discreet (curbing one’s desires and impulses) and pure so that the word of God is not blasphemed
12. Being courageous in faith, 2 Tim 1:7; 1 Jno 4:17-19.
̃Maturity and boldness in the Day of Judgment
13. Forbearing one another, Eph 4:2 (Col 3:13).
̃Endure; “holding yourselves back from one another.”
14. Not offending weak in conscience with your liberty, Rom 14:15.
̃Use of liberty w/o regard of weak is selfish, not loving (1 Cor 8:9-13)
15. Greeting each other, 1 Pet 5:14.
̃Not sour on the world, but glad to be with one another
16. Regularly studying your Bible, Psa 119:97.
̃What we think on (fill our minds with) reveals what we love
17. A way of doing everything, 1 Cor 16:14.
̃Includes all our motives and attitudes plus our words and actions
Conclusion
1. Love is the uniting principle (as the belt that holds together the garment, love is the ligament that holds together the body of Christ) of our character in Christ, Col 3:14 (10).
2. Character is complete as we love fervently with a pure heart, 1 Pet 1:22.
3. “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Cor 13:13 Why? Because “God is love”!
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8