1. Something Old, Something New I John 2:7-11

2. Love is losing its values in meaning Life is real: life, love, & light Christian love is affected by light & darkness Christian love : matter of life & death (I John 3: 10-24); matter of truth & error (I John 4:7-21) Reasons why Christians should love one another –God commanded us to love (2:7-11) –We have been born of God & His love dwells in us (3: 10-24)

3. –God revealed his love to us (4:7-11) Beloved In English love has many shades of meanings –Love in Greek: agape – God’s love toward man, Christian love of other Christians, & God’s love for his church (Eph 5:22-33) –Philia – friendship love –Eros – sensual love (erotic); not used in New Testament Old & new commandments –New: new in time (recent); new in quality

4. –(fresh) It Is New in Emphasis (2:7) –Love is the fulfillment of God’s law (Rom 13:8-10) –Love for God & others motivate a person to obey God without thinking about it Not because of fear, but of love –“From the beginning” (2:7) I John 1:1 – He existed from the beginning (John 1:1) I John 2:7 – the beginning of the Christian life –“from death into life because we love the brethren” (3:14)

5. –The unsaved may be selfish & hateful (Gal 5:19-21) –Born again receive new life & nature Holy Spirit lives in us & the love of God is shed abroad in heart by the Holy Spirit (Roman 5:5) –Love one another is repeated at least 12 times in New Testament –Love is a matter of will rather than emotion Allowing God’s love through you I Cor 13: description of Christian love It Is New in Example –Jesus is the greatest example in loving one another

6. –He hated sin, bur He loved sinners –Jesus’ love for His disciples –His love for all kinds of people –“No greater love” (John 15:13) –His love for enemies –“As he is so are we in this world” (4:17) –Those walking in the light practice love; those walking in darkness practice hatred –“And the light is shining in darkness, and the darkness is not able to put it out” (John 1:5) –Satan, the Prince of darkness; Jesus, the Sun of righteousness (Mal 4:2) –Jesus is the standard of love for Christians

7. –Easy to talk about love, but hard to practice –Reason for the local church: fellowship of the believers –Christian life has 2 relationships: vertical (Godward) & horizontal (manward) –A gift on the altar is no value when a worshipper hasn’t settled with a brother (Matt 5:21-26) –Unforgiving, unloving spirit causes more harm to ourselves It Is New in Experience (2:9-11)

8. –What we say should be the expression of our character –Many Christians need to be accepted, loved, and encouraged –Christians who love out of heart will have a great understanding & perception in spiritual things (Phil 1:9-11) –Blinding power of hatred –Christians love is the practical thing Wash one another’s feet (John 13:14) Prefer one another (Rom 12:10) Be of the same mind one to another (Rom 12:16) Do not judge one another (Rom 14:13)

9. Receive one another (Rom 15:7) Admonish one another (Rom 15:14) Edify one another (I Thess 5:11) Bear one another’s burden (Gal 6:2) Confess your faults one to another (James 5:16) Use hospitality one to another (I Peter 4:9) The point is to treat one another as God treats them –Results of the believers who do not love the brethren He lives in darkness (2:9) –He thinks he is a spiritual giant when he is actually a babe with a very little understanding & perception –He is living a lie even when he prays & read faithfully

10. He becomes the cause of the stumbling –He stumbles himself & causes other to stumble »Blind man with a flashlight –To prevent stumbling love one another Hatred retards the believer’s progress –Like the flowers need sunshine, God’s people need love if they need to grow –Positive results We will be living in light – living in fellowship with God & our Christian brothers We will not stumble or become a stumbling block We will grow spiritually & progress toward Christlikeness –Contrast – the works of the flesh (Gal 5:19- 21) vs the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23)

11. A couple for counseling –The secret of Christian growth: walking in light & love –We can’t generate love in our own power, but we can through Holy Spirit The love of God is shed in our heart by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5) –Holy Spirit can take the old things into new –The life that is real is the life of active love in Christ meaning forgiveness, kindness, long-suffering, joy, peace, & victory