INTRODUCTION
Outline.
1. His Great Love Declared
2. His Great Love Demonstrated
3. His Great Love Duplicated
Remarks.
1. In our lesson today we will be discussing the theme: “A Testimony of His Great Love.” This is love “indescribable, incomprehensible and past finding out.” This love has been “declared, demonstrated and requires our duplication.” John defines it by writing: “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren,” 1 John 3:16. This is a compelling love that began with God’s giving of His Son; Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection; and the saints’ willingness to “follow in his footsteps” by “laying down their lives for each other,” 1 Peter 2:21.
2. First, we will discuss how His great love is declared. John writes: “Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you,” John 15:13-14. John witnessed our Lord’s testimony of this event; and later wrote of it for our reading and belief, regarding the death of Christ. That we through hearing and reading might “hereby perceive (know and understand) the love of God,” 1 John 3:16a.
3. Secondly, we will notice how His great love is demonstrated. John again writes: “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son…,” John 3:16. John not only heard the declaration of Christ; but he witnessed the demonstration of the sacrifice of Christ, His death on the cross for the sins of the world. Christ gave His life as a demonstration of His great love, that all might have eternal life.
4. Lastly, we will consider how His great love is to be duplicated. John concludes our text by saying: “and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren,” 1 John 3:16. The Apostle John further challenges us that we should “follow in His footsteps,” by our willingness to “lay down our lives for the brethren.” This was a time of trial and persecution for the saints. Like the martyr Stephen, when he laid down his life for the church, as he preached Christ to the Jews. This kind of love forgives others even at the moment of death. With this introduction, let’s consider, "His great love declared."
BODY OF LESSON
I HIS GREAT LOVE DECLARED
A. Hereby perceive we the love of God. One must rightfully ask: “how did John arrive at this conclusion?” To understand this, let’s consider the word “perceive.” The Greek word here is “ginosko,” which means: “to learn, to know, come to know, to get knowledge of, or to perceive." Note: For one to be able to provide testimony of a thing, it is necessary that they have either seen or heard of the thing them self. Hear your bible:
1. Notice, Jesus: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness,” John 3:11. To give testimony one must bear witness, of what they have seen or heard. Illustrate: Testimony in court, does not allow for “hear say.”
a. Notice, John’s writing: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;…That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ,” 1 John 1:1-4. This is that “Word” which was in the beginning; which was with God; and that was God,” John 1:1. This is that “Word” which became flesh.
c. Further, he writes: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth,” John 1:14. Illustrate: Peter an eye witness of His Majesty, 2 Peter 1:16-18.
d. Paul writes to Ephesus: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God,” Ephesians 3:17-19.
2. John uses the same phrase, “hereby perceive or know we” in other passages in 1 John 3. Notice, his use of the phrase, “hereby know we:”
a. First, the love of God: “Because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren,” 1 John 3:16. We will discuss this further, later in the lesson.
b. Further, the truth of God: “That we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him,” 1 John 3:19.
c. Finally, the presence of God: “That he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us,” 1 John 3:24.
3. John heard testimony of Jesus’ love:
a. Commandment of love: “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another,” John 13:34.
b. Love the true sign of discipleship: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another,” John 13:35.
c. The real test of fellowship is not just attending each other’s functions (e.g., singings, gospel meetings, lectureships, etc.), "but that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel," Philippians 1:27.
d. Let’s not tell the world we are one in Christ – let’s show them by our example. Isn’t Jesus and the Father one? See John 10:30. Does our heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus, desire us to be one; even as they are one? See John 17:19-23.
B. Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends.
1. That greater love: “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” John 15:12-17.
a. Notice, this great love: “That a man lay down his life for his friends.” Christ laid down His life for us – or permitted the Romans to kill Him, that He might take up His life again.
b. Notice, Jesus: “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father,” John 10:17-18.
c. The love of Christ challenges us to achieve a greater love – which permits us to lay down our lives for each other. Illustrate: Love of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.
d. Boyfriend’s greatest love. Illustrate: Lay down my life, swim the widest ocean, climb the highest mountain – and I’ll see you tomorrow if it doesn’t rain!
