Christmas Is The Time Of Love.

[Soldier4Christ]

I have heard this statement time and time again. With Christians isn't the time of love supposed to be everyday of the year? The Word of God tells us so much about love. It tells us who we are to love and how we are to love. It tells us to love God first, to love our brother, and to love our neighbor. Those of us that are true born again Christians know the love of God. We know that we love Him because he first loved us. We know this love to be true as He showed it by giving His only begotten son for us to have eternal life.

Due to our human frailties we tend to neglect the love for our neighbors and brothers. Not that it is not there it is just not necessarily shown. Other times it is Satan jumping in and causing disunity to arise amongst us.

I would like to post the following sermon notes I have on "Brotherly Love" as a reminder to all of us (myself included).


We are told in the Bible:

1Jo 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1Jo 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

1Jo 4:20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
1Jo 4:21  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.


To fully understand this commandment we first must understand who is meant by "brother". He is not talking about our fleshly brothers but our brothers and sisters in Christ, the body of Christ, all those who are born again.

Mat 12:48  But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Mat 12:49  And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Mat 12:50  For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

How are we to love our brothers?

Rom 12:9  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Rom 12:10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Without dissimulation. This means to not hide under a false appearance. To be genuine in your love without pretending. Without gossiping or saying other unkind things about them. Willingly forgiving them of their transgressions as God has forgiven ours.

Eph 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

1Jo 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1Jo 3:17  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

 

1Jo 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

[2nd Timothy]

Amen PR!

This is definitely something I myself have to re-visit from time to time.  Being human and imperfect, even with the spirit of Christ living in me, there are times that my first reaction is not that of Love       It often takes a dose of humility (or even shame) to remind me that I represent the Lord, and am to be a conduit of His Love for others.

An excellent post and reminder for us brother....thank you!

Grace and Peace!

[nChrist]

Pastor Roger,

A SECOND AMEN!!

I struggle with this daily. If Christians are honest with themselves, this should be a struggle every day of our lives until JESUS takes us home. We really don't have a chance of obeying God with the love HE has commanded unless we pray that HE helps us and guides us.

I love your message and want to share a precious portion of His Word that goes with the topic of love.

Matthew 22:36  Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Matthew 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Matthew 22:38  This is the first and great commandment.
Matthew 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Matthew 22:40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Love is not only what God wants, God has commanded it. I was just thinking about what joy and peace there would be if we all prayed that God helps and guides us in how we treat other people every day of our lives.

Brother, you are completely right that every day should be a day that we celebrate JESUS and share the joy that only HE can give with our friends, family, and the lost. Not just Christmas - every day.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Thank you brother BEP for sharing those verses and your comments. They are a perfect addition to this subject.

[Raphu]

I like this verse too, and have to remind myself to act and do less lip service. God bless...

I JOHN 3:16-19 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with ACTIONS and TRUTH. This then is how we KNOW that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us.

LUKE 6:31 If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that Much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. INSTEAD ... love your enemies & do good, & lend without any hope of return

[nChrist]

AMEN RAPHU!

It's really all about HIS LOVE and how we let HIS LOVE be shown through us.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.