Title: Evidence of the Gospel, Love
Evidence of the Gospel, Love
2006-03-12
I. Text Commentary
Jesus said that we should love one another throughout our lives, not at any specific time. Knowing that the time has come for him to return to the Father at the time of his crucifixion, he is referring to this love more frequently as he loves his people in the world to the end. In particular, the text was speaking with the community of disciples left behind after Jesus departed, and he spoke of ‘love’, which is the center of the new commandment. Whether it is the new commandment or the old commandment (law), the center of love is the same, but the old commandment, the law, was given while looking forward to God’s love to be revealed, and the new commandment was given in the way that God’s love was fully revealed through Christ. wrong in that respect. Jesus had to tell us the nature of the new commandment, which was qualitatively different from the old commandment, which the people of the Old Testament had dimly looked at.
II. visible evidence of the gospel
The gospel needs visible evidence. Of course, the great power of words in moving people and conveying profound ideas cannot be overlooked. Preaching, the word-to-word proclamation, which has become a permanent means of spreading the gospel, still has and will continue to have power. But to show the true meaning of the gospel proclaimed to those who prefer to hear rather than read, and to see rather than to hear, it is so necessary to show a life in harmony with the Gospel. Therefore, for the gospel to be preached with power, there must be a gospel that is preached in clear and uncompromising words, and there must be a life of love of the saints who live in accordance with the truth of the gospel. Evangelization will take place anywhere in the world when the gospel proclaimed in this way and the life of love between the saints are fully harmonized. If so, how is life as a revealing evidence of the Gospel formed, and what essence does it have?
A. Community life of saints
1. The soul of community
2. The Fellowship of Saints
-Not a means: The communion enjoyed in the common life of the saints is not a means to prepare for greater things, but is the end of the gospel itself. Just as when Jesus called his disciples, he was there to be with him, so that in itself is a joy and a testimony of the gospel. When God created the heavens and the earth, he connected all things as one, and especially connected people with an invisible spiritual bond, that is, the bond of love. Therefore, loving and loving the members passionately in the common life of the saints is to fulfill his purpose of creation splendidly. His constant care for us with the bread of the word and the water of grace is also His will to live in harmony with our members and reveal His purpose of creation. Even if we have a lot of visions and a lot of service, if we have complaints and hatred towards the church and the saints, we are betraying the will of Him who saved us.
B. Love one another: The visible evidence of the gospel is also love for one another. Love in the community can be thought of in three ways:
1. Likes: Likes to live together and live together and to like members who exist there. This is the key to loving each other. It also means that I like and enjoy whoever is to me because I love the God who put him there. In other words, let each other's existence be a subject of joyous gratitude.
2. Sacrifice: To love not only with words and tongue, but with deeds and truth, sacrifice is necessary. It is not a sacrifice to die in bloody blood once and for all, but a sacrifice accompanied by self-brokenness and renunciation of self-interest, starting with the smallest.
3. Commitment: Human beings are destined to commit only to what is worthwhile. It is a love devoted to those who have been rejected by the whole world as truly valuable because of Christ.
Ⅲ. love between saints
A. No natural goodwill: What is love between saints, and where does it come from? The love between saints is not a natural goodwill or humanitarian love, but a spiritual love. Natural goodwill has the form of love, but since the central axis of that love is not Christ, but oneself, the motive for sacrificing others is self-interest. However, spiritual love is a love that originates from being wholeheartedly devoted to God. The central axis of love is Christ, and it is a love sacrificing for His benefit, not our own. ‘Spiritual love’ brings us closer to God the more we love our members with that love, but ‘natural goodwill’ does not.
B. Whole Heart to God
IV. Conclusion and application - love that will last forever
When we show our passionate love for each other in our common life, the truths of the gospel proclaimed will come alive and affect people.
Sharing 1. Let's share the life we practiced after listening to last week's Word (Eternal Love, Here).
Sharing 2. Let's share the overall contents of John 13:34-35 and tell each other the parts that came to us deeply.
Sharing 3. Why do believers need to have the “spirit of Jesus,” and what does it mean in our community life?
Sharing 4. Let's say which of the three things we love each other in the community (like, sacrifice, and devotion) that we can apply to ourselves (focused on success and failure).
Sharing 5. Among the love between the saints, how can humanitarian love based on natural goodwill and spiritual love be distinguished? 2006-03-12