THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVING ONE ANOTHER
OUTLINE
1) THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT - LOVE ONE ANOTHER
2) ALL THE COMMANDMENTS ARE CONTAINED IN THE ONE COMMANDMENT TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF
3) THE NEW COMMANDMENT OF CHRIST - LOVE OTHERS AS CHRIST LOVED US
4) GOD IS LOVE AND ALL THOSE WHO KNOW GOD SHOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
5) QUALITIES OF TRUE LOVE
6) WE MUST LOVE OUR ENEMIES
7) WE MUST GROW IN OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER
EPILOGUE
THE HOLY SPIRIT FILLS OUR HEARTS WITH THE LOVE OF GOD
THE MESSAGE
THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVING ONE ANOTHER
Loving one another is very important in the sight of God.
In the New testament there are atleast 226 verses on love.
Out of this 33 verses are about God's love towards us.
51 verses are about our love towards God.
23 verses are about what we should not love.
But 119 verses are about loving one another.
This shows the great importance of loving one another.
The Lord Jesus prayed that we should all be one so that the world may believe that he was sent by God.
JOHN 17: 21 - 22
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
1) THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT - LOVE ONE ANOTHER
The love of God towards us and our love towards God should lead us to love one another. Loving one another is part of the greatest commandment. We must love God with all our hearts and we must love one another. God has commanded us to love one another. Therefore it is a serious disobedience of God's commandments when we fail to love one another.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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MATTHEW 22:39-40
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
MARK 12:31-34
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.
To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
MATTHEW 19:16-19
Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
“Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony,
honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
JOHN 15:17
This is my command: Love each other.
1 JOHN 3:23-24
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
2 JOHN 1:5
And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.
2) ALL THE COMMANDMENTS ARE CONTAINED IN THE ONE COMMANDMENT TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF
When we love one another we fulfill all the commandments. When we love one another , we will not do any evil to one another. We will not commit adultery or murder to steal or covet or harm others in any way. Thus we will fulfill all the commandments when we love one another.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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ROMANS 13:9-10
The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
GALATIANS 5:14
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
JAMES 2:8
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
3) THE NEW COMMANDMENT OF CHRIST - LOVE OTHERS AS CHRIST LOVED US
The Lord Jesus set an even higher standard by giving us a new commandment to love one another as He has loved us. As we have experienced the breadth and length and depth and height of the love of God , we should love one another with the same love that the Lord has loved us. Christ has given us a new commandment which is higher and deeper than the old commandment. The old commandment calls us to love others as we love ourselves. But the new commandment of Christ calls us to love one another as Christ has loved us. Just as Christ has laid down his life for us , we should be willing to lay down our lives for one another. Husbands should love theIr wives as Christ loved the church.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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JOHN 13: 34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
JOHN 15: 12-13
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
1 JOHN 3:16
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 and sisters.
1 JOHN 4:11
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
EPHESIANS 5:1-2
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
EPHESIANS 5: 25 , 29
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church
4) GOD IS LOVE AND ALL THOSE WHO KNOW GOD SHOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER. WHEN OUR LOVE IS COMPLETE WE WOULD HAVE NO FEAR TO FACE THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT.
God is love and all the children of God should love one another just as God loved us and gave His Son to die for us.Those who do not love others will not inherit eternal life. When we are complete in love , we will have no fear and we will have the confidence to face the day of Judgement. If we do not love our brothers and sisters whom we can see , we cannot love God whom we have not seen.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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1 JOHN 2:10
Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.
1 JOHN 3:10-15
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,if the world hates you.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
1 JOHN 4:7-21
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us.
If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
5) QUALITIES OF TRUE LOVE
True love is most important in our spiritual life. Without love all our spiritual activities will be in vain. Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast. Love is not proud or selfish or easily angered. Love protects and trusts and hopes. True love will make us willing to lay down our lives for others. Love will make us help those in need. Love will make us forgive others and cover their shortcomings. Love will remove fear from our hearts.Our love towards one another should be genuine . Love covers a multitude of sins. We must demonstrate the qualities of true love.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-7
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
JOHN 15:13
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
1 JOHN 3:17-18
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.
1 JOHN 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 PETER 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
ROMANS 14:14-15
I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.
If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.
1 PETER 1:22
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
ROMANS 12:9-10
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
1 TIMOTHY 1 :5
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
EPHESIANS 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
2 TIMOTHY 2:22
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 CORINTHIANS 6:6
in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
2 CORINTHIANS 8:8
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
2 CORINTHIANS 8:24
Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
EPHESIANS 6:24
Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
2 TIMOTHY 3:10
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,
TITUS 1:8
Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
TITUS 2:22
Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3 JOHN 1:1
The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
REVELATION 12:11
They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
6) WE MUST LOVE OUR ENEMIES .
We must love our enemies and those who hate us and persecute us. We must bless those who curse us and pray for those who mistreat us. We must forgive those who have hurt us and harmed us.We must not repay evil for evil. Instead we must overcome evil with good. When we demonstrate such a love towards one another , it would be a powerful witness for the Lord Jesus before the world and make the people of this world to beleive on Him.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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MATTHEW 5:43-48
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons 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.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
LUKE 6:27-36
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that.
And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full.
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
LUKE 23:34
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots
ACTS 7:59-60
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
1 PETER 3:8-9
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
EPHESIANS 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
1 PETER 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
ROMANS 12:14-21
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
7) WE MUST GROW IN OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER
Our love towards one another should keep growing and increasing. In these last days the love of many will grow cold. But we should not allow our hearts to grow cold and hard. We must increase in our love for one another. Our love for one another will keep us united. We will help one another and encourage one another and honour one another and serve one another.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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JOHN 17:21
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
1 THESSALONIANS 3:12
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
2 THESSALONIANS 1:3
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters,and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
COLOSSIANS 1:3-4
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—
1 CORINTHIANS 16:14
Do everything in love.
HEBREWS 10:24
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
HEBREWS 13:1
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.
GALATIANS 5:13
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
1 PETER 2:17
Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
2 PETER 1:5-8
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
COLOSSIANS 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
1 THESSALONIANS 4:9
Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:12-13
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.
Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
COLOSSIANS 2:2
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
PHILIPPIANS 2:1-2
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
EPHESIANS 1:15
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,
PHILEMON 1:5
because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:1
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
TITUS 2:3-5
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.
Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children,
to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
COLOSSIANS 3:19
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
PHILEMON 1:7
Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
HEBREWS 6:10
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
JUDE 1:20-21
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
EPILOGUE
THE HOLY SPIRIT FILLS OUR HEARTS WITH THE LOVE OF GOD
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The Holy Spirit pours out the love of God into our hearts. We cannot practise such a great love in our fleshly human strength. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work deeply in our hearts , the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives would be love. The Holy Spirit purifies our hearts and enables to love one another fervently with a pure heart.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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ROMANS 5:5
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
GALATIANS 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
2 TIMOTHY 1:7
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
1 PETER 1:22
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
