“Loving One Another Without Hypocrisy”   8/19/07

1 Peter 1:22-25

 

1 Peter Series- “Living for the Glory of God in a Hostile World”

 

“and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15

 

Review- Because of our great salvation we should: 1) prepare our minds; 2) be sober; 3) fix our hope on His grace; 4) not be conformed to our previous lusts;

5) Be Holy; 6) conduct our lives here in Fear; and 7) Love one another!

 

Four Greek words for “Love”- 1) Eros- passionate/romantic; 2) Philia- friendship or loyal love; 3) Storge- family relationships; 4) Agape- love without reciprocity

 

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35

 

 

POINT 1- We are called to love one another with a new PURPOSE

 

A.   We have had our old lives cleansed of sin through truth and the SPIRIT

(Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Cor 2:14, 6:11; Ezekiel 36:26-27)

 

B.   Our new lives bring with it a genuine desire for BROTHERLY LOVE

(Romans 12:9 - no hypocrisy; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; John 21:15-17)

 

C.   We are to love one another from a pure heart that STRETCHES US

(John 13:35 “as Jesus loved”; John 15:13 “no greater love”; Mat 5:16)

 

Going           God wants you to look at your brethren and love them SACRIFICALLY

Deeper

 

Loving the body is serving the body as Elder, Deacon, teacher, helper, or feeding, clothing, comforting, encouraging, visiting, befriending (no cliques that exclude).

 

POINT 2-  We are called to love one another with a new POWER

 

A.       We were passive in our new births and were given a new NATURE

(John 3:3-5; Colossians 3:10; 1 John 3:9; Romans 5:5)

B.        Our new birth was through the word of God which is LIFE-GIVING

(James 1:18; John 15:3; Ephesians 5:25; Hebrews 4:12; Mat 4:4)

C. The accomplishments of man do not compare to the ETERNAL WORD

     (James 4:14; Psalm 39:5, 11; Isaiah 40:6-8)

MICHAEL JORDAN ???

Going           God wants us love powerfully through the fruit of the SPIRIT

Deeper

 

Read the epistle to 1 John 1-2 this week to see God’s perspective on the love we should demonstrate for each other!