Our Story: God has a plan to bless sojourning believers who draw on His Spirit/grace/power to live in a sanctified rlshp w/ Him and love others
→17…in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless/vain conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
I. Our religion is worthless if it doesn’t accomplish God’s goal for us: Christlikeobeying Him and loving others (Mt 22:40)
saints Mt 15:8 draw near… honor Me with lips; their heart is far from Me 9 in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. 1Tim1:4
II. We purify ourselves and perseveringly love others for the imperishable prize
(=hope/reward/inheritance/glory/grace 1:3,4,5,7.9,10,12)
→22 Since you have purified your souls (mind will and emotions {last wk}) 2:11 abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul
A. We purify ourselves by reprogramming our ignorant values & lusts with God’s values and desires (Rm 12:2 transformed by renewing mind)
Js 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 1Jn 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Gal 5:24 those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Col 3:5 put to death 8 you yourselves are to put off all
2Tim 2:21 if anyone cleanses himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified & useful for the Master, prepared for every good work
2Cor 7:1 having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God
→by (en) obeying the truth (1:2,14) [Worship = Response to Revelation] [How does Obedience differ from Legalism?]
B. We obey the Truth by training our will to learn it, live it, and love others with it. Determine God’s will for your hours in QT
Jn 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth (19) 8:31 Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed 32 you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Rm 6:16 to whom you yield yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or…righteousness
Rm 16:19 For your obedience has become known to all…glad…but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
2Cor 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing…bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
→through (dia) the Spirit
C. We draw on the Spirit’s power by prayerfully expressing our daily dependence then acting as if…(Phil 2:13 at work to will and to do)
Rm 8:13 live acc to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Eph 4:30 no grieve 1Th 5:19 no quench HS
→for (eis) a sincere love of the brethren, Edification Rm 14:19 15:2 1Cor 14:26 Eph 4:12, 16; 4:29
D. We develop a genuine love for others when we have nothing to hide, nothing to prove, and no one but God to impress. Jn 5:44
Rm 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor/hate what is evil. Cling to what is good 10 kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
1Tim 1:5 the purpose of the charge (edification) is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith cf v4
→love one another 4:9 5:5,14 fervently (Ac 12:5) with a pure heart
E. Our ability to love others (meet their needs) is compromised by not having God meet our needs. (We use others to meet our needs.)
Agape Love is self-sacrificially doing what is in another’s best/highest interest and not doing what is not in their best interest.
Unless we have undergone a Biblical value transformation, we will often not feel like, nor desire to love as God requires. Lk 6:27-35
1Pt 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." 9 hospitable 10 minister
Jn 15:12 My commandment: love one another as I have loved you 13:35 all will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
1Pt 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
1Jn 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. Gal 5:13
→23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
24 because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away,
25 But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
III. Bad news: Everything we achieve in this world will wilt (www); Good news: the glory given faithful pure lovers endures forever!
Isa 40:5 The glory of the LORD shall be revealed…10…His arm shall rule…His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him
Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:
- What’s the point of a “spiritual life”? Is knowing or communing with God a higher value than obeying/serving Him & lovingothers?
- What’s the basis of your worth/value and general sense of well-being? How transient is it? What is a rock-solid base for it?
- Can our motives ever be pure? Does the possibility of impurity preclude action? How does fervent love differ from fickle? Which is yours?
- How do our hope and faith relate to our love? Can a person love others as God intended while eschewing the motivation God specified?
- How have you been loved this month? How have you loved others? How will you purely and fervently love others this week?
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