Historical Posts
Luke 20:20-26 – Give to Each His Due – Audio
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Text: Luke 20:20-26 (Reading by Andy Anderson)
Different people deserve different things:
- Parents take good care of their children, and thus deserve much support and appreciation.
- Teachers have command of the classroom, and must have the attention of their students and assignments turned in on time.
- Bosses oversee employees to help make the company successful, and thus deserves projects turned in on time and respect.
- Coaches help athletes become better athletes and better individuals, and deserve a great effort from them.
The same is true with our government and with God. Give to each his due.
I. Government: Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.
A. Every soul must be subject to governing authorities (Romans 13:1-2).
B. Peter indicated that even Jesus paid the temple tax (Matthew 17:24-27).
C. Christians likewise are subject to every ordinance of man (1 Peter 2:13-17; Romans 13:6-7).
II. God: Give to God the things that are God’s.
A. We must give ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5).
B. We must give financially as we have been prospered (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Romans 12:8; Mark 12:41-44).
C. We must fear God, keeping His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13; Proverbs 24:21; Deuteronomy 6:1-2).
D. God requires us to do justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8).
E. God deserves our time (Ephesians 5:15-17).
F. We love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19; John 14:15).
Give to each his due!
Give to those that are deserving of such. We have legal obligations to our government and must give our due there, but we have a greater responsibility to God. He created us; we must give to Him all glory and honor due Him! Are you giving God the glory? Start by recognizing, accepting and obeying His son.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Richard Dillon
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Ephesians 05:23-33 – Why I Love The Church – Audio
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Text: Ephesians 5:23-33 (Reading by Andy Anderson)
Introduction to Why I Love The Church
1. There are many people who are cynical when they speak of the church
2. They see the church as a cold, sterile, formal institution
3. However, some people see the church as I do: Something to love
4. I grant the human side of the church remains in a constant state of renovation and repair, but that’s really no reason not to love it
5. Allow me to share with you four reasons why I love the church
Why I Love The Church
I. I Love the Church Because Jesus Loves It
A. My greatest aim in life is to be a Christian
1. I’ll never be perfect
2. But I hope and pray I look more like him today at 73 than when I was 23 years old
B. Jesus loved the church – Ephesians 5:25
II. I Love the Church Because the Church Is Family
A. Members of the church are called sons of God – Galatians 3:26
1. Fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters – 1 Timothy 5:1-2
B. Because we’re family, we have support
C. We don’t have to go through life alone
1. Matthew 12:46-50
2. Mark 10:28-30
III. I Love the Church Because Of Its Impact on the World
A. Don’t we all lament the state of the world?
B. Just think what this world would be like without the influence of the church!
C. Matthew 5:13-16
D. The church is a moral voice and a conscience in our society
IV. I Love the Church Because It Is the Saved
A. Jesus Saves, not the church; but it is the church that Jesus saves!
B. Ephesians 5:25-30; Acts 2:47, 20:28
C. If I’m not a part of the church, then no matter what else I may accomplish in life, it’s all been for nothing – Matt 16:24-26
Conclusion to Why I Love The Church
1. The greatest gift you could ever give the Lord is to love the church of Jesus Christ supremely
2. The greatest gift you could ever give to your spouse is to love the church of Jesus Christ supremely
3. The greatest gift you could ever give to your children is to love the church of Jesus Christ supremely
4. The greatest gift you could ever give your neighbors and friends is to love the church of Jesus Christ supremely
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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True Love
Thanks to Jim Miller, working with the Gray Church of Christ, for the content of this post.
True Love is More Than Just an Emotion
True love involves caring about those around you enough to be tough when necessary. What most people today define as love is really just an act if you ask me and I will tell you why. Love has been redefined so that it no longer includes correction, rebuke or reproof of any kind. Most people today think that love is overlooking the sins of others and just trying to see the good in all people. They tell you that love will not allow chastisement. Preachers and teachers are often accused of lacking love because they rebuke and reprove. If anybody lacks love they are nothing, but by the redefinition of love today you are told that rebuke and reproof do not manifest true love and so the watering down of the word begins.
True Love Will Not Compromise Truth or Overlook Wrong
Preaching and teaching the hard things, the whole counsel of God, is done out of true love for souls and the truth of God. Today the liberal will not tell you that one way God shows his love is by chastening (Hebrews 12:6), and parents do the same (Proverbs 13:24). True love necessitates chastisement. True love will not compromise truth or overlook wrong. The liberal flatterer and the compromiser are the ones who lack true love. They are only interested in themselves.
Today men and women are taught that love will not permit you to hate anything. “If one hates, he doesn’t love” expresses the attitude. Yet, all through the Bible we are taught to hate certain things. The Psalmist said, “I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:104). Christ hates iniquity (Hebrews 1:9) and false doctrine (Revelation 2:15). Solomon said of God, “These six things doeth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him” (Proverbs 6:16). Yet, God is love (1 John 4:8).
Genuine Love Produces Obedience
The liberal’s redefinition of love seeks to nullify obedience. “If we love God with all our hearts, he will overlook a lack of strict obedience to his will” is their idea today. However, strict obedience to Gods word is how we show our true love. John wrote, “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected…” (1 John 2:5). Genuine love produces obedience. One who will not obey does not love as he ought to love. The liberal just sees one side of God. They forget that God is a God of severity as well as a God of goodness.
True Love Rebukes When Needed
There are a good many things the liberal will try to pass off as love which are not really love. Their disposition is to treat love as some kind of sweet, syrupy kind of sentimentalism. This is clearly shown by the liberal with reference to the comments that they make when it becomes necessary to rebuke the doctrinal or ethical errors of a brother. Liberals most often act as if the man who rebukes the errors of another does not have love for him. The fact is, a good many of the rebukes which are made spring from true Christian love.
When one recognizes that this brother needs to be rebuked to call him back to the way of truth the liberal will stand against doing so when we have clear examples such as the manner of Paul, who from a spirit of love, withstood Peter to his face (Galatians 2:11-14). Paul manifested the spirit of true love toward Peter in rebuking him. Had he ignored Peter’s conduct, Peter might have continued in his sin and lost his soul; we do know that Peter stood condemned. Yet, Paul’s rebuke called him back to the way of righteousness; he restored his brother, covered a multitude of sin, and saved a soul from death.
We simply must recognize that sometime it is for the best good of a man for him to be rebuked and punished! When it is for the man’s good, the one who truly loves him will administer such a rebuke and punishment.