2. I think of our young men and women in uniform – when I hear our Lord say: “He will lay down His life for his friends.” Many have done just that!
a. Veteran’s Administration. Illustrate: “All have given some – some have given all.” This motto states that all veterans have given something to their country; but some have given all that they had; their own lives for this nation, for freedom and democracy!
b. Honorable men and women. These veterans have returned home to a divided country – for which they willingly hazarded their lives, to defend. Only to see a congress, its court and its White House divided and splintered. Total dysfunction! A government that is unable to govern this Nation. That is unable to provide care and medical assistance to those coming home broken and wounded, because of political differences! This is shameful.
c. I feel their hurt, especially for those who lost close friends in battle; those that, laid down their lives for this country. They done this in order to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Illustrate: Parents Viewing Portrait of Son or Daughter.
C. Ye are my friends. But our Lord speaks to us saying: “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you,” John 15:14. This is my commandment: “that ye love one another, as I have loved you,” John 15:12. Notice:
1. First, remember Jesus, “if ye love me, keep my commandments,” John 14:15.
2. Further, the Apostle John: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous,” 1 John 5:3.
3. Finally, will we be a friend to Jesus? If so, we must first be a friend to our brethren – as Disciples of Christ! If not, can we claim “to love God, whom we have not seen; while we hate our brother whom we have seen?” See 1 John 4:20.
D. No longer servants. Jesus says: “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you,” John 15:15.
1. Now brothers beloved in the Lord, we have heard all that the Lord has said regarding true fellowship and unity of the body. Many of our congregations are divided and splintered because they lack the love – which John shares with us in this letter. Can these congregations be healed? Notice:
a. First, some may find fault with any idea of uniting the body. They will judge a member unrighteous for frivolous reasons. Remember Jesus: “Judge not, that ye be not judge. For what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again,” Matthew 7:1-5. Illustrate: Mote in Your Brother’s Eye.
b. Further, other would hinder such efforts. I ask: “are there any among us, who would hinder the right ways of the Lord?” Are there any workers of iniquity among us? Illustrate: Gamaliel’s Instructions to the Council, Acts 5:38-39.
2. Such behavior is destructive:
a. Hear Solomon: “The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity,” Proverbs 10:29.
b. Paul: “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal; The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity,” 2 Timothy 2:19. Can we be workers of iniquity; and claim to love the brethren?
c. John: “And this commandment we have from Him, that he who loveth God loves his brother also,” 1 John 4:19-21.
E. I have chosen you. Jesus said: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another,” John 15:16-17.
1. Jesus chose us to bear fruit. Brethren, where is our fruits?
2. Let us strive to bring unity to the body and many souls unto the Lord. Illustrate: I have much people in this city, Acts 18:9-11. How many people does the Lord have in this city?
3. Solomon declares: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise,” Proverbs 11:30. With this point concluded, let’s consider our next thought, “His great love demonstrated.”
II HIS GREAT LOVE DEMONSTRATED
A. God so loved the world. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…,” John 3:16. In this we have a love so generous - that includes the whole world. God’s love is given to the worst sinner; as well as the most pious – like Cornelius and his household, Acts 10:1ff. God has granted His love, to all mankind.
1. Recall the apostle Paul: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, who counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief… This is a faithful saying…,” 1 Timothy 1:12-16.
2. This is good and acceptable. Notice Paul: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who would have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth…one mediator…to be testified in due time,” 1 Timothy 2:3-6.
3. Christ gave himself for all – that all should have eternal life. The Son of man: “came to seek and save the lost,” Luke 19:10. And that, “we might have life, and have it more abundantly,” John 10:10.
4. We were at our worst when Christ died for us, Romans 5:6-8.
B. John witnessed His demonstration of love: “For God so loved the world, that he gave,” John 3:16. John, the apostle of love, stood at the foot of the cross and witnessed Christ’s sacrifice in person. He seen with his eyes, and heard with his ears, the “testimony of His great love.” I love the scene around the cross. Our Lord remembered his mother. Illustrate: John, Take Care of Mother. Jesus said: “Woman behold thy son; son behold thy mother,” John 19:26-27.
a. John’s witness of these two things (hearing the testimony of love and witnessing Christ’s sacrifice of love); allowed him to state without question: “hereby know we the love of God.” The love of Christ was given for all!
b. John is the disciple, “Which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true,” John 21:24. Why? He had “seen and heard.”
c. John can declare that this “Testimony of His Great Love” is true and we can believe it.
