Bear The Mark Of The Master Series

* All Christians are hypocrites

* Christians are always fighting against one another

Is it possible we have forgotten the words of our Savior?

"A new command I give you: Love one another. . . ." John 13:34-35

I. The Expectation of Love -- Always

A. God is Always a God of Love

B. God Expects Love in Return for His Love

1. To Him -- Deuteronomy 6.4-9

2. To Others -- Leviticus 19.8 (Love Neighbor as yourself)

II. The Elevation of Love -- Love as Jesus Loves

A. A New Commandment Based on a New Standard

1. Context of Washing the Disciples' Feet at Last Supper

2. Context of Predicting the Betrayer

3. Context of Predicting the Denials

4. Love Anyway

5. There is wiggle room in Leviticus 19.8; not so with Jesus -- WWJD?

B. A New Commandment Based on New Service

1. Not only humble foot washing

2. Also Humbled sacrifice at the cross

3. In John 15 Jesus gives the supreme example of how to love for one another.

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.

III. The Exposure of Love -- It Reveals: My Disciples

A. Exposes a New Life in Jesus -- without it, no new life

1 John 4:7, 8: 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

B. Exposes a New Identity for People in Jesus (v. 35)

1. The church may have rousing worship, sound teaching, excellent programs, dynamic ministries and great facilities, but that will not persuade unbelievers unless believers love each other and them.

2. Francis Shaffer writes, "The church is to be a loving church in a dying culture. It's not about the show; it's about authentic affection for others."

3. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 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. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

C. Exposes the Need for Self-Examination

1. How do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ? Surface or deeper?

Is it a love that is based on likes and dislikes, on what you have in common with others, a love that is based on economic and status maybe it is something that you express on Sunday morning

2. Are you willing to forgive and apologize to others? Or, do you hold grudges?

1 John 4:11, Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.