The True Meaning of Love Must Be Retained
The redefining of words such as love so as to remove the true meaning has a stranglehold in many churches today. I warn you, beware these men who preach smooth things teaching all is peace and love without correction and with no intent in preaching the whole counsel of God. They will surly lead you to hell.
Jim Miller
13 Liberty Avenue
Gray, Maine 04039
207-299-0454
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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Perspectives on Love
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Insight and Perspectives on Love
Some words may mean different things to different people. For example, ask some people what love is. You are likely to get a variety of definitions. Consider what a group of kids age 4 thu 8 have said about love (Listen to the Audio).
These definitions from the children are very entertaining. Yet, they all have great insight and perspectives on love. For true and complete insight on love, we need to turn to the message of love in God’s Word.
Consider these perspectives on love from God’s Word from the as defined by:
- Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. (Perspectives on love here focus on being unselfish)
- John in 2 John 6; 1 John 2:5; 3:18; 5:3. (This perspective on love involves our deeds and how we live)
- Jude in Jude 20-23. (This perspective on love recognizes God’s grace and requires compassion for others)
- Jesus in John 14:15, 23. (This perspective on love requires obedience in keeping His commandments)
Understanding How God Loves Helps Us Love
The Bible is all about God’s love for man, and how man should love God in return (1 John 4:19). By understanding how God loved us, we can better understand how to love Him. Once we decide to love Him, there is nothing external that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39). But is there anything that can separate us from loving God? Only ourselves, as demonstrated by those in Ephesus. They chose to leave their first love (Revelation 2:1, 4).
Our love for God must be everlasting, even to the point of death. We must demonstrate our love by keeping His commands and always being faithful to Him. Have you learned His commandments and responded to them with obedient action?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Richard Dillon
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Color-Blind
God is color-blind. In Jesus Christ all racial, religious, social, and cultural barriers are destroyed.
Palestine, twenty centuries ago, was a divided land much like it is today. Division on the basis of race, social standing, and sex were all present, but the gospel of Jesus Christ was designed to destroy those barriers, making us “color-blind”. The apostle Paul wrote that for Christians “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). The lesson was, and continues to be, a difficult one to learn.
The disciples had difficulty with the concept of equality. When they found Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman they were amazed. They were amazed because she was a Samaritan, and because she was a woman (John 4:27). Women were second class citizens in Palestine. Further, the Jews were to have no association with those of other races (Acts 10:28). Jesus did not accept the prejudice of the day. He was color-blind in that respect. He had come to seek and to save the lost regardless of sex, ethnic origin, or social standing. His was indeed a new message.
Peter had trouble becoming truly color-blind. It was necessary for God to provide a miraculous vision before that apostle could accept the fact that God was “no respecter of person” (Acts 10:34). Even after he learned this important principle he had difficulty with it. On one occasion Paul had to rebuke him for his prejudicial conduct toward Gentiles (Galatians 2:11-12).
But, we should not be too hard on Peter. How many of us have shown a similar prejudice toward others and not been color-blind ourselves? Folks, God is color-blind. He is no respecter of persons. Those who follow His Son must also be color-blind. In Jesus Christ all racial, religious, social, and cultural barriers are destroyed (Colossians 3:11). Jesus Christ died for all men (John 3:16)!
God and His people look beyond the externals. Every man is made in God’s image and deserves to hear the salvation provided through Christ. Are you a Christian?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Final Words
Take to heart the final words of Paul.
Several years ago a young lady tried to cross a water covered road in her automobile and was swept away. As the force of the water carried her car further and further down stream, she reached for her cell phone and called her husband to express her love for him and the children one last time. Shortly thereafter she was dead. When I heard that story my heart ached. How sad, and yet, how wonderful! Her final words were of love and devotion for those dearest to her.
It is generally believed that Paul’s second letter to Timothy was the last from his pen, his final words, and probably written sometime in A.D. 66-67 from a prison cell in Rome. From the language it is clear that Paul believed death was near. Though we cannot be certain, it appears that Paul was released from his first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28), made his way to Spain (Romans 15:24, 28), returned to Rome, where he was arrested a second time, and ultimately executed.
His final words are words of warning and of hope. Here is what he wrote. “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to be, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:1-8 NASB).
Paul gave Timothy a solemn charge to live with a view to judgment and to faithfully preach the word. With his final words he offered a sober warning about the dangers of false teachers and urged Timothy to stand fast. And, he wrote of a secure future in the face of death, not only for himself, but for all God’s children. We would all do well to take to heart his final words.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Romans 10:01-10 – Is Your Zeal of God According to Knowledge? audio
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Scripture Reading: Numbers 25:1-13 KJV
Lesson Text: Romans 10:1-10
Introduction
A. If you are a Christian, you are happy, upbeat, enthusiastic, and excited because God has smiled on you and freed you from the bondage and penalty of sin through the blood of Jesus – John 8:31-32.
(1) It does not make a difference what predicament you find yourself in, you always need to rejoice in the Lord – Philippians 4:4.
B. For this reason Christians are enthusiastic about all the cause and initiatives of God and His statutes and commandments.
(1) We are most willing to defend the gospel and warn sinners about the destruction that will come to the children of disobedience.
(2) We need men and women to be zealous for God like John the baptizer, when he told King Herod it is not lawful for you to have your brother wife – Mark 6:18.
C. Zeal is defined as: Enthusiastic, diligent devotion in pursuit of a cause, ideal, or goal.
Body
I. Your Zeal for God Must Be According to Knowledge – Romans 10:1-3.
A. Before Paul became a Christian he was zealous of the traditions of the fathers – Galatians 1:14.
(1) This is why he persecuted the church – Acts 8:3.
(2) But his zeal was not according to knowledge, until he was taught correctly and baptized – Acts 22:16.
B. Your zeal for God must be motivated by the purity of the Word – Psalm 119:140.
(1) There is a great importance in valuing what God has said because without His Words we would not exist – Acts 17:28.
(2) The Word of God is more valuable than anything you can imagine.
(3) You need to be receptive and ready obey God – Psalm 19:7-11.
C. Anything in your life, in your household, and even in the church that is not in compliance with God should be removed as Jesus Christ was zealous and drove out those that were defiling the temple – John 2:13-17.
