A New Commandment

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-14-2024

John 13:33-35

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Let me set the backdrop for these verses.  In verse 33:

 

1.  Our Lord has finished the work that the Father gave Him to do on earth and now is ready to be offered for the sin or the world.  When I read this, my mind goes to the Apostle Paul as he writes to young Timothy:

 

2 Timothy 4:6-7  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  (7)  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

 

2.  The work of His disciples now commences as they cannot go with Him and put their hand to the plough.  The Lord is preparing His disciples to do the work of the Gospel, knowing that local assemblies that would develop into churches, called out assemblies.

 

B.  The Lord would not leave them “comfortless” as the blessed Holy Spirit would come in all His fulness to indwell and impower the believers.  The work of the Lord is going to go on as He promised.

 

C. In the Law, God gave 613 Commandments to Israel.  These were moral, civil, and ceremonial laws.  Moral laws for behavior within, Civil laws for behavior outward, and Ceremonial for behavior upward.  These cover every aspect of life as man is a trichotomy: three in one.

 

D.  For the local church to both be functional and have unity, it needed one more commandment: “That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

 

E.  Satan does his best to destroy the unity and work of the local churches.  Persecution makes the church stronger.  I call this the enemy from without.  Division destroys the unity and work of the local church.  I call this the enemy from within.  The greatest enemy of the local church often sits upon its pews!

 

F.  This commandment was not just one more commandment to burden the churches.  It was given as a blessing to the church.

 

1 Peter 3:8-9  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:  (9)  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

 

G.  There are three important aspects of this Law found in our text that are important and need to be properly explored.

 

1.  The Charge of the Commandment.  “That ye love one another.”

 

a.  The charge was new.  Under the Law, commandments were given to regulate the lives of individuals and they were good laws, but something constantly plagued the Old Testament people.  Division and thus disunity.  That was the reason for Moses to mediate.  We have no “Moses” in our day, so the charge given to Moses is now given to the members of the local church.

 

b.  The charge is a commandment.  Our Lord did not say to love one another as much as suits.  The charge is “to love one another.” 

 

c.  I find here the importance of being commanded to love one another.  People are self-centered by nature and the humanistic philosophy of this world is fueling the problem.  “What I do in my business.”  “Mind your own business.” And other catchphrases are often used to disassociate with someone that you do not like or disagree with. 

 

d.  Instead, God wants us to “associate” with each other.  Not out of necessity but in love.  The song “Blessed Be The Tie” says that the “Tie”  that binds our hearts is Christian love.

 

2.  The Example of the Commandment.  “As I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

 

a.  The example is given because love means different things to different people.  Love is an umbrella under which all love resides, both good love and evil love.

 

b.  The greatest example of love ever known is the “love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

Romans 8:35-39  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  (36)  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  (37)  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  (38)  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  (39)  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

c.  Though not proud of myself, I often say that the Lord loves me when I am glad, when I am sad, when I am mad, and when I am bad!  The love of God never grows nor diminishes.  His love is consistent and constant!  The greatness of God’s love is found in His descension and propitiation.

 

John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

                            

2 Corinthians 8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

 

d.  I often hear profession believers say, “I love you, but I don’t like you!”  This tells me that they do not love as Christ loved!

 

3.  The Result of the Commandment. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” In the Greek, all means all and that’s all all means!  “shall all men know.”  “All men” here is used to include men, ladies, and children.

 

a.  “All men” If we love each as Christ loves us, all men/women/children in the church will both see and know that love.  One of the things that I try to teach our church is to love everyone within the church with an equal love.  I want you to know that I love you all and like you all too.  We are not perfect people, and our love is not perfect, but it does need to be expressed!  I am not afraid or embarrassed to say, “I love you!”

 

c.  “All men”  This includes those who are seeking a local church to attend.  We shake hands and fellowship every service.  If we are sick, we say, “Unclean!”  If we are not unclean or sick, we try to shake hands with everyone in the local church which includes visitors.

 

We endeavor to keep love and peace here at Temple.  Over the years, we have seen some come and go because of division on their behalf.  When new people come to Temple and bring division into the church, they will either get right or get out!  I will warn them and if they persist, I will tell them to leave as they are walking disorderly.

 

2 Thessalonians 3:6  Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

 

d.  “All men”  This includes and the multitude of people who surround the local church. 

 

1.  It has been my misfortune to run across church people in public places who certainly do not portray the love of God in Christ Jesus.  They hear our bitterness, complaints, and talk about others. 

 

2.  Stores are often public places where disgruntled church members express their dislike and often disdain for others within the local church.  This damages the testimony of the believer, the local church, and Christ Jesus Himself!

 

1 John 4:20-21  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?  (21)  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

The Love of Christ - Part 2

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-17-2024

John 13:1-4

Introduction:

 

A. We looked at verse 1 in the last message preached at the Love of God and Christ in its scope.

 

Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; (19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

 

1. The People. Every man, woman, and child who has ever lived or ever will live. The limited atonement of Calvinism is a slap in the face of Almighty Giod!

