This is the manuscript of the sermon preached at Christ Church, Los Angeles, CA on Sunday March 3, 2019. It is the second in the "Love, the Badge Of The Christian" series.
Just as people in offices, factories, government, and military, wear badges to show that they belong there we as Christians have a badge too. Our badge is love. Wear the badge of love proudly so that the world can see that you belong to Christ.
John 13:34-35 ESV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
This was a new commandment in that the love was not because they all belonged to the same nation or all looked like each other, but because they belonged to Christ. This love was to be the expression of the love of Christ, which the disciples had seen in His life and would see also in death.
To hear the audio click on the YouTube image at the end of the manuscript.
This is the second in the series “Love, The Badge Of The Christian.
The thing that identifies the Christian to the world is love.
That's why we gave you your love badge today. If you can remember wear it to church for the next two weeks. If you wear it when shopping or as you go about your day and someone asks about it, that's your opportunity to talk about Jesus.
Remember the text for the entire series is;
Text:
John 13:34-35 ESV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
This was a new commandment in that the love was not because they all belonged to the same nation or all looked like each other, but because they belonged to Christ.
If a person working in a factory, office, store, government office, or the military is wearing a particular badge or uniform you know that they belong there.
It's the same with the Agape love we talked about last week. When we put the badge of Agape love it identifies you as a disciple of Christ.
Remember what we said about Agape love? It's the most powerful, noblest type of love. It is a sacrificial love. Agape love is more than a feeling—it is an act of the will. This is the kind of love that can be controlled or directed by the mind and will of the person who chooses to love.
This is the love that God has for all people and that prompted the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus, for our sins.
This is the kind of love that Jesus said that His disciples should have.
Today's message is “The Positive Nature Of Christian Love”.
We've talked the nature of Agape love before but you can never talk about this kind of love too much.
The text for today's message is a familiar one:
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 ESV If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
Our emphasis today is on verse 4:
1 Corinthians 13:4 ESV Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
Introduction
God is eternal, all-powerful, righteous, and just. But the greatest truth about God is that He is love. Love is not who he is love is what He is.
1 John 4:8 ESV Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Because God is love, it is possible for us to love and to be loving.
1 John 4:11-12 ESV Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
God is love so our greatest responsibility to God is to respond to Him with love.
When the young lawyer asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment his response was
Matthew 22:37-38 ESV And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.
Then He said our greatest responsibility to our others is love.
Matthew 22:39-40 ESV And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
Agape love is primarily a moral love, a spirit of unbreakable goodwill and unflinching desire for constructive action on behalf of those who are loved.
That’s what our text for today really says really says.
Because God is love, he has created us with a desire and need for love. Everyone desires the love of others. Everyone needs to love others.
The apostle Paul’s emphasis in 1 Corinthians is that love is the greatest of all the fruit of the Holy Spirit—greater than eloquence, intellectual achievement, faith, philanthropy, and even martyrdom. In fact the fruit of the spirit starts with love and everything that comes from love.
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
It's interesting that Paul's emphasis on love comes after his discussion in chapter 12 on the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 ESV Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Then he gives the definition of Agape love.
It is interesting to note that in 1 Corinthians 13 you can substitute the name of Jesus for the word love, and it fits perfectly because Jesus is the personification of love.
Let's try it;
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 ESV If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not Jesus, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not Jesus, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not Jesus, I gain nothing. Jesus is patient and kind; Jesus does not envy or boast; Jesus is not arrogant or rude. Jesus does not insist on His own way; Jesus is not irritable or resentful; Jesus does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Jesus bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things Jesus never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
Just as people in offices, factories, government, and military, wear badges to show that they belong there we as Christians have a badge too. Our badge is love. Wear the badge of love proudly so that the world can see that you belong to Christ.
John 13:34-35 ESV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
This was a new commandment in that the love was not because they all belonged to the same nation or all looked like each other, but because they belonged to Christ. This love was to be the expression of the love of Christ, which the disciples had seen in His life and would see also in death.
To hear the audio click on the YouTube image at the end of the manuscript.
This is the second in the series “Love, The Badge Of The Christian.
The thing that identifies the Christian to the world is love.
That's why we gave you your love badge today. If you can remember wear it to church for the next two weeks. If you wear it when shopping or as you go about your day and someone asks about it, that's your opportunity to talk about Jesus.
Remember the text for the entire series is;
Text:
John 13:34-35 ESV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
This was a new commandment in that the love was not because they all belonged to the same nation or all looked like each other, but because they belonged to Christ.
If a person working in a factory, office, store, government office, or the military is wearing a particular badge or uniform you know that they belong there.
It's the same with the Agape love we talked about last week. When we put the badge of Agape love it identifies you as a disciple of Christ.
Remember what we said about Agape love? It's the most powerful, noblest type of love. It is a sacrificial love. Agape love is more than a feeling—it is an act of the will. This is the kind of love that can be controlled or directed by the mind and will of the person who chooses to love.
This is the love that God has for all people and that prompted the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus, for our sins.
