Those Love/Hate Relationships

Review: Three Lies 1. The first lie is the lie that a right and healthy relationship with God and with one another comes from a secret knowledge. (Gnosticism) 1. The first lie is the lie that a right and healthy relationship with God and with one another comes from a secret knowledge. (Gnosticism) 2. The second lie is the lie that we have within ourselves the solution for our violation of God’s Laws and standard 2. The second lie is the lie that we have within ourselves the solution for our violation of God’s Laws and standard 3. The third lie is the lie that obedience to God is not important to a right and healthy relationship with God 3. The third lie is the lie that obedience to God is not important to a right and healthy relationship with God

Those Love/Hate Relationships I. Measuring Love A. We have heard the Command from the Beginning. 1. The definition

Jesus answered, “The most important is, £ ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and 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.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher.Jesus answered, “The most important is, £ ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and 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.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher.

You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:29-34You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:29-34

Those Love/Hate Relationships Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13)."

Those Love/Hate Relationships 2. Love that is willing to die to self for the benefit of another. 2. Love that is willing to die to self for the benefit of another. B. The Command is New B. The Command is New 1 John 3:16, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." 1 John 3:16, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." John 13:34, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

Those Love/Hate Relationships II. THE CONTRAST WITH LIGHT and DARKNESS II. THE CONTRAST WITH LIGHT and DARKNESS A. Lie Number 4: You can hate another believer and still be a true believer yourself. B. The Power of Hate “Hate” means to “detest” or “abhor.” “It is an underlying attitude that causes people to ignore or despise others or to treat them as irritants or enemies.”

Those Love/Hate Relationships 2. Loving Others "How does John understand hate?", "Does he think in conceptual terms or concrete ones? Undoubtedly the answer for him lies primarily in what one does. To walk in the light is to love one’s brother and God’s love will express itself in concrete actions. If these are missing it is not because love can be neutral or can exist unexpressed. Love unexpressed is not love at all. Love has no neutral capabilities. When it is absent, hate is present." "How does John understand hate?", "Does he think in conceptual terms or concrete ones? Undoubtedly the answer for him lies primarily in what one does. To walk in the light is to love one’s brother and God’s love will express itself in concrete actions. If these are missing it is not because love can be neutral or can exist unexpressed. Love unexpressed is not love at all. Love has no neutral capabilities. When it is absent, hate is present." "Hating people is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat. Hatred never pays” Harry Emerson Fosdick "Hating people is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat. Hatred never pays” Harry Emerson Fosdick

Those Love/Hate Relationships C. Walking in the Light brings Assurance of Salvation C. Walking in the Light brings Assurance of Salvation 1. The "Fruit of the Spirit" 1. The "Fruit of the Spirit" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galations 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galations 5:22-23