D. Your zeal for God and His Word should motivate and strengthen you to stand up for God and His ways – Jeremiah 6:16.
(1) Once you know God’s Word you must stand on it and defend it.
a. Daniel purpose in his heart not to defile himself with the kings meat – Daniel 1:8.
b. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego took a stand and would not bow down to the kings image that he had made – Daniel 3:16-18.
c. We too must stand on the Word of God – Ephesians 6:10-11.
II. They Have a Zeal for God, But Not According to Knowledge.
A. There are people in the world and in the church that appear on the surface of having a zeal of God – 1 John 4:1.
(1) But if you look closer, examine, test, and prove many – 1 Thessalonians 5:21. You will discover their zeal of God is not according to the Word of God. From these people we need to warn, rebuke, and turn away from.
B. Those who have a zeal for God, not according to knowledge, may do an excellent job of deceiving and making you think they’re holy and righteous on the outside, but on the inside they are full of evil – Matthew 15:7-9; Matthew 23:25-28.
Conclusion
A. Jesus Christ warns us to be aware of false prophets that come to us with sheep’s clothing on the outside, but wolves on the inside.
B. Jesus tells us we will know them by their fruits – Matthew 7:15-23.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
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1 John 05:01-05 – Three Tests of Authentic Christianity – audio
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Text: 1 John 5:1-5 (Reading by Andy Anderson)
Introduction
1. As we began our study of First John, it was noted that it had a different objective than the Gospel of John
a. John wrote his gospel in order that one might have eternal life – John 20:30-31
b. His epistle was written so that one might know they have eternal life – 1 John 5:13
2. Throughout his epistle, then, John has mentioned the kind of things that provide evidence that one is truly a child of God, possessing fellowship with the Father and the Son – 1 John 3:10
3. There are actually several tests that John has been applying by which we can know that we have eternal life, and in the text for our study (1 John 5:1-5), they are mentioned together
Body
I. THE TEST OF BELIEF
A. IN PARTICULAR, BELIEF IN JESUS
1. As the Christ – 1 John 5:1a
2. As the Son of God – 1 John 5:5b
3. Who has come in the flesh – 1 John 4:2
B. TO DENY JESUS AS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD
1. Makes one a liar and antichrist – 1 John 2:22
2. Makes fellowship with the Father and the Son impossible – 1 John 2:22-23
C. THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCH FAITH IN JESUS
1. Necessary for one to be born of God – 1 John 5:1a
a. Just as faith in God is necessary to please Him – Hebrews 11:6
b. So faith in Jesus is necessary to experience eternal life – John 8:24
2. Necessary for one to overcome the world – 1 John 5:4-5
a. We can overcome the world only through the One who lives in us – 1 John 4:4
b. But with such strength, we can do anything God desires of us – Philippians 4:13
II. THE TEST OF LOVE
A. JESUS HAD MADE BROTHERLY LOVE
1. A mark of discipleship – John 13:34-35
2. A commandment to prove we are His friends – John 15:12-14, 17
B. JOHN HAD STRESSED BROTHERLY LOVE
1. As evidence of abiding in the light – 1 John 2:10
2. As evidence of being a child of God – 1 John 3:10
3. As evidence of having passed from death to live – 1 John 3:14
4. As evidence of knowing God and being born of God – 1 John 4:7-8
C. AND NOW, IN DISCUSSING BROTHERLY LOVE
1. John describes it as a necessary corollary to loving God – 1 John 5:1a
a. If you love God who brings forth children
b. …then you must love those children who have come from Him!
2. John reveals how we can be sure that we love God’s children by loving God and keeping His commandments – 1 John 5:2
a. I may claim to love my brethren
b. But if I do not love God and keep His commandments, my claim is a shallow one!
III. THE TEST OF OBEDIENCE
A. JOHN HAD EMPHASIZED THIS TEST EARLIER
1. As essential to having fellowship with the Father – 1 John 1:6-7
2. As essential to knowing Jesus – 1 John 2:3-4
3. As essential to loving God – 1 John 2:5
4. As essential to abiding in Jesus – 1 John 2:6
5. As essential to being a child of God – 1 John 3:10
6. As essential to having our prayers answered – 1 John 3:22
B. NOW HE STRESSES THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO
1. Loving the children of God – 1 John 5:2
2. Loving God Himself – 1 John 5:3a
C. TO JOHN, HOWEVER, THIS TEST IS NOT A BURDEN
1. The commandments of God are not burdensome – 1 John 5:3b
2. Though he had served the Lord for many years (possibly 50 or more), he had not found the commandments grievous
3. His attitude toward commandment-keeping was like that of David’s – Psalms 19:7-11
Conclusion
1. In these three areas, then, we find the proof of authentic Christianity:
a. Belief in Jesus as the Son of God who came in the flesh
b. Love for the brethren
c. Obedience in keeping the commandments of God
2. It is interesting that today
a. Many people do not have any problem with the first two (belief and love)
b. But will often balk when told they need to be obedient to the commands of Jesus Christ (Oh, you are just being legalistic!)
3. But if we really love God and His children, if we really believe in Jesus as the Son of God who came in the flesh and died for our sins, then the commandments of the Lord will not be grievous
a. If you love Me, keep My commandments. – John 14:15
4. Are we passing the tests of authentic Christianity?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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1 John 04:07-21 – Brotherly Love – audio
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Text: 1 John 4:7-21
Introduction
1. Who is best known as “the apostle of love”?
a. The apostle Paul is certainly worthy of such a title in view of his great chapter on love in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
b. But because of the many references to love in his first epistle, John has come to be known as “the apostle of love”
2. We have already seen where John declared that love is evidence of:
a. Abiding in the light, in other words, having fellowship with God – 1 John 2:10
b. Being children of God – 1 John 3:10, 14
3. And we have already seen where John has touched upon:
a. The definition of love – 1 John 3:16
b. The value of love – 1 John 3:18-19
4. But now, John writes of brotherly love in much greater depth – 1 John 4:7-21
Body
I. BROTHERLY LOVE IS EVIDENCE OF SONSHIP
A. WE SHOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER, FOR LOVE IS OF GOD
1. As will be illustrated shortly, true love (the Greek word is agape, “active goodwill”) emanates from God – 1 John 4:7a
2. That is because “God is love” – 1 John 4:8b
a. Every action of His is motivated out of an “active goodwill” toward us
b. This does not mean He overlooks sin, for God is also “light” – 1 John 1:5-6
B. THOSE WHO LOVE, DEMONSTRATE THEIR SONSHIP
1. They demonstrate that they are “born of God” and “know God” – 1 John 4:7b
2. But if one does not love as God does, then they have not yet come to truly know God – 1 John 4:8a
II. BROTHERLY LOVE IS DEFINED BY GOD’S LOVE
A. GOD MANIFESTED HIS LOVE THROUGH THE GIFT OF HIS SON
1. He sent His “only begotten Son” – 1 John 4:9
2. He sent His Son, not because we loved Him, but because He loved us – 1 John 4:10
3. He sent His Son for two reasons:
a. That we might live through Him – 1 John 4:9; John 10:10
b. That He might be the propitiation for our sins – 1 John 4:10
c. Jesus died not just to provide forgiveness, but also to provide new life!
