A New Way to Love

The Gospel of John  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  28:05
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➤ ​THE STORY ● [Jesus] ○ It’s time for me to leave but you cannot come with me this time ○ When I’m gone, I want you to love one another as I have loved you ○ People will recognize my disciples by their love for one another ● [Peter] ○ Where are you going? I want to come. I will give up everything to come with you! ● [Comments] ○ Peter left his life behind 3 years prior when he left his fish nets to follow Jesus. ○ Logically, he had nothing to lose. ● [Jesus] ○ Peter, you will deny me three times this evening ● [Comments] ○ Peter had to have been deeply pained by this revelation ○ Jesus, however, had seen this before ■ Adam & Eve intended to love (Jn 14:15) God but failed ○ Jesus knows something must change or the same result will occur ● [Jesus] ○ Do not worry. You trust God. You can also trust me. ○ I’m leaving to prepare a place for you in God’s house. ○ There is plenty of room and I will come back for you when it’s ready ● [Thomas] ○ Can you give us directions to where you are going? ● [Comments] ○ Not even Google maps could solve Thomas’ problem ○ Only Jesus realizes they are speaking on two different levels ● [Jesus] ○ You get there through me ○ Jn 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ○ Jn 14:16 And I’m sending you a helper ● [Comments] ○ Jesus knows something must change and he is going to change it ■ he is leaving to prepare the way ○ He is leaving in order to rip the temple veil ■ Represents man’s separation from God ○ Jesus removed the dividing wall of hostility → Enabled Spirit to come ■ Turned Peter’s denial into victorious sacrifice ○ Christ is coming again to ensure no one is left behind ➤ ​A NEW COMMANDMENT ● 13:34 A new commandment I give you...love one another as I have loved you ● Not a totally new concept ○ Lev 19:18 Israel commanded to Love your neighbor as yourself ○ Adam & Eve commanded to deny themselves in deference to God ● Christ brings a ​fresh perspective ○ He shows us the height, depth, and breadth of love ○ Fuller understanding → Not covered by dark clouds ➤ ​A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ● 13:31 Christ’s love reveals God’s glory → Love of this magnitude had never been seen ● 14:16 A helper forever → Help of this magnitude had never been given ● 2 Cor 5:17 We are a new creation. The old has passed away; the new has come. ○ OT ceremonial law highlighted God’s holiness (bloody sacrifices) & separation from man (priesthood) ○ NT Church highlights God’s love (Christ’s sacrifice) & nearness to man (Spirit) ● Christ ushered in a new age bringing us the capacity to love one another well ● How do we love with this fresh perspective? ○ Remember: we are incapable of love on this level without help (pray) ○ Be joyful, but never satisfied → Let our thirst for loving one grow exponentially ○ ➤ Be loveable → Is peace enhanced or injured by your presence? ○ ➤ Love those being unlovable → Able to love != Loving is easy ○ Follow our leaders ➤ FOLLOW THE LEADERS ○ How do our officers lead us in following this new commandment? ○ Officers are given to the church to help us in our endeavour to love one another ○ Elders → Oversight by teaching us and praying for us ■ Instruct, comfort, nourish and guard ■ Example in zealous evangelism & disciple making ■ All those duties which private Christians are bound to discharge by the law of love are especially incumbent upon them by divine vocation, and are to be discharged as official duties. They should pray with and for the people, being careful and diligent in seeking the fruit of the preached Word among the flock ○ Deacons ■ Office of sympathy and service, after the example of our Lord Jesus; it expresses also the communion of the saints, especially in their helping one another in time of need. ■ Minister to those in need or distress ■ Develop the grace of liberality in members
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