Latest revision as of 19:09, 4 November 2024

Greater Love Has No Man

Theological Proposition/Focus: The essence of Christian living is found in sacrificial love, mirroring the selfless love demonstrated by Christ. Our love for others should be unconditional, reflecting the love that Jesus has shown to us. In John 15:9-17, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the importance of love, specifically calling them to love one another in a sacrificial way. This sermon teaches that sacrificial love is at the core of Christianity. It shows that love should be the defining characteristic of a Christian's life, reflecting the love that Jesus demonstrated through His sacrifice on the cross.

Christ Focus: The call to sacrificial love in John 15:9-17 points to Jesus Christ, who laid down His life for all humanity out of pure love. This passage echoes the selfless love of Christ, showing believers how to live in a way that reflects His unconditional love.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: This passage challenges Christians to love others not based on conditions or personal gain, but with a selfless and sacrificial love that mirrors the love of Christ. It encourages believers to prioritize love in all relationships, even when faced with difficulties or conflicts.

Introduction: Skip the memory verse this week and the opening image.

Need: Today we are celebrating self-sacrifice, and so we begin by looking at the reality that we are expected to be self-sacrificing as we follow Christ's example.

Preview: We are told to follow the love that Jesus exemplified for us; this love was displayed in the ultimate sacrifice of the cross, and so we should love as Christ loves.

Setting the Stage:

One of the most important aspects of the book of John is John's extensive narrative of the events between the washing of the disciples' feet in the upper room in John 13 and the arrest of Jesus in John 18. The intervening chapters provide deep insight into the way in which Jesus prepared His disciples for His absence. Jesus reminded the disciples that

• He is the way to the Father,
• The Holy Spirit is coming, who will provide guidance and comfort,
• Jesus is the vine through which we are connected to the Father,
• And significantly, that love is the way.
• This love is what we are going to discuss today. Turn with me in your Bibles to John 15.

Text: John 15:9-17 read all at the beginning with supporting verses after each sub-point on the screen.

Body

Abide in Love, Achieve Joy — The Love of Jesus is the Pattern We Are Called to Follow (9-12)

Jesus' invitation to remain in His love is a reflection of the Father's love for Him. Obeying Jesus' commands and remaining in His love leads to complete joy. This point sets the foundation for understanding sacrificial love as staying connected to the source of love itself—Jesus Christ.

Love Begins with God (9, 1 John 4:7)

One of the more important theological truths is the reality that love begins with God. 1 John 4:7 states, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:19 states, "We love because He first loved us." Love begins with God.

This is one concept that is very important but also generates controversy. People don't want to admit that love comes from God, but Scripture does not lie. The fact that anyone can love is proof that we all have some interaction with the God of the universe.

Love is step one, but it is the root of so much more. For starters, love unlocks one of the most important levels of human life: joy.

Joy Comes from a Life Lived as God Intended Life to Be Lived (10-11, John 10:10)

One of the hardest theological concepts people struggle with is the concept of rules. You see, Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, died, and rose again. When we accept Christ's death as payment for our sins, we immediately pass from death to life, inheriting eternal life. So, what is the point of then following the rules?

The answer is that following the rules allows one to live life as we are intended to live it. Look at John 10:10: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Jesus came and lived the perfect life so that we might have a full life.

In John 15:10-11, we see that love is the key to joy. In verse 17, Jesus clarifies the ultimate command: love each other. Happiness is an emotion; it comes and goes. Joy is a disposition, and for the one who makes love a priority, they will find joy.

Love Is the Ultimate Command (12, John 13:34)

In verse 12, we see the command: love like Christ loves. John 13:34 states, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Love is central.

In a moment, we are going to talk about what exactly it is to love, but for now, it is enough to remember the significance of the command to love. We are called to love each other. Look at John 13:35: "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Love is the thing that marks the Christian. Love is the ultimate command, the identifying command. It all comes down to love.

MTR: Find Your Joy in Love for Others

There are all sorts of things that people think will bring them joy, but they are empty.

Paul wrote in Philippians 4:12, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Money will not bring you joy; it will not bring you satisfaction. We need to find our joy in the right places. We need to find our joy in loving others.

Love's Ultimate Sacrifice — Self-Sacrifice is the Ultimate Display of Love (13-15)

The Ultimate Act of Love is the Laying Down of One's Life for Another (13, Luke 14:33)

Life is a gift; it is a gift from God, as evidenced by God breathing life into man in Genesis 2:7. The most that any person can do for another is to give them their life. Hence, the reality is that there is no greater act of love than to give one's life for the life of another. Jesus did just that; He gave up His life for each of us. On the cross, Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, giving His life. In John 10:18, Jesus states, "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

The ultimate act of love was committed by Christ on the cross as He, in complete submission to the Father, gave His life as payment for each of our sins. I want you to understand something: Jesus loves you more than you can imagine, enough that He gave His life for you on the cross!

However, the call to ultimate love is extended to each of us who follow Christ. You may not be asked to die for a friend; however, you are still called to give your life for Christ. Luke 14:33 states, "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." We are each called to give it all up. This is not necessarily a specific action right now. In other words, you may not, at this moment, need to give up all your worldly possessions by donating them to charity. This is rather a disposition that you must foster—a willingness to self-sacrificially give. We need to be willing to give it all up for Christ in a disposition of ultimate love.

