Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

 

The Sermon for This Week is: By This All Will Know - John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

1. How is the world to know that we are truly disciples of Christ, members of His body?

a. Is it by the name we wear?

b. Is it by having the right doctrine, organization, worship, etc.?

 

2. It is certainly important to have all these things; but if we think...

a. That by these things alone we are truly the disciples of Jesus

b. That by these things alone the world will know we are Christ’s disciples

 

...then we are sadly mistaken!

 

3. Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus identified a key mark of discipleship...

a. He gave what He called “a new commandment” - John 13:34 - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

b. It was a command to “love one another” - John 13:34 (SEE ABOVE)

c. He said “by this all will know” who were His disciples - John 13:35 - By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

4. Love for one another is how people will know that we are truly the disciples of Jesus...

a. Do we know what kind of love that is?

b. How do we develop that kind of love?

c. How do we demonstrate this love?

 

[In this study I wish to encourage the kind of love Jesus commands of us, so that “By This All Will Know” that we are truly His disciples! Let's begin with...]

 

I. THIS LOVE DEFINED

 

A. IT IS A NEW KIND OF LOVE...

 

1. There had always been the love of family, friends, etc.

 

2. The OT taught to “love thy neighbor as thyself” - Leviticus 19:18 - Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

 

3. But Jesus said, - John 13:34 - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

a. This is not simply a command to love one another

b. But a command to love one another in a special way

 

-- Jesus is calling us to new and higher standard of love!

 

B. IT IS A SACRIFICIAL LOVE...

 

1. What kind of love does Jesus command?

a. “as I have love you, that you also love another”

b. It is a love patterned after Jesus' love for us

 

-- This is what makes it a new and higher standard of love!

 

2. The love Jesus had for us can be summarized in one word: sacrificial

a. As Jesus explained in John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

b. As John wrote in 1 John 3:16-18 - 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. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

c. As Paul commanded in Ephesians 5:1-2 - Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

 

3. It was this kind of love manifested by the first disciples of Jesus

a. The church in Jerusalem - Acts 2:44-45 - And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

b. The churches in Macedonia - 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 - Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

 

C. IT IS A VISIBLE LOVE...

 

1. By such love Jesus declared - John 13:35 - By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

a. The implication is that such love will be visible and observable

b. And visible by all, not just by brethren!

 

2. To be a visible love, requires a love...

a. That goes beyond the four walls of the church building

b. That extends beyond the few hours we are assembled together

c. That can be observed by those of the world and in the world

 

-- In some way, the world needs to have the opportunity to observe the disciples in action, in which their love that is patterned after Jesus' love can be seen

 

[Being a “warm and friendly church” while assembled is commendable, but it alone does not fulfill the command to have a new, sacrificial, and visible love patterned after the love of Jesus! If we wish to manifest this kind of love in our lives, where do we begin? Consider...]

 

II. THIS LOVE DEVELOPED

 

A. WE ARE TAUGHT BY GOD...

 

1. The Thessalonians excelled in this love - 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 - But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

 

2. For they had been “taught by God to love one another”

 

3. Certainly God’s own love for us teaches us how to love - cf. 1 John 4:9-11 - In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

 

-- Think of the Father's own sacrificial love for us, in sending His Son to be the propitiation for our sins!

 

B. WE LEARN FROM JESUS...

 

1. Jesus’ own example of sacrifice teaches the true meaning of love - 1 John 3:16 - 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.

 

2. The more we contemplate upon the example of Jesus’ life and death, the more likely we will love like He did!

 

C. WE ARE TO BE STIRRED UP BY BRETHREN...

 

1. We are to stir one another to love and good works - Hebrews 10:24 - And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

 

2. An important means of doing this is by frequent assembling - Hebrews 10:25 - Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

-- Perhaps one reason why some don’t love as they should, is because they don’t assemble like they should!

 

[Through careful study of the Father’s love for us, the Savior’s love for us, and through frequent assembling where we stir up another to love and good works, we can develop the kind of love “By Which All Will Know” we are Jesus' disciples. Finally, a thought or two about...]

 

III. THIS LOVE DEMONSTRATED

 

A. IN OUR ASSEMBLY...

 

1. When we are assembled and have guests, we have an opportunity to demonstrate our love for another

 

2. What do our guests see? Do they see Christians who...

a. Are glad to see one another?

b. Are willing to take the time to visit with each other?

c. Even know each other’s name?

 

-- Our assemblies may be the only time some guests have the opportunity to see

Christians interact; do they see an evident love and concern for one another?

 

B. IN OUR COMMUNITY...

 

1. We often have the opportunity to be together in ways that others can see...

a. Perhaps we work with other Christians

b. Or we have neighbors that are Christians

c. Or we gather to visit, or do things together

 

2. What do those in the world see? Do they see an interaction that...

a. Reveals a strong love and appreciation for one another?

b. Shows a sincere interest in each other’s well-being?

 

3. Where there are differences, is the way we handle them different?

a. Christians will often sin against one another, offend one another

b. But will they see long-suffering and a quickness to forgive, even as Christ forgave us?

 

- cf. Ephesians 4:32 - And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. - Colossians 3:13 - Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

 

CONCLUSION

 

1. Jesus has revealed a powerful tool to persuade the world that we are His disciples...

a. Certainly we show our discipleship by faithfulness to His doctrine - cf. John 8:32 - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

b. But in a world that cares little for doctrinal distinctiveness, a Christ-like love for one another is

how Jesus would have us convince the world! - cf. John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

2. How is your love for your brother in Christ?

a. Is it Christ-like, i.e., a sacrificial love?

b. Is it observable, i.e., do people see your brotherly love in our assemblies and community?

 

3. If you admit your love for your brethren needs work (we all can improve)...

a. Look to God and Jesus as the ultimate teachers of what it means to love one another

b. Utilize opportunities to be with brethren

1) Which provides occasion to grow and display your love

2) Which can serve to stir you to love and good works - cf. Hebrews 10:24-25 - And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

John 13:35 - By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

1 John 4:11 - Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

 

Prayer: Mark 16:16 - He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned - Lord I truly thank You for giving the opportunity to present these words to my brethrens. I pray that You will keep them in Your blessings and accept them into Your heart - this  I pray in the name of Thy Son, Jesus, the Messiah, Your only begotten son which Ye sent to save mankind from themselves. Amen

 

This sermon is in the Public Domain - Free for all to use with the only requirement: That it never be used for profit.

 

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. - Ephesians 6:23-24