Randall Caselman
Bella Vista Church of Christ
3/1/98 am
The Badge Of Discipleship
Reading – John 13.34-35 & 1 John 4.7-21
Go with me again to the upper room in downtown Jerusalem. Jesus has just washed His disciples’ feet. Judas makes his exit, as he closes the door, Jesus begins to prepare his disciples for His departure and the coming of the Kingdom. We hear Him say, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. The badge of discipleship, the badge of true Christianity is loving one another.
The word CHRISTIAN means:
- That we belong to Christ,
- That we are the property of Christ,
- We are His possession,
You see, we are His, because we have been purchased with a price... Bought with His blood. The way the world knows that we belong to Christ is in our love for one another.
Now listen to me closely, the only way, we as a church, can be known by our love is if we are known personally, individually for our love. The church is made up of individual members... RIGHT?... Are we a people and person of love? What kind of badge are you and your preacher wearing this morning? Jesus said, the badge of Christian discipleship is a New Testament love for one another. You see, there are a lot of counterfeit badges being warn today in the name of Christianity. But we want to wear an authentic badge... The badge of LOVE... RIGHT?
So, let’s define our subject... What is genuine New Testament love?
What is this NEW COMMANDMENT, LOVE?
First let’s allow the Holy Spirit to define NEW TESTAMENT LOVE using New Testament Greek. Greek is a very exact language. This means that the Holy Spirit could express Himself exactly as He wanted... Without any doubt... Without any misconceptions. There are several Greek words used to speak of love... We’ll note only a few.
- First there is EROS.
Eros is a secular Greek word used to describe a passionate love that is based upon physical desire, a love that starts with the eyes, a love of passion and lust... Eros speaks of sexual love. Its the word from which we get our word erotic. The word used by Jesus in John thirteen and that John used in our text is not EROS.
- Secondly, there is STORGE.
Storge is a word used to describe family ties. It speaks to us of the love of parents to a child, children to parents, brother and sisters love of one another... Storge is Family love. Like eros, even though right and proper in its place, this is not the word for New Testament love.
- There is PHILEO.
Phileo is a familiar Greek word for love used to describe friendship. Our word Philadelphia, City of brotherly love, comes from phileo. Phileo is a love that can be increased or decreased in intensity by OUR ACTIONS toward one another. If I bought your lunch today, you would be likely to phileo me more because of that action. Phileo is a love of friends.. A love of kindness, but it is not the NEW COMMANDMENT LOVE.
- The ultimate in Greek words for love is AGAPE.
This word had its beginning, in God’s Word. It is the love of the New Testament.
- AGAPE is a love of the will.
- AGAPE is a love which expresses itself regardless of the behavior of the recipient.
- AGAPE allows us to love our enemies, regardless of how they treat us. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son...” The word is AGAPE. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us...” The word is AGAPE. AGAPE is the new commandment LOVE. It is the word for love in both our readings this morning.
Now, let’s allow the Holy Spirit to define AGAPE LOVE from the Holy Text.
Turn with me to First Corinthians thirteen and let’s read verses 4 through 8. We are going to note here that New Testament LOVE is not something we feel, but is:
- Something we do.
- It is a way of living,
- It is an attitude,
- It is a discipline, that results in a way of life. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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. Love never fails.”
Note with me now sixteen characteristics of AGAPE love.
- Love is patient. Agape is tolerant, long suffering and un-discourageable in helping others.
- Love is kind. Agape is gentleness, tenderness and goodness of heart.
- Love is not jealous. Agape does not envy; it never resents another’s success.
- Love does not brag. Agape is not conceited, is not boastful. Agape never does good in order to praise itself. Agape visits the widows, sick, the sinner out of the proper motive.
- Love is not arrogant. Agape is not puffed up or haughty, but humble.
- Love does not act unbecomingly. Agape is not rude or unmannerly. Agape never embarrasses.
- Love does not seek its own. Agape is not selfish and never demands its own way. There are two kinds of people in the world... Those who love themselves and demand their rights and those who place the interest of others before their own interest.
- Love is not easily provoked. Agape is not touchy, not irritable, but slow to anger. Agape always has a good disposition.
- Love does not take into account wrong suffered. Agape does not keep a record of wrongs. Agape is never resentful, but always forgiving.
- Love does not rejoice in wrongs. Agape does not point to another’s sins or gloat over another’s mistakes, but is anxious to forgive and restore.
- Love rejoices in truth. Agape is always pleased when truth prevails.
- Love bears all things. Agape never gives up, it can face anything. Agape will last in good times and bad... In fact Agape grows in time of persecution.