 

2. The Penalty. Every sin ever committed or will be committed paid for in full. God loves sinners while hating sin.

 

3. The Possibility. We can comprehend the incomprehensible; we can know the unknowable.

 

B. Verse 1 tells us that this will be the last week that our Lord lived here on earth. For 3 ½ years, Jehovah God—born in the flesh (John 1:14)—has manifested His person through miracles, words, and the fulfillment of prophecy.

 

C. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. Israel, as a nation, rejected their long-awaited Messiah! But, as many as received Him are the many who believed in Him through the course of these last years. Among those believers were His disciples with whom He had the Last Supper.

 

D. In this chapter, we find several great truths. The key to this passage is found is found in verses 1 which says: “having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”

 

E. The love of Christ is a limitless love for His children.

 

1. As I say this, we need to understand that Christ love for sinners has a limit. One day, the unsaved will see the wrath of a thrice holy God at the Great White Throne Judgment found in Revelation, chapter 20.

 

2. When I preached on verse 1, I looked at the love of Christ for “his own”. His love for His children is an eternal love as well as a temporal love. He loves us when we are good, and He loves us when we are bad. His love is both consistent and unchanging.

 

F. In verses 2-24, we find the manifestation of that love.

 

G. I want to look at three aspects of the love of Christ found in this passage of Scripture.

 

 

1. Verse 1 – The Essence of Christ’s Love – “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father.”

 

a. The Word became Flesh. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

 

b. The Lion became the Lamb. John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

 

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

c. The Sovereign became the Sacrifice. Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

 

1 Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

 

d. The Potentate became the Propitiation. 1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

1 John 4:8-10 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (9) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

2. Verse 1 – The Expression of Christ’s Love – “having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”

 

Some people have trouble with the words “I love you”. I remember the little fabricated story of the woman who, after over 50 years of marriage, indicted her husband with the words: “You have not told me that you love me in 50 years!” The husband answered, “I told you that I loved you on the day that we got married and if anything changes, I will let you know!”

 

God the Father and God the Son have never had a problem with telling both the sinner and the saint that they are loved.

 

Love must never be taken for granted. Love needs to be expressed and the loved one reassured.

 

a. Christ’s love for the Sinner. John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

 

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

 

1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

b. Christ’s love for the Saint. Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

 

3. Verses 3-4 – The Example of Love – “He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.  After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.”

 

a. The Love of Christ Expressed in Humility. Christ, Jehovah God in the flesh, took His place at the feet of His disciples. Proverbs 25:6-7 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: (7) For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

 

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

 

b. The Love of Christ Expressed in Service. John 13:13-15 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. (14) If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. (15) For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

 

Philippians 2:6-7 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

 

1) We are not “Foot Washing Baptist” as that is not the spiritual meaning of these verses. Foot washing was a custom in the days of old because the feet of travelers became hot, tired, and dusty. How refreshing it is to take off your shoes on a hot, humid day and let them dangle in the cool waters.

 

2) The spiritual message is that we are to take the place of a servant, not the place of one who must be served. We are to live lives of love, compassion, and service to each other.

 

John 13:13-14 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. (14) If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

 

John 15:12-13 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Remind Me, Dear Lord - Part 5 - Our Great Love

Temple Baptist Church - 9-18-2022

1 Peter 1:3-8

 

Introduction:

 

A.  This morning, I want to look at something that we should not have to be reminded of, yet Peter reminded the “strangers scattered.”  Our great love for our wonderful, loving, compassionate Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and His even greater love for His children.

 

B.  Too often during the midst of hard times, we forget some things, and this unfortunately is one of them.  We get so surrounded our trials, troubles, disappointments, and discouragements that these things gender a self-pity that causes us to doubt God’s great love for us and our great love for Him.

 

C.  These “strangers scattered” were no different than us.  There will be times when God’s children need to be re-assured of God’s unchangeable, eternal love for them and then reaffirm our undying love for Him.

 

D.  It is amazing that we, as God’s children, can so love One whom we have never seen with the physical eye. No man on earth has seen Jesus Christ since John was given the Revelation of Jesus Christ on the Ilse of Patmos in app. 90-95 AD.  

 

E.  Our love for Christ is a love that the world knows nothing about.  It is a love that only the child of God can know.

 

Ephesians 3:17-19  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  (18)  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  (19)  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

 

F.  All God’s children love Him but there are still degrees of the love for Christ.

 

1 Corinthians 16:22  If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

 

Luke 7:47  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

 

G.  As Jesus Christ paid a terrible price because He so loved, these displaced, scattered Jews also paid a terrible price for their love of Christ.

 

1.  It is a Reciprocal Love.  Song of Solomon 2:16  My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

 

1 John 4:19  We love him, because he first loved us.

 

2.  It is Separating Love.  Matthew 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

 

3.  It is an Obedient Love.  John 14:21  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.

 

4.  It is a Constraining Love.  2 Corinthians 5:14-15  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  (15)  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

 

H.  Though this love that these “strangers scattered” was a “faceless” love (having not seen), it was not a “baseless” love!  The first 9 verses show the basis of this great love that God’s children have for the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

1.  We Love Him For His Great Salvation – vs. 3

 

2.  We Love Him For His Marvelous Grace – vs. 2

 

3.  We Love Him For His Glorious Peace – vs. 2

 

4.  We Love Him For His Wonderful Prospect – vs. 4

 

5.  We Love Him For His Blessed Assurance – vs. 5

 

6.  We Love Him For His Infinite Wisdom – vs. 6-7

 

7.  We Love Him For His Unspeakable Joy – vs. 8

 

8.  We Love Him For His Promised Eternity – vs. 9

 

Conclusion:  It is in our difficult times that we find Christ’s great love.  It is Christ’s great love that precipitates our great love for Him.

 

1 John 4:19  We love him, because he first loved us.

Troubled Hearts

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-17-2021

John 14:1-6

 

Introduction:  My message this morning will be simple in content and yet profound in practical application. There will be no great “depths of theology,” but rather a simple, down-to-earth message geared to help each of us.

 

A.  I believe that all of God’s people, at one time or another-in one way or the other, have troubled hearts. 

 

1.  Moses, a man who spoke to God face to face, was troubled.  Numbers 11:11  And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

 

2.  David, a man after God’s own heart, was troubled.  1 Samuel 27:1  And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

 

3.  John the Baptist, the greatest preacher born of woman, was troubled.  Luke 7:19  And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

 

4.  Paul, the greatest missionary who ever lived, was troubled.  2 Corinthians 7:5  For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

 

5.  The list could go on but I think we all get the message.  There are times when each of us has a troubled heart.

 

B.  One of the signs of the last days (I know that this verse is speaking of the Tribulation Period, and I am simply making application) is “Men’s hearts failing them for fear.”  With great knowledge comes great fear.  With our ability to see or hear the news in a moment’s time lends to more and more worries.  When I was a boy, people did not know what was going on around the world like they do now. 

 

C.  The number one killer in America today is stress related problems.  God’s people are not exempt, and I know of even preachers who have taken their own lives when their fears were not handled properly.  People are different and their areas of concern are often diverse. 

 

D.  Some people are strong in certain areas while having weakness in others.  We can have great faith in one area of live and then have a trembling soul in another.  This makes it easy for us to indict others when they become troubled or worried while we worry about our problems in other areas.

 

1.  Fearful Concerning Our Health

2.  Fearful Concerning Our Finances

3.  Fearful Concerning Our Families

4.  Fearful Concerning Our Future

5.  Fearful Concerning Our Foes

6.  Fearful Concerning Our Failures

 

E.  The key to peace of heart could be summed up in one word:  TRUST!  Trust is a big word! Troubled and fearful are the exact opposites of trust.  God’s Word says much about trust and we will tie those verses to those concerning fears. 

 

F.  Fear is a hard taskmaster that can both control and ruin the lives of God’s people.  Even those who have placed into the Lord’s hands the safe keeping of their souls have concerns and fears.  Fear and faith are polar opposites and cannot cohabitate.

 

Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable-and, most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life, while faith rejoices in its God.

 

G.  Martha, the sister of Lazarus, was troubled about “many things.”  Luke 10:41  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.

 

H.  Some people worry about not having anything to worry about while others live in a more peaceful existence.  One of the main culprits in this area of worry and distress is found in Psalms 25:17, which reads, “The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.”  (Notice that the troubles were enlarged in the heart.  Not that the problems were enlarged for they remained constant but they became enlarged when the heart became troubled and fearful.  The more you worry about something the worse it seems to get.)

 

J.  God’s Word commands us not to worry - Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 

1.  There Is The Certainty Of Troubled Hearts – “be troubled” - 2 Corinthians 7:5  For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.  (Notice I said, “The certainty of troubled hearts.”  Everyone is plagued with this problem.  Even God’s men are troubled in heart at times.)

 

2.  There Is The Choice Of Troubled Hearts – “Let not” - John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  (It is simply up to us when and how much we worry!  We can either have a trusting heart or a troubled one.)

 

3.  There Is The Cause Of Troubled Hearts – “if it were not so”  (Troubled hearts are a result of unbelief and mistrust.)

 

Mark 4:35-38  And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.  And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 

 

a.  They Relied Upon Their Own Strength – “so that it was now full.”  (They rowed and bailed until all hope was gone before awaking the Lord.)

 

b.  They Failed To Realize Who Was With Them – “Master”  (Dear Lord, you got us into trouble again!)

 

1)  The Realization Of His Omnipresence

2)  The Realization Of His Omniscience

3)  The Realization Of His Omnipotence

 

c.  They Forgot Who They Were – “carest thou not”  (You had better believe that He cares!  Oh, yes He cares!)

 

d.  They Forgot His Promise – “Let us pass over unto the other side.”

 

4.  There Is The Cure Of Troubled Hearts – “ye believe in God, believe also in me”

 

a.  Trust In The Lord - Proverbs 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 

Psalms 62:8  Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psalms 56:3  What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

 

b.  Rest In The Lord - Psalms 37:7  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

 

c.  Commit Unto The Lord - Psalms 37:5  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

 

Job 23:10-11  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.  My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.