Christian Love in the Church – Part 3

1 John 3:18

Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue,

but in deed and truth. NASB

Colossians 3:13 – 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. NASB

A. bearing with one another – Here explains the patience he mentioned in the verse before, that is, suffering long with each other…“bearing with one another”…..enduring each others failings, and even their injuries toward us..we are not to be easily provoked with others, but rather willing to bear others burdens and weaknesses….many times these may be things that annoy us or irritate us, but we are to patiently bear with these……

B. and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you – And when we have been offended, or irritated or provoked by a brother or sister, we must forgive…“forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” …..forgive, you must forgive…

Mark 11:25-26 – 25 “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions.  26[“But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.” NASB

Christians must forgive…..this is our way of life…this is Christ’s way of life…our entire union with Christ is based in the forgiveness of our own sins….this is how we became Christians, we were forgiven….and this is the primary thing that distinguishes us from the unbeliever….we have been forgiven…..therefore we must be willing to forgive, and to love and to heal. We must not hold the sword of vengance but rather the healing salve of forgivness.

Colossians 3:14 – 14 And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. NASB

A. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity – Here he writes, “beyond all these things”….if putting “on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility and gentleness, and patience” isn’t enough…or bearing with one another and forgiving one another were not enough added….here he tells us “beyond all these things”……“put on love” ….Here is the crown that rests on the head of all other Christian virtues, it is Love….This is the substance of Christianity! This is the great and foremost commandment! This is the purpose for which we were made, to put on love….

1 John 4:16 – 16 And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love , and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. NASB

Are you in Christ….then your life is to be characterized by love….

Here Paul writes that love is….. “the perfect bond of unity”….love is the “perfect bond,” it is the glue that holds us together….love for our brethren holds our hearts together in the inner man, where there is a sweetness of charity toward our brothers, and a longing to see them blessed and benefitted…..to see them propsered and healed, cared for and lacking nothing….love is “perfect” to motivate our hearts for our brother’s good and brings us together as one….it is the “bond of unity”….love for our brothers and sisters the harmony that holds our hearts and lives together as one…it is “the perfect bond of unity”…though we may have many other Christian virtues, if we have not love, these lack the completeness and the harmony that is motivated by love….love must be the reigning principle in all our virtues…

And when we love, we strengthen the quality of all the others virtues…listen, if you love, you can be compassionate, and kind….if you love, you can be humble and gentle….if you love, you can be patient and bear with even the most difficult people… if you love dear Christian….you can even forgive……and then we are truly Christ’s disciples….when we abide in love…..

Colossians 3:15 – 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. NASB

A. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts – Here see the Prince of Peace in His rightful place, “ruling in your hearts”…..Let PEACE RULE….this is profound….let PEACE preside in your “hearts,” sit as King there, govern and control you…..dear Christian, does the peace of Christ RULE your life? Why should you live in the tumult and tossing of the sea…why should you live in conlict and strife with your brethren? “let the peace of Christ rule in your HEART” ….let it rule in the inner place, we no one sees but you and God, let your thoughts and intentions in your “heart” be ruled by Christ’s peace…. When a man loses his peace, it is an awful proof that he has lost something else; that he has given way to evil, and grieved the Spirit of God. While peace rules, all is safe… Let harmony and calmness season your thoughts toward your brothers and sisters…

B. to which indeed you were called in one body – Family, This peace, Paul says, is that “to which we were called”…. He “called us” to peace…. “in one body”….we were called to peace and harmony with our brethren, let us therefore let peace rule and reign among us…. we were “called” by God to peace…to King Jesus, the Prince of Peace….we will answer the call and lay down our swords?….why should we fret?….do we not have eternal life?….are we not loved by God?….will He not see us through til the end, when we will lie down and rest in His peace forever??…Rest your soul now in the promise of God….we will lie down in peace…. (Hos 2:18)

C. and be thankful – “And be thankful” …..that is, to be appreciative of the benefits we have received from God….to be grateful, to have gratitude in our hearts….to realize that even though we deserved death, and rightfully so, Christ has of His free Grace given us life……even though we offended Him, and blasphemed His name by our countless sins, and even though we provoked Him to anger 10,000 times by our rebel thoughts, words and deeds….He has repaid us with kindness and mercy and love…. Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?……family, let us rejoice with thanksgiving for the grace of our God!