Growing by Addition
Love – Colossians 3:12-17
2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
Today we finish up our series on “Growth by Addition”. Last week we did part one of the two-part series finale, and we broke it down because the last two areas of character growth are completely intertwined. Here’s a quick review:
For simplicity’s sake, we defined the two like this:
Brotherly Kindness extends to the members of God’s Family,
Love extends to the entire Human Race.
We defined Brotherly Kindness as “Love on the Inside”; as the way we are to love and minister to those inside the body of believers. Not just within our church, but to all who believe.
God’s vision for the church has always been that of a unified force, who serve one another, share in good and bad times, and in turn reach out to those who do not know Christ personally.
That last line is where we are headed today; Love that extends to all people.
A. Agape
The Greek word used for Love here is Agape. And this word is interesting because it was not a word that was found in classical Greek, but was only revealed through religion.
The translation is charity, or benevolent love. But the benevolence isn’t based on what someone desires, but rather based upon what someone truly needs. I’ll use a famous example in God’s love for us:
John 3:16
For God so loved the world… (have the congregation finish)
So God’s love for man is doing what He thinks best for man, not what we desire. But there’s a catch to being able to show God’s Agape Love to others, and that is we must receive it first! It’s back to square one isn’t it?
Until we recognize and receive God’s UNCONDITIONAL Love, we are not going to be able to dish it out, because Agape Love must be learned from the source, God! This is where Agape Love separates from love seen in Philadelphia. It is based on God’s Love alone, and ignores common interest, relationship or circumstance.
Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
If we examine this passage closer, Paul offers a strategy to help us live for God day by day. But in doing so, we’re also being shown a blueprint of what Agape Love looks like.
1. Imitate Christ’s compassionate, forgiving attitude
Vs. 12-13
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Does anyone else here feel like Paul starts with the hard stuff? It’s true, we call ourselves Christians and love all the things that Christ is about, but the easiest thing to forget is why we can call ourselves Christians—because God loved us, showed compassion and forgave us in spite of all the ugliness we have done!
Now it’s our turn.
There’s a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father. On Saturday 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers.
Bits & Pieces, October 15, 1992, pp. 13.
There is a world desperate to receive compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience! They want to know what forgiveness feels like. But we are a stubborn people. We allow personal pain and pride to get in the way.
Agape Love looks beyond all this, because it is what is needed. I’m not going to go deeper on what forgiveness is and is not today, but I can tell you that we are called to love others as God loves us. No matter how hard that may be…
2. Let love guide your life
Vs. 14
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Once again we have the Greek Word, “Agape” in this verse, Let’s look at another passage that shows this example:
1 John 3:16,18 (NIV)
16 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.
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
In these two scriptures we see two things. First, we see Jesus Christ’s ultimate example of showing love. This doesn’t always mean in the literal sense of death, but rather in the sacrifice involved.
The second is the motivation behind the sacrifice—Love! And what is the call? Don’t just say you love people, show them! But it’s got to come from a heart motivated in God’s Unconditional, Unending Love—Simply put, do everything as if it were for the Lord. This is what should define us as Christians.
3. Let peace rule!
Vs. 15a
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
The peace that is highlighted here is the absence of conflict. It is truly walking through life thinking, “I mean you no harm!”
The Personnel Journal reported this incredible statistic: since the beginning of recorded history, the entire world has been at peace less than eight percent of the time! In its study, the periodical discovered that of 3530 years of recorded history, only 286 years saw peace. Moreover, in excess of 8000 peace treaties were made–and broken.
Moody Bible Institute, Today In The Word, June, 1988, p.33.
How many personal peace treaties have we broken? Let’s look at a practical application of peace: Driving… Do it peacefully!
4. Always be thankful
Vs. 15b
And be thankful.
This is more than the rule of “Please and Thank you” we learned when we were young. This means living life with the idea that every breath we take, every thing we possess, is a blessing from God.
When we forget this simple truth, we allow a sense of entitlement to take over. We neglect compassion and Agape love for others because we are so consumed with taking care of ourselves!
The thankful heart places immediate emphasis on humility.
5. Keep God’s Word at all times
Vs. 16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
I want to point out that every week in this series there has been a direction from God to study His Word. I’ll say it again, “We cannot expect to grow spiritually if we are not studying God’s Word Daily.”
I’ve read the same passages several times, and every time I get something different!
Gipsy Smith told of a man who said he had received no inspiration from the Bible although he had “gone through it several times.” “Let it go through you once,” replied Smith, “then you will tell a different story!”
-SermonIllustrations.com
6. Live as Christ’s representative
Vs. 17
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Let your actions do the talking…
“I’m afraid too many of us are content to set ourselves apart by bumper stickers and schedules. I’ve yet to hear a story of a Christian motorist being flagged down by another driver who was pierced in the heart by the sight of a fish sticker on the back of a car. And our Sunday morning routines certainly haven’t left the world standing in awe of our God.”
–Andy Stanley, “Visioneering”
When was the last time you were asked by someone about your faith? If it’s been awhile: Has been because you don’t “associate” with secular people? Is it because you do, but there’s really no difference in your actions from theirs?
If you were the only way others would know Jesus, would they get to know him?
Folks, we are representatives for Christ! We’ve got to show that Agape love because they need it! They won’t want it, and most times don’t know it is a need, but we are the only ones who are going to help fill it. That’s evangelism!
It’s time to be God’s Love extended.
-Prayer
Go Further! - Personal Study Questions
1. Read Colossians 3:12-17. In this passage there are certain character qualities listed as requirements to be a “Representative of Christ”. List each one, and then list how you plan to “Apply and Grow” in these areas.
2. As we conclude this series, re-read 2 Peter 1:5-7. Take time to recognize each area of spiritual growth, and honestly answer the question: “Is my life adding or subtracting from God’s Kingdom?”
