Love Your Neighbor As Yourself, Just As Jesus Loved Us Series

And in:

Galatians 5:14 [14]For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (ESV)

Genuine Christians have always had a tremendous impact on those around them:

Quote: Minucius Felix, the heathen, says of the Christians: ‘They love each other before knowing each other;’(Lange, J. P., & Schaff, P. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures : John (427). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)

Illustration: The church leader Tertullian (ß.S. 155–220) writes that the Roman government was disturbed about the early church. Christians were increasing in number by leaps and bounds.

Because they wouldn’t take even a pinch of incense and put it before the image of the emperor, the Romans felt they might be disloyal. Spies went into the Christian gatherings and came back with a report: “These Christians are very strange people. They meet together in an empty room to worship. They do not have an image. They speak of One by the name of Jesus, who is absent, but whom they seem to be expecting at any time. And my, how they love Him and how they love one another.” Now if spies came from an atheistic government to see whether Christianity is genuine and they came to (our) church, what would be the verdict?” (McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (4:456). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.) (Based on apology 39:7)

With the history of God’s expressed expectations that His people be a people of love, This love for one another is in the present tense (linear action), to “keep on loving.”(Robertson, A. (1997). Word Pictures in the New Testament. Vol.V c1932, Vol.VI c1933 by Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. (Jn 13:34). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems.)

It is not just for your neighbor and as yourself, as in Lev. 19:18, but is the shared love of believers for one another, but what exactly is new?

We see the nature of discipleship in terms of 1) A New Commandment (Jn. 13:34a) and now:

2) A New Example (Jn. 13:34b)

John 13:34b [34](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. (ESV)

Just as God the father presented the Jews of the old covenant with the answer as to “Why should I obey?” the commandments of Ex. 20 after liberating the people out of Egypt, so too Jesus now presents the standard of love in the context of His Passover death for them.

Please turn to John 15

The love that Jesus is calling for is not just one of avoiding hating another. It is not just tolerating another. It is an active, self-sacrificial love, just as Jesus loved us. It is the type of love that Glorifies God the Father and shows that we are a part of His family:

John 15:8-17 [8]By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. [9]As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. [10]If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. [11]These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. [12]"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. [13]Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. [14]You are my friends if you do what I command you. [15]No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. [16]You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. [17]These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (ESV)