Christian Life Church
November 27, 2022 8:30am & 10:00am
I Peter 1:22 NIV Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
Helping My Fellow Believer 11-27-2022
I Peter 1:22 NIV Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
I Peter 2:17 NIV Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
1 John 3:14-18 NIV We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 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. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
There are two world-changing commands:
Matthew 22:36-40 NIV “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
There are two world-changing possibilities:
1. The first is the physical return of Jesus Christ (Zechariah 12 and Revelation 19-21).
2. The second is our love and unity (John 13:34, 35; John 17:21). (“Especially to those who belong to the Household of Faith”) Galatians 6:10 NASB So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
With this lofty goal in mind, what are some suggestions for fulfilling Christ's command to truly love one another?
1. Assume your fellow Christian has problems you know nothing about.
a. When Samaria was under siege — the king wore sackcloth and ashes.
2. Demand more of yourself than you expect of your fellow Christian.
a. Paul and John Mark — and what Paul may have forgotten.
b. Jesus in the garden
3. Learn to trust your fellow Christian.
a. The response of Ananias to Brother Saul
b. The probability of betrayal is high. But there is the compensation factor of Romans 8:18 ESV “For I consider (reckon KJV) that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
c. Phillips Translation 18-21 “In my opinion whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has planned for us. The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own.”
4. Walk in covenant love with fellow Christians.
a. Moses and Israel
b. Numbered with the transgressors
c. Paul's eyes and the Galatian's hearts
Galatians 4:13-15 ESV “You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.”
5. If you misjudge your fellow Christian, misjudge on the side of mercy.
a. David, Mephibosheth, and Ziba
b. John Mark
I Peter 1:22 NIV Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.
I Peter 2:17 NIV Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
1 John 3:14-18 NIV We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 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. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
There are two world-changing commands:
Matthew 22:36-40 NIV “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
There are two world-changing possibilities:
1. The first is the physical return of Jesus Christ (Zechariah 12 and Revelation 19-21).
2. The second is our love and unity (John 13:34, 35; John 17:21). (“Especially to those who belong to the Household of Faith”) Galatians 6:10 NASB So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
With this lofty goal in mind, what are some suggestions for fulfilling Christ's command to truly love one another?
1. Assume your fellow Christian has problems you know nothing about.
a. When Samaria was under siege — the king wore sackcloth and ashes.
2. Demand more of yourself than you expect of your fellow Christian.
a. Paul and John Mark — and what Paul may have forgotten.
b. Jesus in the garden
3. Learn to trust your fellow Christian.
a. The response of Ananias to Brother Saul
b. The probability of betrayal is high. But there is the compensation factor of Romans 8:18 ESV “For I consider (reckon KJV) that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
c. Phillips Translation 18-21 “In my opinion whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has planned for us. The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own.”
4. Walk in covenant love with fellow Christians.
a. Moses and Israel
b. Numbered with the transgressors
c. Paul's eyes and the Galatian's hearts
Galatians 4:13-15 ESV “You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.”
5. If you misjudge your fellow Christian, misjudge on the side of mercy.
a. David, Mephibosheth, and Ziba
b. John Mark