STUDIES FROM BRETHREN IN CHRIST

SERMON MENU SELECTIONS

9/20/2010 ~ Real Love


THE NATURE OF LOVE?
eros philla or phileo agape
erotic friendship or friend for the glory of God
impulsive emotional rational
selfish conditional unconditional
self-centered social bonds for the greater good of all

Eros is not used in the Bible.
In the N.T., Agape appears 106 times while phileo appears 21 times.
English is challenged to paint a picture of all the colors of love.

Real Love
The New Testament teaches us - a diligent genuine concern.


... who will sincerely care ... ~ Philippians 2:20-21

In all sincerity.

... the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. ~ 2nd Corinthians 8:8

It is not hypocritical and has no disguise.

... by sincere love, ... ~ 2nd Corinthians 6:6

... in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently
with a pure heart. ~ 1st Peter 1:22


Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
~ Romans 12:9


God's will is that we pursue Love.

Pursue love, ... ~ 1st Corinthians 14:1

... pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
~ 1st Timothy 6:11


... pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord
out of a pure heart. ~ 2nd Timothy 2:22


FAKE LOVE… FAKE CHRISTIANS

... have not love, I am nothing. ... ~ 1st Corinthians 13:1-3

– Nothing should be done without love

"... all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
~ John 13:34-35


... He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is
no cause for stumbling in him. ~ 1st John 2:9-10


... Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God,
nor is he who does not love his brother. ~ 1st John 3:10


... He who does not love his brother abides in death. ~ 1st John 3:14

... sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him,
how does the love of God abide in him? ~ 1st John 3:17


... He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ~ 1st John 4:7-8

... If we love one another, God abides in us,
and His love has been perfected in us. ~ 1st John 4:11-12


... you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where
you have fallen; repent and do the first works, ... ~ Revelation 2:1-7


WHO SHOULD WE LOVE?

↓ Strangers ↓

... given to hospitality. ~ Romans 12:13

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. ~ 1st Peter 4:9

↓ Enemies ↓

... love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good
to those who hate you, and pray for those ... ~ Matthew 5:44


"... Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ..." ~ Luke 6:27

↓ Family ↓

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church ...
~ Ephesians 5:25


... he who loves his wife loves himself. ~ Ephesians 5:28

... young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ... ~ Titus 2:4

↓ Brothers in Christ ↓

... distributing to the needs of the saints, ... ~ Romans 12:13

Let brotherly love continue. ~ Hebrews 13:1

... Love the brotherhood. ... ~ 1st Peter 2:17

recognize those who labor among you, ... in the Lord ... esteem them
very highly in love for their work's sake. ~ 1st Thessalonians 5:12-13


HOW SHOULD WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER?

Contrasted to the world’s love for:

Self -


For men will be lovers of themselves, ... ~ 2nd Timothy 3:2

Money -

... lovers of money, ... ~ 2nd Timothy 3:2

Pleasure -

... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ... ~ 2nd Timothy 3:4

Approval of men -

... for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. ~ John 12:43

We should be devoted to one another ...

... with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; ...
~ Romans 12:10


Compared to Jesus

... love one another; as I have loved you, ... ~ John 13:34

SHOWING REAL LOVE

Love should be manifest.
        └─> Jesus’ love was obvious.
                                    ↓

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ... ~ John 11:5-7

Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!" ~ John 11:35-36

God’s love was manifested.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while
we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8


In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only
begotten Son to the world, that we might live through Him. ~ 1st John 4:9


He asks us to prove our love.

... to them, and before the churches the proof of your love ...
~ 2nd Corinthians 8:24


Show your love in everything you do.

Let all that you do be done with love. ~ 1st Corinthians 16:14

It is not something you do so as to wait for reciprocation.

... He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
~ 1st John 4:10


We love Him because He first loved us. ~ 1st John 4:19

"But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?
For even sinners love those who love them." ~ Luke 6:32


... hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, ... ~ Luke 6:35

             ⭨↓⭩           
Are you waiting to be loved or seeking to love?
             ⭧↑⭦           

Not being like the world ...

"For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?
Do not even the tax collectors do the same?" ~ Matthew 5:46


"... if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?
For even sinners do the same." ~ Luke 6:32-33


Not complaining ...

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. ~ 1st Peter 4:9

Not biting and devouring one another ...

... But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed
by one another! ~ Galatians 5:13-15


Do no wrong.

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
~ Romans 13:10


True Action

... let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
~ 1st John 3:17-18


True Sharing

... distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. ~ Romans 12:13

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
~ Romans 12:15


... to them, and before the churches the proof of your love ...
~ 2nd Corinthians 8:24


True Forgiveness

And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, ...
~ Ephesians 4:32-5:2


True Humility

...Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.
Do not be wise in your own opinion. ~ Romans 12:16


True Sacrifice, a humbling challenge for us all.

TRUE SACRIFICES OF LOVE

To choose Preferences

... with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; ...
~ Romans 12:10


... let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only
for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. ~ Philippians 2:2-4


To choose Freedoms

... brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love.
Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. ~ Romans 14:13-15


To offer Life

"... Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life
for his friends." ~ John 15:12-13


... God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while
we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:6-8


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. ~ 1st John 3:16


Time?

~ By Trying To Save Others.

... give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; ... ~ Mark 10:21

... not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
~ 1st Corinthians 10:31-33


... ... but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things
into Him who is the head - Christ - ~ Ephesians 4:15


Do not confuse flattery with love
Do not confuse rebuke with hate


But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
~ Colossians 3:14


"And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold."
~ Matthew 24:12


And above all things have fervent love for one another, for
"love will cover a multitude of sins." ~ 1st Peter 4:8


Do not pretend to be a Christian.
Prove yourself a REAL Christian by having REAL love.
Eros, errors of the ages - we should all grope for agape love.


IS REAL LOVE
A CHERISHED PART OF YOUR HEART?






 

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