Introduction
The New Commandment Jesus gave us is really a renewal of an old commandment: love one another. The Bible often tells us to be filled with various godly virtues. But what do they mean? In Romans 15:14, we are commanded to be filled with goodness. How do we know if we are “full of goodness”? Thing of a water-saturated sponge. If we push down with our finger, even slightly, water runs out onto the table. We immediately know that water fills the interior pockets of the sponge. The same is true of ourselves. We can tell what fills us on the inside by what comes out under pressure. When we are under pressure, what kind of love comes out, selfish or selfless?
Thesis: The new commandment to love one another as Jesus loves makes the commandment new.
Motivation of OT Commandment to Love Is Selfishness, Leviticus 19:18.
A. Love yourself to preserve your life, Fear of Death.
B. Love yourself to preserve your pride, Fear of Shame.
C. Love yourself to preserve your security, Fear of Harm.
Motivation of NT Commandment to Love Is Selflessness, John 13:34.
A. Love as Jesus loved in faithfulness to Deity.
- The Father’s love abides in those who keep His commandments, John 15:10.
- The Father’s joy abides in those who keep His commandments, John 15:11.
- The Father’s Comforter abides in those who keep His commandments, John 14:16.
- The Father’s presence abides in those who keep His commandments, John 14:21.
B. Love as Jesus loved in fellowship with the disciples.
- The Lord’s daily presence
- The Lord’s daily instruction
- The Lord’s daily provision
C. Love as Jesus loved in forfeiture to death.
- The Lord demonstrated His love, John 15:13.
- The Lord delivered His Spirit, John 14:16.
Results of the Commandments to Love Differ
A. The OT commandment to love produces companions.
B. The NT commandment to love produces Christians.
C. The NT commandment to love permits the world to confirm the disciples of Christ.
Conclusion
Commenting on the fruit of the Holy Spirit, Donald Grey Barnhouse said: “Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Long-suffering is love enduring. Kindness is love’s touch. Goodness is love’s character. Faithfulness is love’s habit. Gentleness is love’s self-forgetfulness. Self-control is love holding the reins.”
When the world pressures you, what oozes out? Is is selfishness or selflessness?
The Gospel is that God provides sacrificial love to us to witness to the world. The question is, will we be channels of that love or chalices?
How do we receive sacrificial love to give to others?
- Yield our lives to Jesus.
- Yield our wills to Jesus.
- Yield our love to Jesus.
Jesus calls us to a higher standard, because He makes it possible.