Lesson Title: Loving One Another as God Loved Us
Objective:
To understand the biblical mandate of loving one another as God loves us, exploring key scriptures and narratives that exemplify this command.
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Introduction:
The concept of love is central to the Christian faith. Jesus commands us to love one another just as He has loved us (John 13:34-35). This lesson will explore the depth of God's love and how we are called to reflect that love in our relationships with others.
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Key Scriptures:
1. John 13:34-35 (NIV):
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
- Explanation: Jesus emphasizes that love is the identifying mark of His disciples. Our love should mirror the sacrificial and unconditional love that Jesus demonstrated.
John 13:34
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
Jesus introduces a "new command" – not new in time, but new in quality.
Love is the command – specifically loving fellow believers.
Jesus sets the example: "As I have loved you" – sacrificial, unconditional love.
John 13:35
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Jesus reveals the visible proof of discipleship: loving fellow believers.
"By this" refers to the love command in verse 34.
Loving one another publicly demonstrates allegiance to Jesus.
2. 1 John 4:7-12 (NIV):
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
- Explanation: This passage highlights that love originates from God. It asserts that knowing God is intrinsically linked to loving others.
1 John 4:7
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."
John urges believers to love each other, rooted in God's nature.
Love originates from God – those loving others are born of Him.
1 John 4:8
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Lack of love indicates ignorance of God's character.
God's essence is love – those not loving don't grasp His nature.
1 John 4:9
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him."
God demonstrated love by sending Jesus to bring life.
Jesus' mission was to impart eternal life through Himself.
1 John 4:10
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
True love definition: God loving us first, not us initiating love.
Jesus' sacrifice atones for sins – ultimate expression of God's love.
1 John 4:11
"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
God's love prompts believers to love each other.
Vertical love (God to us) inspires horizontal love (us to others).
1 John 4:12
"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
God remains invisible but love between believers reveals His presence.
Mutual love completes or perfects God's love within believers.
3. Romans 13:8-10 (NIV):
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments... are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
- Explanation: Love is portrayed as a debt we owe one another, emphasizing its importance in fulfilling God’s commandments.
Romans 13:8
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law."
Paul urges believers to pay all debts except one: loving others.
Loving others fulfills the entire law – implying love summarizes God's commands.
Romans 13:9
"The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"
Paul lists specific commandments (adultery, murder, theft, coveting).
Then reveals these commands are summarized in "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18).
Romans 13:10
"Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
Love never harms others – implying positive action and restraint from harm.
Love fulfills the law because it actively benefits neighbors while avoiding harm.
Biblical Examples:
1. The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37):
- Narrative: In this parable, Jesus illustrates the concept of neighborly love through the actions of a Samaritan who helps a wounded man, despite their cultural differences.
- Concordance Insight: The term "Samaritan" refers to a group despised by Jews. This underscores that love transcends societal barriers and prejudices.
Luke 10:25-28
A lawyer tests Jesus, asking about eternal life (v25-26).
Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 – love God and neighbor (v27).
Lawyer affirms Jesus' answer, seeking self-justification (v28).
Luke 10:29
The lawyer asks, "Who is my neighbor?" – trying to limit love's scope.
Luke 10:30-32
Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan:
A man beaten by robbers lies helpless (v30).
Priest and Levite pass by, ignoring him (v31-32).
A Samaritan (enemy of Jews) stops, cares for wounds, and pays for lodging (v33-35).
Luke 10:36-37
Jesus asks the lawyer which man was neighbor to victim – lawyer replies "the one who showed mercy" (v36).
Jesus tells him to "go and do likewise" – love neighbors through actions like Samaritan (v37).
2. Jesus' Sacrifice (John 3:16):
- Narrative: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son...” This verse encapsulates God's ultimate act of love—sending Jesus to die for our sins.
- Concordance Insight: The word "love" here (Greek: ἀγάπη, agapē) signifies selfless, unconditional love, which we are called to emulate.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
"For God so loved the world": God's love motivates His actions – "so loved" emphasizes intensity and depth.
"that He gave His one and only Son": God sacrifices His unique, beloved Son Jesus for the world's sake.
"that whoever believes in Him": Faith in Jesus is the condition for receiving God's gift – open to anyone ("whoever").
"shall not perish but have eternal life": Believers escape spiritual death ("perish") and receive eternal life through Jesus.
3. The Early Church (Acts 2:42-47):
- Narrative: The early Christians shared their possessions, cared for one another, and experienced unity and joy as they demonstrated love in action.
- Concordance Insight: The communal lifestyle reflects the love modeled by Christ, showcasing that love is active and practical.
Acts 2:42
"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
Early believers prioritized four practices:
Apostles' teaching (doctrine)
Fellowship (community)
Breaking bread (Communion/Lord's Supper)
Prayer
Acts 2:43
"Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles."
Believers witnessed miraculous wonders and signs done by apostles, filling them with awe.
Acts 2:44
"All the believers were together and had everything in common."
Early church practiced radical community – sharing possessions and resources.
Acts 2:45
"They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need."
Believers sold assets to support those in need within their community.
Acts 2:46
"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing meals with glad and sincere hearts."
Daily fellowship included:
Temple gatherings
House-to-house meals
Joyful, sincere hearts
Acts 2:47
"Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Results of their community and practices:
Praising God
Favor with people
Daily additions of saved believers
Application:
1. Practical Ways to Love:
- Acts of Kindness: perform random acts of kindness in their communities.
- Service: Suggest volunteering together as a group in local charities or churches to foster love through service.
2. Forgiveness:
- Discuss the importance of forgiving others as part of loving them, referencing Matthew 6:14-15, which states that forgiveness is essential to our relationship with God.
3. Creating a Loving Environment:
- Encourage open discussions about how to create a culture of love in various contexts, such as at home, work, or church.
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Conclusion:
Loving one another as God loves us is not just a suggestion but a command that defines our faith. By studying scripture and reflecting on biblical narratives, we can better understand and practice this love in our daily lives. Let us commit to being vessels of God’s love, demonstrating it in every interaction.
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Closing Prayer:
Invite participants to pray, asking for God’s help to love others as He loves us, and for opportunities to express that love in tangible ways.