C. Serpent was lifted up. Moses, “lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,” John 3:14-16. Illustrate: Moses and the Serpent, Numbers 21:4-9.
1. The people spake against God and Moses, near the land of Edom.
a. When we speak against the leadership, ministers and others that God has ordained, we are also speaking against God, 1 Corinthians 10:10; Philippians 2:3, Philippians 2:14.
b. When we speak and sin against the brethren, we speak and sin against Christ. Notice Paul: “But when ye sins so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ,” 1 Corinthians 8:12. Illustrate: Eating Meats Offered to Idols.
c. Paul encourages US:
1) First, “Destroy not your brother for whom the Lord hast died,” Romans 14:15.
2) Further, “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak,” Romans 14:21.
3) Finally, “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend,” 1 Corinthians 8:13. Also, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak,” Romans 15:1.
4) Our freedoms and liberality should not enslave, weaken or cause our brothers to stumble, to offend or to be lost. We must be on guard for the weaker brothers, not to cause them to offend or sin, while they are beholding our behavior.
2. The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people...much people of Israel died.
3. They came to Moses, saying “we have sinned against the Lord, and against thee.” Watch out to whom you speak against – when they are doing the will of God.
4. The people said: “Pray unto the Lord that he take away the serpents from us.”
5. “And Moses prayed for the people.” Notice his love for those who spoke against him.
6. The Lord’s answer was – with a solution, “make thee a fiery serpent – put upon a pole.”
7. “When he (the people) looketh upon it, – they shall live.”
D. Son of man lifted up. He says: “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, ye shall know that I am he,” John 8:28. Notice:
1. Hear our Lord: “And, I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me,” John 12:32-33. Christ here predicts the means by which he would die. Like the serpent was lifted up for the people to see, and be healed; Christ was lifted up for the world, that they which look to Him, might be healed.
2. Paul writes: “Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree,” Galatians 3:13. Christ became a curse – that we might be blessed. Illustrate: The twilight of two worlds.
3. God sent not his Son: “Into the world to condemn the world; but the world through him might be saved,” John 3:17. Christ came into the world to save all men from their sins.
E. He that believeth: “On Him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already; because he had not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is condemnation that light is come into the world:
1. And men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”
2. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God,” John 3:17-21. See also John 5:22-24. Finally, let’s notice “His great love duplicated.”
III HIS GREAT LOVE DUPLICATED
A. Lay down our lives for the brethren. John challenges us to duplicate the love of Christ; “by laying down our lives for the brethren.” Some saints would find this difficult, seeing they are unable to lay down their disagreements, disappointments and forgive the wrongs and offenses committed against them.
B. Christ laid down his life for brothers. That he might acquire brothers. Notice:
1. First, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren,” Romans 8:29.
2. Further, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit,” John 12:24.
3. Christ’s death brought forth many brothers. We are children of God, Galatians 3:26-27.
C. Love brought all this about. What is love? To understand this truth; we must have a clear understanding of love. There are several forms of “love” in the New Testament. Notice:
1. First, Greek: “Eros,” is one word for love. It describes, as we might guess, an erotic love. This is love a husband has for his wife; that which arouses sexual desires.
2. Further, Greek: “Storge,” is the second word for love. It refers to family love, the kind of love there is between a parent and child or between family members in general.
3. Next, Greek: “Philia,” is the third word for love. It speaks of brotherly friendship and affection. It might be described as the highest form of love; we are capable of without God's help.
4. Finally, Greek: “Agape,” is the fourth word for love. It describes the highest form of love; that is of divine origin – God’s love. It is a self-giving love that demands nothing in return. It is love so great that it can be given to the unlovable and unappealing.
a. It was this form of love Christ encouraged Peter to rise too. Illustrate: Fish Fry on the Beach. Jesus asked: “Peter, lovest thou me more than these? See John 21:15-18.
1) Peter, “agapeo thou me?” Lord, thou knowest “I phileo thee.”
2) Peter, “agapeo thou me?” Lord, thou knowest “I phileo thee.”
