The 11 th Commandment John 13:33-35 March 14, AM

How many commandments? A teacher asked his class, “How many commandments are there?” Most of the class said, “TEN.” Teacher said they were wrong. There are 11 Commandments.

John 13: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Introduction We have studied the 10 Commandments –10 Stupid Things We Do –We break them often Today we look at the 11 th Commandment. –Are we doing any better here?

Background to text John take place in the Upper Room. Several important events: –Example of humility –Eat last Passover Feast –Introduces Communion –Exposes Judas’ plot –Judas leaves to betray Him

Background to text After Judas leaves: –Jesus talks with the 11 –This talk covers John –Then Jesus prays in John 17 In these last moments with the 11 – He must compress everything (zip file) He summarizes everything in the 11 th Commandment

L O V E I S... A CommandmentA Commandment –Not a promise –Not a wish, desire, dream A command to be obeyed This command demands obedience –One breaks the law by not loving –Just like breaking the law by stealing, lying or taking God’s name in vain.

L O V E I S... A Duty – to be obeyedA Duty – to be obeyed Duty is not often mentioned Today everything is relative Nothing is absolute Let’s study some examples of this command.

L O V E I S... John 14:15 - “If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:21a - He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. A Duty – to be obeyedA Duty – to be obeyed

L O V E I S... John 14:23a - Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; John 14:28b - If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ A Duty – to be obeyedA Duty – to be obeyed

L O V E I S... John 15:10a - If you keep My commandments, John 15:12 - This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:17 - These things I command you, that you love one another. A Duty – to be obeyedA Duty – to be obeyed

L O V E I S... A Debt – to be paidA Debt – to be paid Romans 13:8 - Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13: For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

L O V E I S... A Lesson – to be learnedA Lesson – to be learned Love is learned – From parents, teachers, church From the world around us We learn to love as we have been loved Orphan homes in China and Russia Infants are not being held It takes years for them to recover They must learn to love!

L O V E I S... A Lesson – to be learnedA Lesson – to be learned 1 Thessalonians 4:9 - But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; Love was taught We must teach our children how to love

L O V E I S... A Testimony – to be expressedA Testimony – to be expressed As we love – Others will see our relationship with Christ They will believe in Jesus when they see our love and devotion to Him

L O V E I S... A Testimony – to be expressedA Testimony – to be expressed John 13: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

L O V E I S... A Testimony – to be expressedA Testimony – to be expressed John 17:23 - I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

L O V E I S... An Effect – to be pureAn Effect – to be pure 1 Peter 1: Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

Summary Love is a COMMAND. Love is a DUTY to be obeyed. Love is a DEBT to be paid. Love is a LESSON to be learned. There is the EFFECT of a pure soul.