I. Sincere 9 Let love be without hypocrisy.
Love- agape- affection, benevolence, describes Christ’s love, sacrificial.
Hypocrisy- Speaks of Greek actors, pretending to be someone they were not.
Christian love is to be sincere, pure, not hypocritical, not pretending to be sincere.
A. What Is Hypocritical Love?
1. “Love” with strings attached. Hoping for some returned favor or benefit.
2. Saying you love someone, but not meaning it.
3. Saying you love, but unwillingly to do the loving thing. “Imaginary agape”.
4. TEST- Are you disappointed when you “love”, and don’t get recognized, don’t get thanked, don’t get something from the other person?
B. What is Sincere Love?
1. No expectation of returned favor or blessing.
2. The blessing is knowing that you obeyed the Lord; were obedient and sincere.
2. The blessings is having a heart free to love sincerely, without expecting anything
3. If we don’t love sincerely, we need to ask God to change our hearts.
4. Romans 5:5b “…the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
C. The Internal Witness
1. The Holy Spirit will show you if you have mixed motives.
2. We can appear to love others w/agape love, but we can be deceiving them.
3. We can deceive ourselves. Allow H. S. to search you out and reveal hypocrisy.
4. If God reveals hypocrisy in love, He does it so that he may change it. Surrender.
D. Unhypocritcal Love: The Supreme Test
1. A spiritual barometer of our souls. It tests our hearts deeply.
2. Not a barometer of the mind, but of the heart.
3. Unhypocritical love doesn’t require deep theological understanding.
4. The life of Jesus is the example. A life of self-denial. Not a selfish love.
5. Follow example of Jesus’ un-hypocritical, selfless love.
II. Morally Upright 9b Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Abhor evil- to dislike, have a horror of evil. Jesus hated the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.
Cling to good- kollao- glue, cleave, cement together w/ that which is good, honorable.
Allow the H.S. to show that which is evil or good in your relationships with others.
Hate the evil aspects of your relationships with others. Watch out for evil habits, thoughts.
Cling to the honorable and good aspects of your relationships with others. Promote holiness.
III. Others Centered 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love,
Kindly affectionate- Philostorgos- Compound word.
Phileo- friendship love, mutual affection
Storge- familial love, parent for child, brother for sister, etc.
Christians are to see themselves first and foremost as family. We are united and one together.
10b in honor – A valuing by which the price is fixed; the price paid. Precious blood of Christ.
10b giving preference to one another- To give preference to another. This is how Jesus loved.
12:15- Identify with those whom Jesus came to identify with. All of Humanity.
George Fox- I prayed to God that He would baptize my heart into all conditions so I might be able to enter the needs and conditions of all.
IV. Strong And Steady
11 not lagging in diligence, – don’t delay or be lazy in your diligence & earnestness to love
11 fervent in spirit, – to boil in your spirit
11 serving the Lord; – to submit, yield obedience
12 rejoicing in hope – joyful in your expectation of what God will do as you love others.
12 patient in tribulation, – to endure, not flee the burden and pressure, pressing together.
12 continuing steadfastly in prayer – to persevere and not faint. Love requires great effort.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. – Requires effort.
V. Practical
13 distributing to the needs of the saints,- koinone- to be a partner; to join yourself to another.
This is how the saints are to treat each other. Join yourself to others, and to their needs.
Needs- This means that you investigate what is needed; bless appropriately.
given to hospitality.- dioko-to persecute; to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing.
In the good sense, pursue hospitality; don’t have passive, but proactive hospitality.
VI. Merciful And Gracious 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Bless- eulogeo- To speak well of, to ask God’s blessing upon someone.
Curse- to pray for evil upon someone. This is the evil thing which we are to abhor.
VII. Clear Head, Humble Heart
12:16- Refers to Romans 12:3. Think soberly of yourself. Where you came from, etc.
VIII. Not Vengeful
17 Repay no one evil for evil. – This is usually our first reaction when we are wronged.
We need to yield ourselves to the H.S.
Walk in the Spirit daily; be directed by God’s Spirit regularly.
Don’t wait to find restraint when you need it. Cultivate holiness now.
17 Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
KJV-Provide things honest-think beforehand, and provide excellent things.
12:19, 20- “Hot coals” speaks of the burning conviction that comes upon the one who hates those who bless him. Not a guarantee, but what often happens
IX. Victorious 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Overcome- nikao- to conquer, prevail, get the victory. Nike- “Just do it”.
X. How To Do This
A. Self-Examination
1. H.S. convicts us of sin, and prompts us towards sincere love.
2. Confess hypocritical love to God. Repent- determine to change directions
3. Ask God to show you the evil, that you may hate it.
B. Avoid The Negative
1. With other Christians; it’s not “us and them”. We are family.
2. Avoid evil aspects of relationships, whether actual or possible.
3. Don’t pursue revenge on those who have hurt you.
4. Don’t wait until you feel like it.
C. Pursue The Positive
1. Perseverance and diligence
2. Proactive in hospitality, practical; hands on
3. Pray for your “enemies”
5. Overcome-nikao- Nike- just do it. Follow through, began to pray and bless.
6. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.