In our last lesson, we found that the first half of the fruit of love is to love God. We cannot love others properly until the relationship with Almighty God has been properly developed. When our relationship is right with God, our relationship with others will flow with his divine love through us.
1 John 4:17-19
17 love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But He who fears has been made perfect in love. 19 we love Him because He first loved us.
The word "perfect" can be accurately translated "matured." As our relationship grows strong in God, we find that several things take place in the life of the believer:
1 John 4:20-5:4
1 John 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?
1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
There are several key things here that John brings out. (Notice: this is speaking of our relationships with other Christians, not those in the world.)
This is a powerful statement. It is one thing to say you know and love God. Yet if you have experienced his love, it will transform you. It will make you different. It will give you the ability to express God's love to those in the body of Christ.
This is not speaking of "casual Christianity" but "relational Christianity." Casual Christians are always fussing with people. Relational Christians always love people because they have been infused with God's love.
Romans 5:5 And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
The only way to be able to love others this way is to overcome the world. The Greek word translated "overcome" is nikao (nik-ah’-o) which means "carry off the victory, come off victorious, to win the case, maintain one's cause."
In other words, until we enter into the powerful, personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot overcome the worldly tendencies to hate, be self-centered and to be unforgiving. Only when we truly experience God's love and forgiveness can we love and forgive others unconditionally.
Matthew 5:23-24
5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Unforgiveness or unresolved conflicts between others in Christ can hinder our relationship with God. As we seek the face of God, the Holy Spirit will prompt us to make a relationship right. It is so important to the heart of Jesus that He tells us to go immediately and make it right, THEN return to prayer!
Matthew 18:15-17
18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
If another Christian has done something against us, God tells us to seek him or her out and try to make it right. If they refuse, bring one or two mature elders in the church with you. If they still refuse, bring it before the church. If they still refuse, Jesus commands the church to consider them nonbelievers by their actions.
Very few churches follow this direct instruction from Jesus. We have become to "numbers" orientated. Most churches they would rather have many members that are not relational (both with God and others) than a few than really are! It is time for us to return to biblical patterns of living.
Remember, God is interested in relationship. Both with himself and with others. Therefore forgiveness and restoration must be viewed through relationship.
1. Forgiveness-I can forgive someone regardless of what they do. Forgiveness, if not received, can be only one way. We cannot receive forgiveness until we have accepted responsibility that we have done wrong and sought to resolve it.
2. Restoration-when I go to someone and say "I hurt you, I am sorry, please forgive me" then I receive forgiveness and the relationship is restored.
In this scripture, Jesus was saying that if the individual will not accept responsibility for the wrong, correct it and ask forgiveness, that even if you forgave them (and we must!) that relationship cannot be restored. Therefore they must be considered without relationship to the local body … and to God.
We see this same principle in God’s relationship to the world. The Bible tells us that through Christ, God has already forgiven the world. Hey! If that is true, why cannot we go into the Millennium? Because relationship has not be restored!
Although God has already forgiven the world, before someone can be saved they must:
Matthew. 5:38-48
5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.v5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
In our relationships with those in the world, we must show our Christian walk. We are the Gospel in action. We are to: