## Loving Christ

## John 14:15

Last week we talked about what it means to 'Know' Christ. This morning, I want us to consider the challenges of 'Loving Christ'. Love is a word that has essentially lost its meaning in our culture today. We talk about how much we love things … but in doing so we obscure the real meaning of love. When my grandson, Riley, was in the 1st grade, he was faced with a real dilemma. The weekend was coming up, and he had to choose between staying in Indianapolis to attend a friends birthday party, or come to Bloomington and spend the weekend with his grandparents. He contemplated on this for a moment, and then declared, "I really want to go to the party, but I love Granny!" Needless to say, he chose to come to Granny's house for the weekend. A choice based solely upon love! At the outset it would be beneficial for us to be reminded of what love is all about. Love requires action. It is something that we do! "For God so loved the world that He gave…" Jesus loved us enough to go to the cross and die in our place! Love is more than a feeling. It is more than just an emotion. Love is an act of the will. It manifests itself in what we do. It isn't about empty words or broken promises. It is about commitment, and obedience. Certainly my wife needs to hear me tell her how much that I love her, but what she needs more is for me to demonstrate that love daily by what I do!

In much the same way, we are challenged to prove our love for Christ.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1 John 5:3) This morning I would like to four challenges that are given to those who would prove their love for Christ.

I. Be in Unity

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21)

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23)

And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:26)

A. Unity is a real challenge for us.

1. Our sinful nature is so selfish.

2. We want what we want and we want it now!

3. Our attitude toward others is often dictated by our carnal nature.

4. Jesus prayed for His disciples that we might be one…He knows us very well!

B. Unity doesn't mean uniformity.

1. We are not all alike…and aren't you thankful?

2. We all have different backgrounds, different experiences, and different circumstances…

3. But we can all be in unity of purpose and goals.

4. Great example would be the orchestra …each musician playing their part to accomplish something wonderful.

5. That is the way we are to function as a local church…and as individual believers in Christ.

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:4-5)

C. Our desire for unity demonstrates our love for Christ.

II. Give from the Heart

A. The young ruler.

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? (Mark 10:17)

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (Mark 10:21)

1. The principle here is not that you gain eternal life by giving up your wealth.

2. The principle is that we should be willing to give up everything for the Lord.

3. Salvation is by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus on Calvary.

4. But the challenge of loving Christ is to have a giving heart.

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33)

B. Those who will not give or who give grudgingly or of necessity demonstrate a greater love for material wealth than for Jesus.

C. God repeatedly teaches us this important lesson.

1. In the O.T.

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. (Malachi 3:8)

2. In the N.T.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:38)

III. Prayer and Bible Study

A. Love vs. Infatuation

1. A person may become infatuated with someone they have seen or met briefly.

2. But they don't love them…they can't love them unless they get to know them!

3. We cannot love Christ if we never seek to know Him!

4. We get to know Him by spending time in prayer and Bible study.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32)

B. Loving Christ means loving His Word and talking with Him through prayer.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7)

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (1 John 2:5)

IV. Worship

A. Our love for Christ is shown by our worship.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Matthew 4:10)

1. Oh how often we fail in this.

2. We become so mechanical…so routine…so religious…so self-centered…we miss the real purpose for which we gather…to worship Him.

3. We are challenged to prove our love for Christ through our worship.

B. The woman at the well argued with the Lord about worship.

1. She, like many today, argued that it didn't really matter where we worship.

2. She said, you say Jerusalem our tradition says Samaria.

3. When people argue about where they should worship…it reveals a lack of love for Christ.

4. I mentioned this last week, Christ loved the church…He established the church…and if we love Him as we should, then we will love the church too!

C. Note Jesus declares to this woman that acceptable worship is to be two-fold.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

1. Note the declaration…MUST worship Him.

2. Too many folks seem to think that worship is an option…

3. It isn't an option to those who truly love Christ!

4. Note also that worship is to be in Spirit and in Truth!

a. In Spirit: that speaks of our attitude.

1) The Lord taught us that if we have a problem with a brother…leave our gift at the altar and go make it right.

2) Once the attitude is corrected, then and only then can we worship Him.

Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (Matthew 5:24)

b. In Truth: that also speaks of our doctrine.

1) Doctrine does matter!

2) True worship will not take place in absence of true doctrine!

- Unity
- Giving Heart
- Prayer and God's Word
- True Worship

All of these are challenges to us in the matter of loving Christ. How are we doing?