Sermon Central
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Express Love
Contributed by Jeffry Abitan on Mar 7, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: Today I will preach about the other side of the coin, our love towards God. Christianity is a religion of action, religion of compassion, love, and mercy. FAITH WITHOUT ACTION IS A DEAD FAITH.
How are we going to express our love for God?
1. Express your love to God by obeying
If you love God to obey his commandments!
John 14:23-24 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
The greatest commandants is a summary of the Decalogue (deca - ten, logos - word)
Ten Commandments list (Exodus 20:1-17)
You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall make no idols.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Keep the Sabbath day holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet.
THERE ARE 613 LAWS
Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV) 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
God promised to give a new HEART and he will write the TORAH in their hearts. “The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.
UNDER THE LAW does not mean DISOBEDIENCE TO THE LAW.
We are not under the law (Rom 6:14) - We are no longer be condemned because of the Law. Our salvation is because of God’s grace. LIVING IN FEAR
Obedience to the law- but we are not above the law (antinomianism). When we received the Lord Jesus the law has been written to our hearts. We obey God’s law not because of fear but because of Love. LIVING IN FAITH
if you love me obey my commandments.
2 John 1:6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
John 15:10 We remain in His love if we keep his commandments
He delights more in your obedience than you offering.
1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
Context: God commanded Saul to destroy (consecrate) the Amalekite but he spared Agag.
What are the things he told you to do and you still not doing?
Excuses hinder us from obeying what God has commanded.
Jer 1:5-8 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” 6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
What are your excuses not doing what he commanded you?
Not time?
Not eloquent?
Too young?
Fear of men?
2. Express your love to God by loving
Loving others – General
John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
How you will love your neighbor? - As I have loved you
He died for us we should offer our lives for one another.
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 and sisters.
He forgave our sins we should forgive one another. (Colossians 3:13- forgive as God forgave you; Luke 6:37- Seventy x seven)
He serves us we should serve one another.
Matt 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
You ought to wash one another’s feet!
“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
Loving our enemy - Particular person
Matthew 5:43-48 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
