1. Love One Another
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2. Members of One Another
Romans 12:4-6--For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
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3. Members of One Another
Jesus died to reconcile us to God. (2 Cor. 5:17-20)
Our mutual relationship with God creates a relationship with one another. (1 John 1:3-7)
Our special relationship involves responsibilities to one another. (Gal. 6: 10; Eph. 4:16; Rom. 12:4-6)
Fulfilling our one another obligations is indispensable to our relationship with God. (1 John 3:23-24)
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4. The Bible Emphasizes the Importance of Love
PURSUE LOVE (1 Cor. 14:1)
BE ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE (Eph. 3:17-19)
WALK IN LOVE (Eph. 5:1-2)
PUT ON LOVE (Col. 3:12-14)
INCREASE AND ABOUND IN LOVE (1 Thess. 3:11-13)
LOVE IS A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (Gal. 5:22-23)
LOVE IS A CHRISTIAN GRACE (2 Pet. 1:5-7)
WITHOUT LOVE EVERYTHING WE DO IS VAIN (1 Cor. 13:1-3)
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5. Agapao
Thayer: “to love, to be full of good-will and exhibit the same....with acc. of the person, to have a preference for, wish well to, regard the welfare of....With an acc. of the thing agapao denotes to take pleasure in the thing, prize it above other things, be unwilling to abandon it or do without it....to welcome with desire, long for....” (#25, pp. 3-4)
Vine: “Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclination, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom. 15:2, and works no ill to any, 13:8-10; love seeks opportunity to do good to ‘all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,’ Gal. 6:10.” (2:381)
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6. Agape
William Barclay: “...the meaning of agape is UNCONQUERABLE BENEVOLENCE, UNDEFEATABLE GOODWILL. Agape is the spirit in the heart which will never seek anything but the highest good of its fellow-men. It does not matter how its fellow-men treat it; it does not matter what and who its fellow-men are; it does not matter what their attitude is to it, it will never seek anything but their highest and their best good.” (Flesh And Spirit, p. 65)
William Barclay: “Plato said: ‘Love is for the lovely.’ But the distinguishing quality of Christian love lies precisely in its obligation and its ability to love the unlovely and the unlovable, to seek the man’s highest good quite independently of what the man is, or is doing, or has done. In Christian love the idea of merit has passed out of sight.” (Flesh And Spirit, p. 65)
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7. This Love Is Not SEXUAL LOVE (Eros) FAMILY LOVE (Storge)
FRIENDLY LOVE (Phileo)
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8. This Love Is a Decision of the Will
It is commanded (John 13:34)
It is shown to enemies (Matt. 5:43-48)
It is to be shown to everyone.
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9. Why Love Is Important: God Commanded It (John 13:34)
It is God’s Law (Rom.13:8-10; Gal.5:14; 2 John 5-6)
Taught God Us to Love (1 Thess. 4:9)
Love is God’s Test (1 John 3:9 ff.)
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10. Love Is God’s Test God’s Children? (1 John 3:9-10)
Passed from Death to Life? (1 John 3:14)
Of the truth? (1 John 3:17-19)
Love God? (1 John 4:20-21)
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11. Fellowship with God?
John gives us four tests whereby we can know if we are in fellowship with God
Faith (1 Jn. 3:23-24; 5:1, 4-5, 10-13)
Obedience (1 Jn. 1:5-10; 2:3-6, 15-17, 20-24, ; 3:4-10, 21-24; 4:5-6; 5:18)
Confession (1 Jn. 2:21-23; 4:2-3; 4:15)
Love (1 Jn. 2:7-11; 3:10-12, 13-15, 17-24; 4:7- 11, 12-13, 16; 4:17-18; 4:20 - 5:3)
So if believing in Jesus and obeying Jesus and confessing Jesus is necessary for salvation, then loving one another is also necessary for salvation.
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12. Why Love Is Important: God Commanded It (John 13:34)
It is God’s Law (Rom.13:8-10; Gal.5:14; 2 John 5-6)
Taught God Us to Love (1 Thess. 4:9)
Love Is God’s Test (1 John 3:9 ff.)
Love Is a Badge of Discipleship (John 13:35)
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13. How Are We To Love One Another?
Without hypocrisy (Rom. 12:9)
Fervently (1 Pet. 1:22)
In truth (2 Jn. 1;3 Jn. 1)
As yourself (Matt. 22:39)
As Christ has loved us (John 13:34)
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14. As Christ Has Loved Us Unconditional (Rom. 5:6-8)
Sacrificial (John 15:13)
Giving (Eph. 5:1-2)
Unconquerable (Rom. 8:31-39)
In deed and in truth (1 John 3:17-19)
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