3) Peter, “phileo thou me?” Lord, thou knowest “I phileo thee.”
b. Agape, is love that gives, because it wants too; and it does not require love in return.
c. This love gives of itself for others. We cannot give ourselves for others, until we learn to love in the same manner in which Christ has demonstrated His love for us.
D. Agape, allows us to lay down our lives for each other. Real love isn't merely "felt" as an inward emotion; it is also seen in demonstration: “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth,” 1 John 3:18. The demonstration of the highest form of love was God’s gift of His Son. God gave love to us first.
1. By this demonstration, we now know how to love Him and our brethren. Consider this:
a. First, John says: “We love him because he first loved us,” 1 John 4:19.
b. Further, He states: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (mercy seat) for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another,” 1 John 4:10-11.
c. Finally, “And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also,” 1 John 4:21.
2. God is love. We see in the death of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, the ultimate expression of “agape” love. We were underserving, and unworthy; when God loved us and gave His Son for our sins, John 3:16; Romans 5:8.
3. Christ’s disciples are sent. With the same mandate He was sent with; and gave to his apostles. We are called to demonstrate love by laying “down our lives for the brethren.”
a. First, Jesus' words: “As the Father sent Me, I also send you,” John 20:21. We are sent with the possibility that we might have to do likewise.
b. Further, the focus here is on loving our brethren with a love that we can give up our lives on their behalf. We are also called upon to love our enemies and those who hate us, Matthew 5:44. Can we be Christians, if we cannot love each other?
c. Finally, John reminds us that love and its demonstration, involves self-sacrifice – and the willingness to forgive those that sin against us. Illustration: Acts of Forgiveness. Notice:
1) Stephens, who laid down his life for the church, while preaching Christ, Acts 7:59-60.
2) Paul, in Rome: “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge,” 2 Timothy 4:16-18.
3) Jerusalem church: “It seemed good unto us, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas,” Acts 15:25-27.
4) Paul’s salutations to Rome: “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles,” Romans 16:3-4.
5) Finally, our Lord: “Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do,” Luke 23:34.
E. Husbands love your wives. Brethren we are charged to love our wives in the same manner as Christ loves the church. Some congregations have express concern that wives are not being submissive to their husbands. Notice:
1. First, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it,” Ephesians 5:23-26.
2. Further, “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them,” Colossians 3:19.
3. Finally, “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered,” 1 Peter 3:7.
4. If we love our wives like Christ loves the church; they would be willing to submit themselves unto us, as their husbands, Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 3:18. Before I close, let’s review what we have discussed.
CONCLUSION
A. Outline.
1. His Great Love Declared
2. His Great Love Demonstrated
3. His Great Love Duplicated
B. Summarize main points.
1. First, we discussed how His great love was declared. John writes: “Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you,” John 15:13-14. John witnessed our Lord’s testimony of this event; and later wrote of it for our belief regarding the death of Christ. That we might “hereby perceive (know and understand) the love of God,” 1 John 3:16a.
2. Secondly, we noticed how His great love was demonstrated. John wrote: “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” John 3:16. John not only heard the declaration of Christ; but he witnessed the demonstration of the sacrifice of Christ for the sins of the world. Who can understand such a love? Christ gave His all as a true demonstration of His love for all mankind.
3. Lastly, we considered how His great love is to be duplicated. John concludes our text by saying: “and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren,” 1 John 3:16. The Apostle John further challenged us that we should “follow in His footsteps,” by our willingness to “lay down our lives for each other,” 1 Peter 2:21. Remember, this was a time of trial and persecution for the saints. Like the martyr Stephen, when he laid down his life for the church as he preached Christ to the Jews. This kind of love forgives others even at the moment of death; and requests that God does not lay the sin to their charge. I ask even as Peter, Lord: “increase our faith,” Luke 17:5.
C. Invitation. Provide the plan of salvation, H.B.R.C.B.
D. Exhortation. “With many other words did he testify and exhort, saying: save yourselves from this untoward generation.”
E. Motivation. We love you here at this congregation of God’s people, and want the best for your life and your family. We invite you now to come and respond to the love of God and the death of his Son. What you do today will have lasting benefits for you, and perhaps for those whom you love, whether they be family or friends.