B. THIS IS THE KIND OF LOVE WE SHOULD HAVE
1. If this is kind of love God has had toward us
2. Then this is the kind of love we should have toward one another!
a. Where we love, not because we are loved first
b. But as God is love, so we are to be as His children! – Luke 6:35
III. BROTHERLY LOVE IS EVIDENCE OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
A. THROUGH BROTHERLY LOVE, GOD’S ABIDING IS POSSIBLE
1. No one has seen God at any time – 1 John 4:12a
2. However, when we keep the command to love one another, God will abide in us, and His love will be perfected in us! – 1 John 4:12b
3. We know this is true because of the Spirit which God has given – 1 John 4:13
a. The Spirit was to remind the apostles of all that Jesus taught – John 14:26
b. This included Jesus’ teaching on how the Father and the Son would abide in them – John 14:21, 23
B. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY NECESSARY REQUIREMENT FOR GOD TO ABIDE IN US, BUT IT IS AN ESSENTIAL ONE
1. The apostles have testified that Father sent the Son to be our Savior – 1 John 4:14
2. And so we must be willing to confess Jesus as the Son of God – 1 John 4:15
3. Then, when we have known and believed the love God has for us, we are in a position to fully accept two basic principles of the gospel:
a. God is love
b. He who abides in love abides in God and God in him – 1 John 4:16
IV. BROTHERLY LOVE PROVIDES ASSURANCE
A. WHEN BROTHERLY LOVE IS PERFECTED, WE CAN HAVE BOLDNESS
1. As we grow and become more complete and mature in brotherly love, we will be able to have boldness in the day of judgment – 1 John 4:17a
2. The boldness will come from knowing that as His children we were like Him in this world – 1 John 4:17b
B. AS BROTHERLY LOVE IS PERFECTED, FEAR IS DISPELLED
1. Because the prospects of torment naturally produce fear, the more we grow in God’s love, to that degree fear is dispersed – 1 John 4:18a
2. If we fear the day of judgment, that is an indication we need to grow in love! – 1 John 4:18b
3. Growing in love is made so easy for us, however, because God first loved us! – 1 John 4:19
V. BROTHERLY LOVE IS ESSENTIAL TO LOVING GOD
A. TO CLAIM TO LOVE GOD AND STILL HATE ONE’S BROTHER IS A LIE
1. Like those who claim:
a. To have fellowship with God while they walk in darkness – 1 John 1:6
b. To not have sinned – 1 John 1:10
c. To know Jesus while not keeping His commandments – 1 John 2:4
d. So is one who claims to love God while hating his brother: John says that they are all liars! – 1 John 4:20a
2. For to love one whom we cannot see (God) requires that we first be able to love those whom we can see – 1 John 4:20b
B. TO LOVE GOD, THEREFORE, MEANS WE MUST DEVELOP BROTHERLY LOVE
1. This is why we have the commandment from Jesus – John 13:34-35
2. Indeed, Jesus taught that loving God and one another were the two greatest commandments of the old law! – Matthew 22:35-40
Conclusion
1. If “brotherly love” is:
a. Evidence of sonship
b. Defined by God’s love for us
c. Evidence of fellowship with God
d. A means of providing assurance in the day of judgment
e. Essential to loving God
f. Then how dare we neglect this most essential commandment of God?
2. While there are other commands of our Lord that we must be careful to obey, none is so important, so essential to our spiritual life as God’s children, as this “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” – John 15:12
3. Are we letting the love that God displayed toward us through His Son Jesus to teach us how to love one another?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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1 John 03:15-24 – Brotherly Love – What is it and Why do I Want it? audio
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Text: 1 John 3:15-24
Introduction
1. The apostle John has given us two reasons in 1 John 3:10-15 for why it is necessary that we love the brethren:
a. Along with practicing righteousness, it distinguishes the children of God
b. It signifies a passing from death to life
2. But what does it really mean to love the brethren? And what benefits do we receive in return when we possess brotherly love?
3. These two questions are answered by John in 1 John 3:16-24, which serves as the text of this lesson
Body
I. BROTHERLY LOVE IS: (1 John 3:16-18)
A. JESUS EXEMPLIFIES WHAT IT MEANS TO LOVE THE BRETHREN (1 John 3:16)
1. The word for love, has often been described as “active goodwill”
2. In giving His life for our sins, Jesus certainly demonstrated goodwill in an active way
3. Meditating upon His example we are “taught of God to love one another” – 1 Thessalonians 4:9
4. With Jesus’ example, then, we come to understand what brotherly love is all about: sacrificially serving others!
a. Therefore we should be willing to lay down our lives for one another
b. In some cases, it may indeed involve “dying” for our brethren; but it can also be “living” for them through serving
B. BROTHERLY LOVE IS NOT: (1 John 3:17)
1. John uses the example of not helping a brother when it is within your power to do so
2. In view of Christ’s love, how we can claim to have love if we are not willing to sacrifice for a brother in need?
3. This illustrates that brotherly love is not only being willing to “die” for someone, but willing to “live” for them as well, through active service on their behalf
C. THEREFORE, AN ADMONITION TO “TRUE LOVE” (1 John 3:18)
1. An admonition prefaced by John’s favorite term of endearment: “My little children”
2. To love, not just in words, but truly, through deeds!
D. We see, then, that “brotherly love” which:
1) distinguishes the Children of God, and
2) signifies one as having passed from death to life, must go beyond the spoken word or occasional hymn.
