Topics: Christ, love, christian love
I. Love that is Biblical
- "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.'" (Matthew 5:43).
- "You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it" (Deuteronomy 4:2a).
- If you meet your enemy?s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him(Ex. 23:4, 5).
II. Love that is by faith
- "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:44, 45).
- But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Romans 5:8?10).
III. Love that is exceptional
- "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?" (Matthew 5:46, 47).
- "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27, 28).
IV. Love that is perfect
- "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).
- Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails . . . Let all that you do be done in love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a; 16:14).
Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins March 6th, 2022
