Part 10 - Law of Love

INTRODUCTION

Matthew 5:43 - 48 – The Law of Love

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I. Tighten the Law

a. Scripture warns of ‘breaking’ (loosen) the Law

† Matthew 5:19 – whoever breaks (‘Loo-o’ loosen or relax) the least of these commands (law) and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.

b. Jesus clarifies where man distorts

c. Tolerance to a point there is no longer sin

No sin = no need for a savior

The Law of God was not given to justify man, but to show his sin, and a need for a savior.

We are not made innocent by observing the Law, but guilty.

We are only found innocent by being committed to Jesus Christ.

BELIEVE and you are SAVED…

Acts 16:31

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…”

But is it simply believing?

James 2:19

You believe (in respect to) that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe (in respect to) that—and shudder.

Simply believing there is a God is not salvation.

If so, according to James 2:19 demons would have salvation…

This word should have boon translated as ‘Committed to’.

So;

Acts 16:13 should read;’

Acts 16:31

They replied, "Be committed to the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…."

The law is to show our guilt, and being committed to Christ is our innocence and our salvation.

I. Jesus reminds the listeners of the Law

a. You have heard it said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy

b. We see Christ again correcting the perversion of the scripture

Perversion continues today.

We change God’s law to fit us.

The hating of your enemy was derived from Deuteronomy 7:1 – 6

This is where the people were instructed to take the land God had given them.

This was their instruction;

Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the fire.

But no where does the scripture say to “hate the enemy”.

God wanted false gods destroyed and the REAL God to reign in the peoples hearts.

While we are to hate the sin, we are not to hate the sinner.

Why do we hate sin? Why does God hate sin?

Sin separates us from God.

Jesus said “I came not to condemn, but to save.”

“…For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." – Luke 19:10

But can God look upon sin with love? No.

Ask Jesus about that…

At the cross, Jesus took upon Him the sin of us all, and God turned from Him. For the first, last and only time in eternity, God the Son was separated from God the Father because of sin.

Remember what Jesus said…

“Father, why have you forsaken me?”

Forsaken = unoccupied, abandoned, deserted, isolated.

If God will abandon His only begotten Son because of sin, don’t think that for some miraculous reason God’s love will over look yours.

Jesus is the only way to the Father, through salvation.

How do we receive salvation? As the scripture says, being committed to Him.

Are you committed to Christ, or is He just an acquaintance?

Do you have a religion or a relationship with Jesus?

When you stand before Him on Judgment Day, will He say to you well done my son, or leave me, I do not know you…

That day is coming, are you ready?

Are you looking and listening for the trumpet?

In the blink of an eye, your fate will be sealed for eternity.

Judgment Day is NOT your day in court.

The trial is over, and you are going to receive what is due you.

2 Covenants God has made with man.

The first is the Law.

The second is Salvation in Christ.

If you do not accept the second and are committed to Christ, you will be judged by the first.

By the Law, ALL ARE GUILTY.

The world is already condemned. This is why Jesus said “I didn’t come to condemn, but to save.”

II. Jesus tightens the Law

a. KJV - 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;

b. This is righteous anger…hating the sin and the results of that sin.

c. Personal hatred is unrighteous. That is – hating the person who sins. We must meet hatred with love.

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;

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

This is a requirement to be called sons of God.

We must do this to be called sons of God. If we don’t love our enemies, we cannot be called sons of God.

1 John 4:19 – 21

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

We are to imitate our Heavenly Father because we represent the Kingdom!

III. Jesus explains we are to do MORE than the world

a. If you love those who love you…are you not like the world?

b. If our love is no greater than the world, then our claims are empty.

c. What reward do you have?

d. If you only greet your brother…even the pagan’s do that.

How many cultures or religions teach “love your enemy”?

Do the Muslims?

Islam teaches “Kill those who do not become muslim.”

“Kill all those who sin”

“Only those who are Muslim are innocent”

Islam is not about peace and love, it is about murder and hate.

IV. Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect

Perfect – (GRK: Tel-i-os) Mature or complete.

Not ‘perfect, never making mistakes’

Jesus is not teaching sinless perfection.

The Bible does not teach that.

Some denominations teach that we can live sinless lives through the Holy Spirit.

But the Bible teaches the opposite.

We are not to live in sin…

But we will sin.

What happens when you tell someone it is possible to live without ever sinning?

They end up sinning, and feel defeated and give up because they can’t “DO” church.

We set people up for failure with our twisting of God’s Word.

Like promising if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will never have problems in your life.

Please.

This word ‘tel-i-os’ is used in application with growth.

Jesus is saying we need to imitate our Father in heaven as perfect as possible, as completely as possible.

The Holy Spirit alone can help us do these things, which He does according to our faith in Christ.

The scriptures say that once Christ has begun a work in us, which starts when we accept Him and are committed to Him, He will continue that work until the second coming.

The scriptures promise that when we die, we receive our resurrection bodies, which will be perfect, and immortal.

But as of now, we are trapped in these tents, this temporary un-redeemed flesh.

ALTAR CALL