A NEW COMMANDMENT--JOHN 13:34-35; 1 JOHN 2:8-10

A NEW COMMANDMENT

JOHN 13:34-35; 1 JOHN 2:8-10

Introduction:

The Lord knew that the only way these disciples would be able to continue in unity was through the bond of His love, John 17:21, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” So the Lord gave them a “new commandment” in v. 34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

I. THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT

John 15:12, 17, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

A. This is the commandment of JESUS CHRIST, vs. 17, 34, “These things I command you, that ye love one another. 34-A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

B. This commandment comes DIRECT from the THRONE OF GOD.

C. This is a commandment, NOT A REQUEST, John 13:34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

1. WHY are we commanded to love? John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

2. Without love we are,..

a. As sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal, 1 Corinthians 13:1, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

b. We are nothing, 1 Corinthians 13:2, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

II. THIS IS A NEW COMMANDMENT

1 John 2:8-10, “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9-He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10-He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”

A. Now you walk in the true light, 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

1. If we walk in the light, we are TO WALK IN LOVE, Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

2. Followers of God walk in love, Ephesians 5:1-2, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2-And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

B. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren, 1 John 3:14, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

1. Evidence of salvation, “because we love the brethren.”

2. Evidence of a lack of salvation, “He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

C. This is HIS commandment, 1 John 3:23, “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”

D. We are to ABOUND in love one toward another, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;”

1. Increase in love, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”

2. Increase more and more, 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10-And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;”

III. THIS IS A COMMANDMENT TO LOVE ALL THE SAINTS OF GOD

Colossians 1:3-4, “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4-Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,”

A. In bearing each other’s burdens, Galatians 6:2-4, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3-For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4-But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”

B. Do good to those of the household of faith, Galatians 6:10, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

C. Show kindness to the brethren, Colossians 3:12-13, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13-Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

CONCLUSION

The Lord commanded us to love one another as He loved us. That was a sacrificial love. He gave His all to redeem us from sin. Therefore, what is it if we give our all in loving one another in order to glorify our Saviour?