This is the kind of love that Jesus said that His disciples should have.
Today's message is “The Positive Nature Of Christian Love”.
We've talked the nature of Agape love before but you can never talk about this kind of love too much.
The text for today's message is a familiar one:
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 ESV If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
Our emphasis today is on verse 4:
1 Corinthians 13:4 ESV Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
Introduction
God is eternal, all-powerful, righteous, and just. But the greatest truth about God is that He is love. Love is not who he is love is what He is.
1 John 4:8 ESV Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Because God is love, it is possible for us to love and to be loving.
1 John 4:11-12 ESV Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
God is love so our greatest responsibility to God is to respond to Him with love.
When the young lawyer asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment his response was
Matthew 22:37-38 ESV And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.
Then He said our greatest responsibility to our others is love.
Matthew 22:39-40 ESV And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
Agape love is primarily a moral love, a spirit of unbreakable goodwill and unflinching desire for constructive action on behalf of those who are loved.
That’s what our text for today really says really says.
Because God is love, he has created us with a desire and need for love. Everyone desires the love of others. Everyone needs to love others.
The apostle Paul’s emphasis in 1 Corinthians is that love is the greatest of all the fruit of the Holy Spirit—greater than eloquence, intellectual achievement, faith, philanthropy, and even martyrdom. In fact the fruit of the spirit starts with love and everything that comes from love.
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
It's interesting that Paul's emphasis on love comes after his discussion in chapter 12 on the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 ESV Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Then he gives the definition of Agape love.
It is interesting to note that in 1 Corinthians 13 you can substitute the name of Jesus for the word love, and it fits perfectly because Jesus is the personification of love.
Let's try it;
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 ESV If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not Jesus, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not Jesus, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not Jesus, I gain nothing. Jesus is patient and kind; Jesus does not envy or boast; Jesus is not arrogant or rude. Jesus does not insist on His own way; Jesus is not irritable or resentful; Jesus does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Jesus bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things Jesus never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
Today I want to take a look at some expressions of Agape love.
I. Agape love is always patient.
We live in a day of impatience. We are impatient with servers, store clerks, family members, and even with ourselves. We have a critical need for patience.
God is a patient God. He suffers long with people.
2 Peter 3:9 ESV The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Christ is a patient Savior.
He was patient with his apostles. He has been patient with us.
He was willing to bear how little faith His disciples had.
Matthew 8:23-26 ESV And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
He was willing to bear the slowness of His disciples in understanding.
Matthew 15:10-20 ESV And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." And he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."
He was willing to bear being spit on and struck in the face, for us.
Matthew 26:64-68 ESV Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death." Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?"
Isaiah 53:7 ESV He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
Christ wants to help us to be patient with others.
Here's the fruit of the Spirit again.
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
II. Agape love is always kind.
If you and I are to be truly loving, we must live a lifestyle of kindness.
Ephesians 4:32 ESV Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
It has been said that “kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
Are you kind to others?
Jesus was always kind. He expressed kindness at the wedding in Cana, when he turned the water into wine so that the bride and groom wouldn't be embarrassed because they ran out of wine.
That's in John 2:1-11.
He was kind to the to the widow of Nain, when He resurrected her son.
Luke 7:11-15 ESV Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
He was kind to the big crowds he fed, more than 5,000 on one occasion and more than 4,000 on another;
He was kind to his mother by providing for her while he was hanging on the cross,
John 19:26-27 ESV When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
And He was kind to the thief hanging on the cross next to him.
Luke 23:42-43 ESV And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."
May God help us to be kind at all times. Were you kind to that person in the line at the today that didn't have quite enough money to pay for their groceries? How about that homeless person you saw yesterday or maybe even this morning?
I. Agape love is always patient.
We live in a day of impatience. We are impatient with servers, store clerks, family members, and even with ourselves. We have a critical need for patience.
God is a patient God. He suffers long with people.
2 Peter 3:9 ESV The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Christ is a patient Savior.
He was patient with his apostles. He has been patient with us.
He was willing to bear how little faith His disciples had.
Matthew 8:23-26 ESV And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
He was willing to bear the slowness of His disciples in understanding.
Matthew 15:10-20 ESV And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." And he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."
He was willing to bear being spit on and struck in the face, for us.
Matthew 26:64-68 ESV Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death." Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?"
Isaiah 53:7 ESV He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
Christ wants to help us to be patient with others.
Here's the fruit of the Spirit again.
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
II. Agape love is always kind.
If you and I are to be truly loving, we must live a lifestyle of kindness.
Ephesians 4:32 ESV Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
It has been said that “kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
Are you kind to others?
Jesus was always kind. He expressed kindness at the wedding in Cana, when he turned the water into wine so that the bride and groom wouldn't be embarrassed because they ran out of wine.
That's in John 2:1-11.
He was kind to the to the widow of Nain, when He resurrected her son.
Luke 7:11-15 ESV Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
He was kind to the big crowds he fed, more than 5,000 on one occasion and more than 4,000 on another;
He was kind to his mother by providing for her while he was hanging on the cross,
John 19:26-27 ESV When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
And He was kind to the thief hanging on the cross next to him.