E. Patterned after the example of Jesus, “brotherly love” is manifested by what one does, not just by what one says – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
F. The blessedness of such love is not only for the recipient, but also for the giver, as we learn beginning in 1 John 3:19
II. THE VALUE OF BROTHERLY LOVE (1 John 3:19-24)
A. IT GIVES ONE ASSURANCE BEFORE GOD (1 John 3:19-21)
1. Love of the brethren is an indication that one is “of the truth”, just as it as an indication that one had passed from death to life – 1 John 3:14
2. It is certainly not the only indicator (1 John 3:10), but it does help to provide one with assurance of their salvation
3. The importance of such assurance:
a. If our own hearts condemn us…
1) Because we know we do not love the brethren as we ought
2) Certainly God, who is greater and knows all things, will know of our shortcomings in this area, if conscience condemn us in known sin, or the neglect of known duty, God does so too.
b. But if our hearts do NOT condemn us…
1) Because we are loving the brethren as we know we should
2) This will make us able to approach God with joyful confidence!
B. IT LEADS TO POSITIVE ANSWERS TO PRAYER (1 John 3:22-23)
1. Our prayers are more likely to be answered according to our requests
2. Because we are keeping the commandments of God (of which loving the brethren is one), and thereby pleasing Him
3. “Commandment-keeping” is a condition upon which God hears prayer, just as it is a condition upon which Christ promises His abiding love – John 15:10
C. IT ENSURES THAT ONE ABIDES IN CHRIST (1 John 3:24)
1. Abiding in Christ is contingent upon keeping His commandments (and loving the brethren is certainly one of His commandments) – John 14:23
2. And how do we know that Christ truly abides in those who keeps His commandments?
a. By the Spirit whom Christ has given
b. He (the Spirit) is the one Who reminded the apostles of the key to abiding in Christ – John 14:19-26
Conclusion
1. Aren’t these three blessings what every true Christian desires…?
a. Abiding in Christ, and He in us?
b. God answering our prayers?
c. Confidence concerning our standing before God?
2. For these blessings to be ours…
a. We must allow Christ to teach us by His example what it really means to have “brotherly love”
b. And then manifest such sacrificial service in our lives! “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
3. Does the love of God abide in you?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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1 John 03:10-15 – Children of God vs Children of the Devil – audio
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Text: 1 John 3:10-15 KJV (Reading by Andy Anderson)
Introduction
1. In our previous study, we saw where John described two different kinds of people:
a. One who continuously practices sin, and is therefore of the devil – 1 John 3:8a
b. One born of God, who does not continuously practice sin – 1 John 3:9
2. John continues to illustrate the contrast between the children of God and the children of the devil in 1 John 3:10, presenting two criteria which distinguishes them:
a. Practicing righteousness
b. Brotherly love
3. Both of these criteria have already been introduced earlier in this epistle:
a. John enjoined brotherly love as necessary to abiding in the light – 1 John 2:9-11
b. He connected practicing righteousness to being born of Him – 1 John 2:29; 3:7
4. It is primarily the subject of brotherly love that John expounds upon throughout the rest of this epistle, including that which serves as our text for this study – 1 John 3:10-15
Body
I. LOVE DISTINGUISHES THE CHILDREN OF GOD (1 John 3:10-13)
A. TWO THINGS MANIFEST THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD’S CHILDREN AND THE DEVIL’S CHILDREN (1 John 3:10)
1. The word manifest means:
a. To show or demonstrate plainly; reveal
b. To be evidence of; prove
2. That which clearly demonstrates the children of God are:
a. The practice of righteousness
b. The love of the brethren
3. Whereas those who are the children of the devil are clearly revealed when they:
a. Do not practice righteousness
b. Do not have brotherly love
B. THE COMMAND TO LOVE IS FROM THE BEGINNING (1 John 3:11)
1. In other words, from the beginning of the gospel, spoken by Jesus – John 13:34-35
2. Note that Jesus also stressed how loving one another would make the children of God (His disciples) manifest to the world: by this all will know – John 13:35
C. EXPECT SOME CONFLICT BETWEEN THESE TWO CHILDREN (1 John 3:12-13)
1. Just as Cain killed his brother Abel
a. He who was of the wicked one killed his brother
b. The murder was sparked by the contrast between the works of the two
2. So don’t be surprised if the world hates you as well – John 15:18-20
D. When we follow the teachings of Jesus, especially His command to love one another, it soon becomes evident (manifest) that we are different from those of the world. But that difference sometimes leads to jealousy and its unpleasant consequences.
E. Why do we have to heed a command that makes us stand out so?
II. LOVE SIGNIFIES A PASSING FROM DEATH TO LIFE (1 John 3:14-15)
A. IT IS A MARK OF TRUE CONVERSION (1 John 3:14a)
1. Certainly brotherly love is not the ONLY indicator
2. Remember that we must also practice righteousness – Galatians 5:22-23
3. But love for the brethren is a positive sign that true conversion has occurred
B. WHEREAS LACK OF LOVE IS AN OMINOUS SIGN (1 John 3:14b-15)
1. That one abides in death
2. As we saw earlier, one who hates his brother is in darkness until now – 1 John 2:9, 11
3. Indeed, hating one’s brother makes one a murderer! (just like Cain)
4. And it should be self-evident that a murderer does not possess eternal life!
C. WHY DO CHRISTIANS NOT LOVE THEIR BRETHREN?
1. It MAY be an indication that true conversion never occurred, and that they are Christians in name only
2. It MAY be that there was true conversion:
a. But the Christian is still a babe in Christ – 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
b. Or that what the writer of Hebrews feared has occurred – Hebrews 3:12-14
3. In ANY circumstance, it is not what God desires for us!
Conclusion
1. Two compelling reasons are therefore given by John for why we should love one another:
a. It distinguishes the children of God
b. It signifies a passing from death to life
2. John will have more to say about love and its value, but may these two reasons compel us to examine our hearts and our attitudes toward our brethren!
3. Let brotherly love continue – Hebrews 13:1
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Real Wealth
According to the story, Midas, King of Lydia, did a favor for the god Bacchus. Bacchus, in return, offered the king his heart’s desire. Midas wished that all he touched would turn to gold. His wish was granted, and he ran through the palace turning everything he touched to gold. To celebrate his newfound talent, he ordered a great banquet, but to his dismay, as he lifted the food and drink to his mouth it turned to gold. At last, starving and wretched, he fell at Bacchus’ feet and pleaded with him to take back the gift. Wealth is only a means to an end, and when we become obsessed with the means, we are in danger of missing the end.
Frequently, during his ministry, Jesus warned of the dangers of wealth. He once asked, “What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or, what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). He also warned those who tend to be overly concerned with the things of this world that “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). He urged men to store up treasures in heaven and not here on earth (Matthew 6:19-21). However, in spite of all the warnings, he never taught that money was evil. It is the “love of money” which is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10).
