recognizing christian love - 3:10a-23 making sure you're still in sync. what love is not -...

Recognizing Christian Love - 3:10a-23

Making sure you're still in sync.

What love is not - 3:10b-15


When we don't do what is right and fail to love our brother, we are not in sync with God.

John is still talking about Christians.


John uses a form of "brother" nine times in eight verses.

The discussion is about loving "one another".

Recognizing Christian Love - 3:11

John 13:34

To believers after Judas has left.________________________________________

Only believers can obey this.


Even a family relationship doesn't prevent this from happening.


It's not uncommon for those who are not walking with the Lord to spiritual envy, even hatred, for

those who are.


Those who have God's approval

vs.

those who do not.

1 Cor. 11:19


If a brother can hate you, it shouldn't surprise you that the world does, too.


The Apostles were able know, to recognize, their experience of love as an experience of life.

____________________

To walk with God is to experience life.

Romans 8:5-13


When we don't love other believers experience life.

_____________________________

When we hate other believers, we are living in the sphere of death, where the world is (v. 13)


"his brother"

Matt. 5:20-22; Mk. 7:20-22_______________________________________________

"abiding"

David?


When we don't love other Christians, eternal life is not a controlling influence in our lives.

_______________________________________

When we stay close to Jesus, He stays close to us and has a controlling influence in our lives.

John 15:1-7

Recognizing Christian Love - 3:16-18

What love is - 3:16-18


Cain took his brother's life.__________________

Jesus gave His life for us!__________________

He is our example!


Life vs. Life!_____________________________

Sharing the material things that sustain life =

Laying down our lives!


"shuts up his heart" = "locks up his sympathies"_________________________

"and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him" - KJV

____________________________

We "feel their pain"


And, some say biblical love is without emotion!!??

________________________

God's love is not functioning in a person like this!


Sometimes it's easier to say we'll die for someone than to actually help them in time of

need.


Genuine love demands action!

Genuine love matches up with biblical truth!

Recognizing Christian Love - 3:19-23

What love does for Believers

3:19-23


When we act on biblical truth, we are in sync with God!

________________________

However, there are times are emotions tell us otherwise...


We all have had tried to love and felt we haven't done enough, we think about past failures, and

such.


We may experience a sense of mixed motives.____________________

We feel a sense of guilt that doesn't take into account what we're doing and feel badly.


But God knows it all!_______________________

He evaluates actions and gives proper credit!


"before Him" = STRONG!

Prayer is emphasized in the context (v. 22).


We may be tempted to lose confidence in prayer.

But we can count on God's matchless love and mercy when we approach Him.


Of course, our hearts may be trained by the reality of who our God is!


Confidence leads to answered prayer!


God is pleased when we obey!________________________

Obedience leads to answered prayer!


Obedient Christians will not ask for what is not pleasing to God.

________________________

Obedient Christians will make all prayer subject to God's will when in doubt (Lk. 22:42).

________________________

Why would we want anything else?


One of the main things we should pray for is the realization of God's will!

Matt. 6:10; Acts 21:14


When we know God's will, we should pray directly for that.

1 John 5:14-15


What does it mean to "keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His

sight"?


First, we are to "believe the name of His son Jesus Christ"...

1) For eternal life (John 20:30-31) and...

2) For effective prayer (John 14:13-14; 15:16)


Next, love (with faith) summarizes all the commands.

John 13:34-35; Romans 13:8, 10


God's will =

Faith in His Son's name and obedience to His Son's commandment!

What's it all about?

1 Timothy 1:5

The goal or purpose of learning the Word is to love those for whom Christ died!

recognizing christian love - 3:10a-23 making sure you're still in sync. what love is not -...

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