Living Proof: Seven Action Verbs from Jesus – Message #2 Love
Jesus Wants Living Proof We Are Truly Born-again
Message #1
- Repent. Change your mind about your sinful ways.
“I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32
- Believe. Believe Jesus is Who He said He is – God Incarnate, Messiah (the Christ)
Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14b-15
- Follow…Jesus anywhere He leads no matter how hard it gets.
And (Jesus) said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Matthew 4:19
Message #2 Love
Jesus gave the command to love more than any other one. That is because it covered five different subjects. We are going to consider several tonight within the context of this series, Living Proof. Jesus wants to see clear evidence of obedience to His commands in the lives of those who are truly born-again.
Love God.
And one of them, a lawyer, asked (Jesus) a question, testing Him: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ (Deuteronomy 6:5) This is the great and foremost commandment. Matthew 22: 35-38
“Love your neighbor…” was first commanded by God in the Torah. Jesus repeated it in the sermon on the mount and corrected what the Pharisees had added to it over the centuries.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR … Matthew 5: 43
“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ Leviticus 19:18 Matthew 22:39
Love your enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:43-44; 22:39
Love Yourself.
The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ Matthew 22:39
Love One Another.
The New Commandment. “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
True Love Demands Obedience and Action
“So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep. John 21:15-17
We all must look ourselves in the mirror and allow the Holy Spirit to shine His light on our lives to show us how we are REALLY doing when it comes to the LOVE COMMAND!
Invitation
If this invitation finds you dry and thirsty for truth to quench your thirst, I have Good News for you. Jesus still offers “living water” today. He is the only one who can do so. You drank from every possible source the world has to offer; yet you are still “dying of thirst.” Just as Jesus offered the woman at Jacob’s well, so He offers you to come and drink from Him and thirst no more.
I implore you to receive Him as your Savior today. Jesus suffered the most heinous death by crucifixion to pay the penalty for our sins. He said we are all sinners in need of a Savior. He also said He is the only way – the door to salvation. (Matthew 4:17; 9:13; John 14:6)
To those who receive Jesus Christ as Savior, He gives eternal life (living water that never runs dry) in Heaven. Those who reject Him will spend eternity suffering in Hell, wishing they had not refused His love, mercy and grace. I plead with you not to close this message without confronting yourself in light of the truths I presented. I may be the last evangelist or Bible teacher the Lord puts before you to tell you the truth and show you the way to Jesus. Will you humble yourself and receive Him today? I am praying you do!
For Christ’s sake,