If you think that sudden wealth is the answer to all your problems, think again! “They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Timothy 6:9). “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8).
There is an Eastern legend which says that Alexander the Great, upon his death bed, commanded that when he was carried forth to the grave his hands were not to be wrapped as was the usual custom, but should be left outside the bier so that all might see and know that they held nothing. He who had been born to one empire, and was the conqueror of another, would leave this world empty-handed. He and the poorest beggar would at last be on equal terms.
Job, learning of the death of his children and the loss of his wealth, exclaimed, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Paul said essentially the same thing when he wrote, “We brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” We all leave this world empty-handed. There are no exceptions!
All that we have we leave behind when we die. Knowing that, John wrote: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
Real wealth is not measured in dollars and cents, but in faith, love and service to God and man. Those are the things the Lord will be looking at in Judgment. The man who has them is truly rich!
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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1 John 04:07-11 – Let All You Do be Done with Love – audio
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Text: 1 John 4:7-11 (Reading by Richard Dillon)
Introduction
A. Every single one of us has something to do every day of our lives.
1) Wake up
2) Go to school or work
3) Do things about the home
4) Do things about town
B. We need to keep Paul’s words in mind: “Let all that you do be done with love (1 Corinthians 16:14).”
Body
I. John gives us the “why” of our love (1 John 4:7-11).
A. He reminds us that love comes from God!
B. As God loves us, so we should return His love and love each other.
C. Peter, on the other hand, gives us the “how.” He brings together what God did for us, and what we need to do for Him and each other (James 4:7-11).
D. James commands Christians to have “fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins (James 4:8).”
1) He then begins to explain how Christians are to treat each other (James 4:9-11).
2) Love is seen as an action, and not merely a feeling (1 John 3:18).
3) In this text we are to pattern our love after God’s love.
II. God did all with love.
A. God created man in His image and blessed him (Genesis 1:26-28).
B. God corrects man when he sins (Proverbs 3:11-12).
C. God provided a way that man could remove his sins (John 3:16-17; 1 John 2:2; John 1:29; Proverbs 10:12).
D. Jesus, God in the flesh (John 1:1-2,14), loved us by laying down His life for us (John 15:9-17; 1 John 3:16).
III. We must do all with love.
A. Paul said, “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection (Colossians 3:14).”
B. Of faith, hope, and love, the greatest is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).
C. Love covers a multitude of sins, and Christians can share that love by spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ (Proverbs 10:12; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; James 5:19-20).
D. We must love our enemies (Matthew 5:44-46).
E. While speaking, we must speak with love (Ephesians 4:29; James 3:6,8-10).
F. We must keep the commands of Christ to show we love Him (John 14:15).
G. Families are to love each other.
1) Husbands and wives must love each other (Ephesians 5:22-33).
2) Parents are to love their children, and children to love their parents (Ephesians 6:1-4).
Conclusion
A. Everything God did, He did out of love for us.
B. Everything we do, we must do out of love for Him.
C. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
D. We love one another as He loved us (John 15:12).
E. We say we love our families, friends, and neighbors.
1) Do our actions show it?
2) Do our attitudes express that love?
Content by Richard Dillon
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Abounding Love – audio
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Some things you just can’t have too much of:
- Ice cream.
- College football.
- Precious kisses from your baby son or daughter.
Of course Paul was not talking about any of those things in Philippians 1, though I doubt he would disagree with me.
Here’s what he says:
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9–11)
Our English translations struggle to communicate Paul’s emphatic language in this passage:
- “And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more . . .” (NRSV)
- “I pray that your love will keep on growing more and more . . .” (GNB)
- “That your love may abound more and more . . .” (ESV)
The verb “abound” itself is strong, meaning “to be present in abundance,” and the way Paul uses it here means “to keep on abounding”. But then he adds this phrase: “still more and more” (though most translations leave the “still” out).
He could’ve prayed that our love might abound, or that it might “abound more.” If he wanted to add a little more emphasis, he could have asked that it “abound more and more.”
But that wasn’t good enough, so he asked for their love to “abound still more and more.”
I think what he’s telling us is clear: you can’t have too much love.
- Ever felt like your spouse loved you too much?
- Have your kids ever loved you too much?
- Ever felt there was too much love in your life?
Probably not, and Paul says he prays that our love will just keep on growing.
If you’re married, he’s asking God to multiply your love for your spouse.
If you’ve got kids, he wants you to love them more every day.
And of course, ultimately, most importantly, he’s praying that we’ll abound in love for God as we mature in faith that we’ll be obsessively in love with Jesus, that we’ll love the Spirit of God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Paul is praying for something huge for you and me.
And it’s what I’m praying for you as we study together tonight, and what I hope you’re praying for me as well.
Let’s be ridiculously, extraordinarily, overwhelmingly in love with our God.
Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Philippians 01:14 – Speaking the Word of God Boldly – audio
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Text: Philippians 1:14
Introduction
It seems as if today’s culture is changing, and not for the better.
For example, Phil Robertson, star of A&E’s “Duck Dynasty,” rightly stood up for the Biblical view on homosexuality (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). As a result, he has been removed from appearing on the program. I pray that no matter what happens to him, he will stand for the truth.
Similarly, the apostle Paul said, “most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear (Philippians 1:14).”
Body
I. We have been commissioned to preach the Word!
A. Paul told Timothy to “preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2).”
B. In no way should the word be corrupted (2 Corinthians 2:17); rather it should be sincerely, since it is God’s word!
C. We have no authority from God to add to or take away from His word (Revelation 22:18-19). If we do, we will be repaid.
D. All Scripture is complete (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God has said everything we need to know!
E. We must preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
II. We must fear God and not men when we preach.
A. If we truly love God, then we will boldly proclaim His word (1 John 4:17-18).
B. Jesus said not to fear him who can only destroy the body; rather fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:27-31; Luke 12:4-7).
C. The Psalmist said, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me (Psalm 118:6)?” Also, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid (Psalm 27:1)?” Later, the Hebrew writer quotes these words (Hebrews 13:6).
D. Paul asked, “If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?”
III. Consider examples of those that preached boldly, fearing God and not men.
A. Peter and John boldly preached Jesus before the Sanhedrin after healing the lame man (Acts 4:13).
B. Paul and Silas boldly proclaimed Christ to the Philippian jailer, leading to his salvation (1 Thessalonians 2:2; Acts 16).