- Loves believes all things. Agape is always eager to believe the best in others, always gives the benefit of doubt... Agape holds the best opinion about an individual as long as possible... Agape never makes snap judgments about another.
- Love hopes all things. Agape never gives up on people.
- Love endures all things. Agape can out last anything, ANYTHING, even sin.
- Love never fails. Agape never falls OUT OF LOVE, it will stand forever after all else has failed.
Church, with these definitions from the Holy Spirit, there should be no doubt about what New Testament love is... RIGHT?
Now, we want to turn our attention to WHO WE ARE TO LOVE.
In Luke ten, a lawyer comes to Jesus asking the question, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus’ reply was, what does the law say? He answered, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said, you have answered correctly. In Mark twelve Jesus replies to a scribe’s question of what is the greatest commandment. His answer was love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Notice audience, there are three personalities we are to love:
- God,
- Neighbor or others,
- And self.
Lets examine each... In reverse order.
FIRST JESUS MAINTAINED THAT WE ARE TO LOVE SELF.
No, selfishness is not the subject here. There is a difference between selfishness and self love, self worth. Self love is a Bible doctrine... Self worth is taught in Scripture. We have worth, not because of who we are or what great things we have done, but because who He is and what He has done for us.
- Created us in His own image.
- Died on the cross us.
- And as His children, He lives, dwells in us.
We are three times His... He created us, died for us and lives in us.
SECONDLY, JESUS SAID WE ARE TO LOVE OTHERS... LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR.
In Luke ten, the lawyer ask, then who is my neighbor?... Who are the others we should love? And Jesus gives us the narrative of the Good Samaritan. A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. `Look after him,' he said, `and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
Church:
- The Jericho Road runs right through this church.
- It runs through our homes, past our spouse, children and grandchildren.
- It runs through the office where you work.
- It runs through Wal-Mart and the Bella Vista Golf courses.
- It runs through my neighborhood and yours.
Listen!... Do you know why:
- We get so picky in the church?
- We fuss, complain and gossip?
- We judge one another?
- Why is it we get so competitive on the job?
- Why are we so impatient with one another at home?
- So rude on the golf course or out here on the highway?
- Why don’t we visit the sick and shut-in more?
- Why have millions of babies been aborted in our country?
- Why are children neglected and abused?
Because genuine New Testament LOVE... Agape is missing from our lives.
THIRDLY, WE MUST LOVE GOD.
Jesus said, if you love Me, you will keep My commandments. Question!... Do we love God enough this morning to obey Him... Completely? There are some here who need to be baptized. I don’t know what stands in your way:
- Perhaps some previous religious conviction.
- Perhaps family tradition.
- Maybe its human pride.
- Perhaps we are just too shy to walk down this isle.
Let go of it... Love God, love Jesus enough this day to obey Him in faith, repentance and baptism.
As children of God,
- Do we love Him enough to give as we’ve been prospered?
- Do we love Him enough to find our place and go to work in the Kingdom?
- Do we love Him enough to confess our faults and forsake our favorite sins?
- Do we love Him enough to share Him with others.
- Do we love Him enough to unconditionally love and serve others?
Perhaps you’re here this morning searching for a church. If you are a baptized believer, we welcome you. I don’t believe you’ll find a more caring, loving Eldership to watch for you’re souls. I don’t believe you’ll find a more loving church than this one right here. No, we’re not perfect... Far from it, but we are working on our love for God, others and self.
Let’s close our lesson this morning by noting the importance of our LOVE.
Paul says that love is more important than:
- Faith,
- Hope,
- Talent,
- Sacrifice... etc.
Listen to him from First Corinthians chapter thirteen, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not 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 have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Indeed, love is the most important aspect of our Christianity... It is the badge of discipleship.
SECONDLY, LOVE IS THE LAW OF CHRIST.
Our text has Jesus saying, I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Paul writes, Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfil (WHAT?) The law of Christ. The law of Christ carries the burdens of others... It encourages, edifies and forgives
LOVING MAKES US MORE GOD LIKE.
Listen to our reading, God is love, and every one that loves knows God and is born of God. If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. Question!... Are we born of God? Have we been truly born of water and Spirit? Not unless we LOVE.
LOVE IS GOD LIVING IN US.
In John chapter fourteen, Jesus says, If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Church, how do we know that God lives in an individual?. When he Agapes... Self, God and others.
You see, LOVE is the answer to every problem... In our churches, our families, and in our nation. Remove LOVE from our lives and you remove God... For God is love. Remove LOVE from the Christian’s life and you remove God; For if we love one another, God lives in us. The badge of discipleship is LOVE, By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
The invitation is for each of us this morning is to put on the badge of discipleship. Will we do that as we stand and sing this invitation song?