Luke 23:42-43 ESV And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."
May God help us to be kind at all times. Were you kind to that person in the line at the today that didn't have quite enough money to pay for their groceries? How about that homeless person you saw yesterday or maybe even this morning?
Photo Credit: Knowing Jesus
III. Agape love bears up under everything.
Love never gives up even when the going is difficult.
Verse 7 of our text says that love bears all things.
The New English Bible translates this, “There is nothing love cannot face.”
Another translation declares that “love knows no limit to its endurance.”
Love carries the burdens of others cheerfully.
Galatians 6:2 ESV Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Love can overlook the faults of others.
John 3:16-18 ESV "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Maybe this is one of the reasons why sinners are attracted to Jesus. He loves them in spite of their sinfulness.
People with Agape love don’t keep a record of how people have hurt them. God in Christ does not keep a record of our sins once we’re saved so if we have Agape we shouldn’t keep remembering an action or insult against us.
Romans 4:7-8 ESV "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."
Some people say, ‘I will forgive but I will not forget.’ This statement means that the person has not really forgiven. To truly forgive, we should treat the person as though what happened never happened.
I realize that we can’t do that on our own. We can only do that through the help of the Holy Spirit.
Again the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
IV. Agape love is always eager to believe the best.
Agape love is not suspicious. Agape love does not act like a detective or a prosecuting attorney.
People with Agape don’t take pleasure in the fact that someone has fallen into sin, has made a mistake, and is now suffering the consequences.
Proverbs 24:17 (NKJV)17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
Ephesians 2:1-7 ESV And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Jesus could look at a very unstable person like Peter and see in him a solid rock.
John 1:40-42 NKJV One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).
Jesus could look into the life of a woman of low morals who came to the Samaritan well and see a great witness to his saving power.
John 4:17-18, 28-30 NKJV The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him.
Agape love always looks for the best in others.
V. Agape love never ceases to hope.
Agape love believes that no person is a hopeless case.
2 Peter 3:8-10 ESV But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
No situation is without hope if you remember God and the power of his love.
I John 4:17-19 NKJV Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.
Jesus does not give up hope for you and me.
VI. Agape love gives us power to endure anything.
I Corinthians 13:8-13 NKJV Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Conclusion
Agape love is never an accident, nor is it automatic. It is made possible by the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ for each of us. As God’s gift to us, love is the first fruit of the Spirit in the hearts of believers. It grows to maturity as we nourish it.
During the coming week, let us take Agape love into every relationship of life. Use love as your approach at home, at school, on the job, and in all the difficult questions and problems you face.
Love never gives up even when the going is difficult.
Verse 7 of our text says that love bears all things.
The New English Bible translates this, “There is nothing love cannot face.”
Another translation declares that “love knows no limit to its endurance.”
Love carries the burdens of others cheerfully.
Galatians 6:2 ESV Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Love can overlook the faults of others.
John 3:16-18 ESV "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Maybe this is one of the reasons why sinners are attracted to Jesus. He loves them in spite of their sinfulness.
People with Agape love don’t keep a record of how people have hurt them. God in Christ does not keep a record of our sins once we’re saved so if we have Agape we shouldn’t keep remembering an action or insult against us.
Romans 4:7-8 ESV "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."
Some people say, ‘I will forgive but I will not forget.’ This statement means that the person has not really forgiven. To truly forgive, we should treat the person as though what happened never happened.
I realize that we can’t do that on our own. We can only do that through the help of the Holy Spirit.
Again the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
IV. Agape love is always eager to believe the best.
Agape love is not suspicious. Agape love does not act like a detective or a prosecuting attorney.
People with Agape don’t take pleasure in the fact that someone has fallen into sin, has made a mistake, and is now suffering the consequences.
Proverbs 24:17 (NKJV)17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
Ephesians 2:1-7 ESV And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Jesus could look at a very unstable person like Peter and see in him a solid rock.
John 1:40-42 NKJV One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).
Jesus could look into the life of a woman of low morals who came to the Samaritan well and see a great witness to his saving power.
John 4:17-18, 28-30 NKJV The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him.
Agape love always looks for the best in others.
V. Agape love never ceases to hope.
Agape love believes that no person is a hopeless case.
2 Peter 3:8-10 ESV But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
No situation is without hope if you remember God and the power of his love.
I John 4:17-19 NKJV Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.
Jesus does not give up hope for you and me.
VI. Agape love gives us power to endure anything.
- Agape love does not surrender.
- Agape love holds on and keeps on holding on
- Agape love is more than a passive resignation.
- Agape love never gives up hoping, praying, working, and believing.
I Corinthians 13:8-13 NKJV Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Conclusion
Agape love is never an accident, nor is it automatic. It is made possible by the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ for each of us. As God’s gift to us, love is the first fruit of the Spirit in the hearts of believers. It grows to maturity as we nourish it.
During the coming week, let us take Agape love into every relationship of life. Use love as your approach at home, at school, on the job, and in all the difficult questions and problems you face.
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