C. Barnabas proclaimed Paul’s bold preaching at Damascus (Acts 9:27-29), yet he also boldly proclaimed the word in…
1) …Iconium (Acts 14:3)
2) …Ephesus (Acts 19:8)
3) …Rome by letter (Romans 15:15)
Conclusion
Do we have that boldness to proclaim the Word of God as Paul and others did?
If not, we can receive boldness and confidence through our faith in Christ (Ephesians 3:11-12), and praying to God for it (Acts 4:29-31; Ephesians 6:19-20).
Content by Richard Dillon
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Matthew 5:43-48 Love Your Enemies – audio
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Text: Matthew 5:43-48
Introduction
It seems as if this time of year you learn who your friends are, and who your enemies are.
- Families gather together for the holidays, only to see in-laws go at it or siblings renew former spats and squabbles.
- Neighbors compete to see who can display the best holiday decorations.
- Rivalry weekend pairs teams to play each other that do not like one another.
This may seem like a big deal to us now, but consider what it was like many years ago—Jews and Gentiles were at odds, as were Pharisees and Sadducees.
Jesus taught a lesson that we need to learn even today: love our neighbors! Text: Matthew 5:43-48.
Body
I. Jesus recognized the law.
Jesus knew the multitudes have been taught the things according to the Old Law. He reminds them of the things Moses taught: loving their neighbors and hating their enemies (see Leviticus 19:15-18 and Deuteronomy 23:3-6).
A. Who is your neighbor?
A certain lawyer knew the law said to love his neighbor as himself, yet wanted to justify himself by asking who his neighbor was. Jesus taught the parable of the Good Samaritan to show him, and gave him a similar command (Luke 10:25-37).
B. Who is your enemy?
An enemy is hated by one who opposes his beliefs. In the original language, this term hate means to: hate, despise, disregard, or be indifferent to.”
II. Jesus taught different than the law.
Even though He identified the law, He shows a change. He said, “But I say to you (Matthew 5:43)…” Jesus spoke as one having authority and not as the scribes (Matthew 7:29), for He received all authority from His Heavenly Father (Matthew 28:18).
III. Contrary to the law, Jesus said to…
A. …love your enemies.
John teaches that we must love by our actions, not by just mere words (1 John 3:18). Love is more than a feeling; it’s an action! We may not like our enemies, but we must love them! Paul gave us a reminder of what we can do for our enemies (Romans 12:20), as Solomon said in his wisdom from God (Proverbs 25:21-22).
B. …bless them.
James teaches Christians that we are not to bless and curse; rather, we should speak what is good for necessary edification (James 3:6-10; Ephesians 4:29).
C. …pray for them.
Even Stephen asked, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin (Acts 7:60)” as he was being stoned to death for preaching the gospel of Christ. Yes, even Christ prayed a similar prayer: “Father, forgive them, for they know what they do (Luke 23:34)” as He was about to die. He prayed for the very ones who killed Him (as Stephen)!
IV. As Jesus is God’s Son, we must prove we are His children.
A. We must suffer from our enemies just as Christ did (Romans 8:14-17).
B. We let our lights shine in a dark world while being blameless and harmless (Philippians 2:15; Matthew 5:16).
C. As God our Father is perfect, so we are to be perfect (Matthew 5:48).
Paul wants all Christians to be perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28). After all, we are to be imitators of God as dear children (Ephesians 5:1). Jews and Gentiles alike make Christ complete.
There is only one body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4; Colossians 1:18-20). The body of Christ is made up of many different members, but there should be no schism in it (1 Corinthians 12:24b-27).
Conclusion
We may have enemies, but we must treat them kindly. Jesus taught us to love them no matter what; after all, He died for them!
What would you want to do to your enemies? Would you want your enemies to return the favor? Remember the words of Christ: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).”
We are Christians first, and then our individual selves.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Love Your Neighbor
Love your neighbor. It just sort of rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?
It’s such a nice thought, and pretty much everybody agrees that we ought to do it. But, do we? Of course we do, or at least we think we do. We know Jesus commanded it. We know we are supposed to love everyone.
James apparently thought it was a big deal. He wrote, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well” (James 2:8).
You may remember that James is writing this in the context of how Christians should not treat the rich better than the poor, but he is quoting something that had been a part of God’s will for a long time (cf. Leviticus 19:18).
We also know that Jesus placed this commandment at the essence of a relationship to God (Matthew 22:39-40).
But what is it? What does being loving look like? More importantly, how can we know that we are doing it?
As you probably know, it is something more substantial than having warm feelings toward people we already like. It actually does not have much to do with how we feel about people, especially the ones who are already kind to us.
Here are a few questions that’ll help us explore it.
- How do we treat the grumpy, stay-on-your-own-lawn-and-keep-to-yourself neighbor?
- How do we respond to the grocery store check-out trainee who took twenty minutes to scan the three things we wanted to buy?
- How do we treat the spouse who often does not really deserve to be treated well (or so we think)?
- Are we good to the people who are different from us?
– The ones who are different ethnically?
– The guy who is incredibly socially awkward?
– The girl whose past is immoral?
– The ones who are below (or above) us on the lower-middle-upper class spectrum?
Our faith is not really tested much by asking how we treat the people who are kind to us. Like Jesus said, everybody does that, even people who don’t believe in God. We learn about our love for neighbor by looking at how we treat everyone else.
Here’s what we know: We need to work hard at loving people, because there is amazing consistency on this point from the beginning of the Bible to the end.
Walking with Christ means loving the people around us – all of them, regardless of what they look like, how they act, or what they have done.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Which is the Greatest?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).” Without it, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Sounds pretty important, right?
Faith is essential for salvation (Ephesians 2:8), but is it the greatest Christian quality?
“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance (Romans 8:25-26).” Life seems meaningless if there is nothing to hope for.
Christians likewise need hope, but is it the greatest Christian quality?
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).” What if God didn’t love us? What if we did not love Him in return?
Is love the greatest Christian quality?
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).”
Our faith will become sight; our hope will be realized; our love will last forever!
Content by Richard Dillon
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Favoritism
Sometimes we put sins into categories without even thinking:
- Really Bad Sins
- Bad Sins
- Not-So-Bad sins
Sure, I’m a sinner, but none of mine are the really bad ones. I would never commit those, like murder or adultery.
