Talk No. 6: Loving Your Neighbor

The Greatest Commandment One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12: 28-31

If you say, “I love God," while you hate your brother or sister, you are a liar. How can you love God whom you do not see, if you do not love your brother whom you see? We received from Him this commandment: let those who love God also love their brothers. 1 John 4: 20-21

What Christian Love is Not Love is not only having positive feelings. b. Love is not always saying “yes”. c. Love is not defensive. e. Love is not self-seeking. f. Love is not Manipulative.

So what is Christian love? What does God mean by love? A. Answer in John 15 1. Jesus spoke of a love that is connected with keeping God’s commandments. “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” John 15: 9-10 2. Jesus was specific about how we are to love one another. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15: 12 3. How does Jesus love? “ Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15: 13 -By a self – sacrificial love.

C. And who is your neighbor? Can you choose whom to love? B. But most are not called to actually die for others. How then do we translate love into practical everyday terms? 1. John 13: 1 – 5 ( the foot washing episode). 2. Thus, dying on the cross was not the only example gave. He demonstrated Christian love as service love. 3. John 13: 14 – 15. John 13:34 4. Christian love is committed service. Galatians 5:13b – 14. C. And who is your neighbor? Can you choose whom to love? 1. Luke 10: 29b – 37. 2. The implication for us: All men in need of your help are your neighbors.

How do we love in everyday life? Characteristics of Christian love. 1 Corinthians 13: 4 – 7. 1. Patient 2. Kind 3. Not jealous 4. Not pompous or inflated 5. Not rude 6. Not self – seeking 7. Not quick – tempered 8. Not brood over injury 9. Not rejoicing over wrongdoing 10. Rejoices with the truth 11. Forbears 12. Trusts 13. Hopes 14. Endures

“AKO ay matiyaga at AKO ay may magandang loob, hindi AKO nananaghili, Hindi nagmamapuri, o nagmamataas, hindi magaspang ang AKING pag – uugali, hindi AKO makasarili, hindi AKO magagalitin, o mapagtanim sa kapwa. Hindi KO ikinatutuwa ang gawang masama, ngunit ikinagagalak KO ang katotohanan. AKO ay mapagbata, mapagtiwala, puno ng pag – asa, at nagtitiyaga hanggang wakas”. 1 Corinthians 13: 4 – 7

Conclusion. Christian love is a command, and it is essential to Christianity. 1. We have seen what it is not. 2. We have seen what it is. 3. We have also taken a look at the various characteristics of love. If you come to the conclusion that Christian love is difficult or even impossible, you are right. 1. Given the nature of love and also our own human limitations, mere human effort will fail. It is impossible without God’s help. 2. But He who commanded us to love also gives us the power to love. To enable us to love, God made us temples of the Holy Spirit. “Hindi tayo nabibigo sa ating pag – asa, sapagkat ang pag – ibig ng Diyos ay ibinuhos sa ating mga puso sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo na ipinagkaloob na sa atin”. - Romans 5: 5.

The Ten Commandments You shall have no other gods besides Me. You shall You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; You shall not bow down before them or worship them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Loving God First and Greatest Commandment 5. Honor your father and your mother. 6. You shall not kill. 7. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet. Loving your Neighbor Second Greatest Commandment.

Maraming Salamat po! and May God be Praise!!