After my father died, my uncle pulled us aside and told us, "A lot of people are going to tell you to come to them with anything you need, but I want you to realize something: for most people, when they say that, what they mean is for the next few weeks, if there is one thing you need, come and ask. What they do not mean is that you can make multiple requests in perpetuity." He then went on to say, "But my commitment to you is that whatever you need, ask—even if you have multiple requests and even if it is years from now."

I want to challenge you that this is self-sacrificial love. This is ultimate love—being willing to lay it all down.

Christ Calls Those Who Follow Him Friends (14, James 2:23)

Works do not save us! However, obedience does bring us into a deep relationship with God. Abraham believed God, obeyed God, and became the friend of God. James 2:23 tells us this: "And the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,' and he was called God's friend." We are called to be the friends of God through Christ.

Let me emphasize that obedience does not save you, but obedience does impact your relationship. God will not stop loving you or love you less. However, if you consistently reject God's commands, you will find yourself slipping into a bad relationship with God. This is just how relationships work. What Jesus desires from you is a wonderful relationship—one that truly can be described as friendship. That is what verse 15 is all about.

The Relationship a Christ Follower Enjoys with Jesus is Truly One of Friendship (15, Ephesians 1:5)

The call of the Christ follower is truly special. Here is the key: God transcends us. Jesus is God, and so He also transcends. Yet, He calls us friends. We are not little gods; we are not on some pathway to enlightenment where we become gods. Instead, we are friends of the God of the universe, the Creator.

The Apostle Paul further explains this theology in Ephesians 1:5: "He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will." The friendship we have with Christ is, in fact, a deep friendship that can be described as brotherhood. I love my biological brothers. Of the four of us, three have commercial pilot's licenses, and three have master's degrees in theology. Three have degrees in math/physics, and all of us love to play sports. We have a very special family, but you know what? I have just as deep of relationships with several people in the room today because we have relationships that go beyond simple friendships and into the realm of brotherhood.

Several weeks ago, a group of us was helping someone move out of their apartment. Edison was coming up the stairs as I was carrying down a TV. As he passed me, he said, "Hey bro" (he is really into the word "bro"), "where is your brother at? I know, he is upstairs; his name is Richard; daddy is your brother." You know what? Edison is not wrong.

Now take a second and realize that the relationships we enjoy with Christ are like that—a deep friendship, nothing short of adoption into God's family.

We are called to live a self-sacrificial life, but it is not on a whim; we are called to give up everything as we follow the one who gave His life for us. We are called to truly love our friend, our Savior. So let me ask,

MTR: Ask Yourself, "What Does It Mean to Lay Down My Life in an Everyday Context?"

We have already hit on this a lot, but let me refine our thinking just a little more. As Christ followers, we are called to friendship.

Called to Friendship — We Each Have Been Chosen to Go and Love as Christ Loves (16-17)

Every Christ Follower Has Been Chosen for a Particular Purpose (16a, Ephesians 2:10)

Have you ever been part of a one-sided relationship? You know, you do all the work, and the other person just mooches off your friendship and goodwill? This is not the sort of relationship that Christ calls us to. In fact, verse 16 tells us that Christ chose us as friends for a particular purpose: to bear fruit. By evaluating Scripture through the lens of Scripture, we know that this fruit is, in fact, fruit for the Kingdom of God.

Ephesians 2:10 takes this further: "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." God has a purpose for your life, and that purpose involves serving His Kingdom. But not just arbitrary serving—serving in specific tasks, specific roles that He has placed you into. Nothing you can do will earn your salvation, but you have been chosen for a specific job, and after your salvation, it is time to get to work doing that job.

We are called to friendship; that does not mean we are called to a one-sided relationship where Jesus does everything. No, in fact, we are called to serve—to go—to bear fruit.

That Purpose is That They Might Bear Lasting Fruit, Drawing on the Very Resources of God (16b, John 15:5)

What you might say is, "Am I supposed to go out and bear fruit?" This sounds like a friendship that is going to cost me. Well, sort of—you are right; you are going to have to do some work, but remember you are not in this alone. In fact, the second half of verse 16 provides an incredible promise. When it comes to bearing fruit, you have all the resources you need.

I think the phrase "ask in my name" is significant. This is not a magic phrase; this is rather more like a legal concept.

Image: Power of Attorney

A power of attorney (POA) grants someone the legal authority to act on behalf of another person (the principal) in specific or broad matters. However, a power of attorney is not a blank check. The agent is bound by a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the principal. They cannot use the POA for personal gain unless explicitly authorized. In other words, a POA has broad power but only when acting within the interest of the individual they represent.

I think this is the idea of asking in the name of Jesus. When we are asking for something that truly is for Jesus, we can be assured that we will be resourced to see it through.

Remember John 15:5: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing." We are part of something much bigger than ourselves, and when we remember that, we will do well.

Finally, don't forget: Love!

The Linchpin is Love (17, 1 John 3:11)

At the end of the day, Jesus has a formula for how we proceed. We proceed in love. If at any point you don't know the next right step, that is okay; take a second and consider how you can love.

It is hard to go wrong when you start from a position of love—not compromising, not allowing sin, but truly loving. 1 John 3:11 states, "For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another."

MTR: What Does It Look Like in Your Life to Love as Christ Loves?

Honoring those who were willing to lay down their life

We have something special planned at the end of our service. There are many here today in our service who served in our military and laid their life aside. Remember John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." Today we show honor to those who served but not to honor the individual instead we honor the God who called the individual to salvation and ultimately to go and bear fruit.