My sins are smaller stuff like sometimes thinking bad thoughts, losing my temper, spreading a little gossip, or being impatient and irritable. Everybody does that stuff, so it’s ok, right?
Sound familiar?
The Christians James were writing to apparently made the same argument, “Sure, we may show favoritism, but at least we’re not murderers or adulterers.”
James didn’t like their reasoning.
“but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:9–13
Do you see his point?
A sin, by its very nature, is a transgression against God’s will.
For us to try to make some sins not as bad as others betrays a misunderstanding of sin. That was part of Jesus’ point in Matthew 5. Essentially, here’s what he said:
“You know the Law says it’s wrong to murder, but I’m telling you to deal with the anger that leads to murder.”
“You know adultery is wrong, but I’m telling you to clean up your dirty minds.”
In James’ context, favoritism / discrimination / prejudice, or not loving your neighbor, violates the very essence of what God wants in our relationships with one another. In one sense, if we treat one another poorly, we have committed the same sin that leads to murder: disregarding our mutual status as human beings created in God’s image.
So what about us?
It applies to how we treat people. If I disregard someone because for some reason I think he’s less of a man than I am, I have missed the Bible’s whole point about loving people and I have become guilty of breaking all of it.
We would never murder anyone, but would we murder someone;s reputation through gossip?
We would never attack others physically, but would we ignore them, snub them, or mock them?
The gospel calls us to recognize everyone’s equal value before God.
As sinners we are all in the same boat – we deserve the death sentence.
By God’s grace he stepped in and rescued us. Recognizing that ought to remind us to extend mercy and grace to everyone around us.
God did it for us. Shouldn’t we do the same for others?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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1 Peter 01:06-09 Joy Inexpressible and Full of Glory – audio
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Text: 1 Peter 1:6-9
Introduction
1. One of the many blessings available to us as the elect of God is a very special kind of joy
a. For reasons we shall notice in our lesson, Christians are able to greatly rejoice – 1 Peter 1:6
b. We have access to joy that is inexpressible and full of glory – 1 Peter 1:8
c. A joy so great, so glorious, that it is impossible to truly express with words!
2. In this lesson, we shall focus our attention on Peter’s remarks in 1 Peter 1:6-9 concerning this inexpressible joy that we as Christians are blessed to have
Body
I. THE BASIS FOR INEXPRESSIBLE JOY
A. THERE ARE PAST GROUNDS FOR REJOICING
1. We have been set apart by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit – 1 Peter 1:2
2. We have been sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ – 1 Peter 1:2
3. We have been born again to a living hope – 1 Peter 1:3
B. THERE ARE PRESENT GROUNDS FOR REJOICING AS WELL
1. We are God’s elect – 1 Peter 1:2
2. We are kept by the power of God through faith – 1 Peter 1:5
C. AND THERE ARE FUTURE GROUNDS FOR REJOICING
1. We have an inheritance reserved for us in heaven – 1 Peter 1:4
2. We look forward to the salvation which will be revealed in the last time – 1 Peter 1:5
D. All these blessings (Past, present, future) serve as the basis for inexpressible joy.
II. THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF THIS JOY
A. IT ENABLES ONE TO REJOICE EVEN IN TRIAL – 1 Peter 1:6
1. No matter what degree of suffering one may experience, in Christ there is joy to match
a. As Peter explains in 1 Peter 4:12-13
b. As he and the rest of the apostles exemplified in Acts 5:40-41
2. How can Christians find joy in such trials?
a. Informed Christians understand the purifying nature of such trials – 1 Peter 1:7
b. Knowing what trials can produce, it is possible to be joyful in trials – James 1:2-4, 12
B. WHAT KIND OF TRIALS?
1. The word various includes all kinds
2. Primarily, it includes those which come as a result of living for Christ – Matthew 5:10-12
3. But we can also rejoice in the everyday afflictions of life
a. For example, sickness, heartbreak, frustration, approaching death
b. For these things also provide an opportunity to test our faith, hope, love, longsuffering and patience
4. If one is able to rejoice even in the midst of such trials, surely they have a joy inexpressible and full of glory!
C. But how can Christians be sure to possess this joy?
1. For it must be admitted that all do not
2. There are times when even the best of us do not
III. POSSESSING THIS INEXPRESSIBLE JOY
A. WE MUST LOVE JESUS – 1 Peter 1:8
1. Whom having not seen you love
2. Jesus is the ultimate source for being able to rejoice in all things – Philippians 4:4
a. He has promised that if we truly love Him, He and His Father will be with us – John 14:23
b. If Jesus is with us, we can receive that joy which is inexpressible! – John 15:11
3. But can we who have never seen Jesus, love Him? Yes! – 1 Peter 1:8
4. How can we come to love Him we have not seen? Through a devotional study of:
a. The Old Testament, with its prophecies of the Messiah
b. The Gospels, with their description of His life, teachings, compassion, suffering, death, and glorious resurrection
c. The Acts, with its action-packed portrayal of the Lord working together with His church
d. The Epistles, where we learn of many blessings found in Christ, and of His ministry as High Priest interceding in our behalf
e. The Revelation, in which we learn of the glorious victory to be won by the Lamb and His followers
B. WE MUST ALSO BELIEVE IN JESUS – 1 Peter 1:8
1. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing
2. Through believing in Jesus we can rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory
3. But such faith is more than a mental assent, or academic knowledge of Jesus
4. It involves the key element of faith itself, which is trust
a. Trusting in His commands to be for our ultimate good
b. Trusting in His promises to be fulfilled
c. The kind of trust that prompts us to obey Jesus wholeheartedly
d. This kind of faith comes from the Word of God – Romans 10:17
Conclusion
1. When we have this kind of faith in Jesus, and when we truly love Him with our whole being
a. A blessing we receive is that joy inexpressible and full of glory!
b. A blessing that can sustain us till we reach the end (Goal) of our faith: salvation! – 1 Peter 1:9
2. And that is because this inexpressible joy
a. Is based upon many other blessings: past, present, and future
b. Enables us to joyfully persevere through all kinds of trials in this life
3. But again, this blessing is only for those who truly love Jesus and believe in Him
a. Do you love Jesus? If you do, you will keep His commandments – John 14:15, 23
b. Do you believe in Jesus? If you do, you will do what He says – Luke 6:46
4. Are there commandments of Jesus you have not yet obeyed? If so, why not obey them today so that this inexpressible joy can be yours as well!
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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