Responsibility Of Love

I. WE HAVE A COMMANDMENT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER John 13:34-35) 34A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; As I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (1 John 3:22-23) 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23And 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. (1 John 4:20-21) 20If 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? 21And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (Ephesians 5:1-2) 1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And 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 savor.”

II. THE COMMAND TO LOVE BRINGS CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES To FORGIVE (Colossians 3:12-14) 12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. If We will not Forgive, We will not be Forgiven (Mark 11:25-26) 25And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26But of ye do not forgive, neither will your father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Luke 17:3-4) 3Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him: 4And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him.” [Emphasis mine –EDR] To BEAR BURDENS (Galatians 6:2) 2Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Bear other’s Burdens, As Christ Bore Ours (Romans 15:1-3) 1We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. 3For even Christ pleased not himself: but, as it is written, ‘The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me’ “ To RESTORE (Galatians 6:1) 1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. This May Require STRONG Measures (2 Thessalonians 3:13-15) 13But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 14And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” To CARE FOR (1 John 3:17-18) 17But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth. To EXHORT and EDIFY (Hebrews 3:12-14) 12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (1 Thessalonians 5:8-11) 8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do…” (Hebrews 10:24-25) 24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” To PRAY FOR (James 5:16-18) 16Confess your faults one to another, and pray for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. ” To TEACH (Colossians 3:14-16) 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body: and be ye thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the lord. 17And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

III. Conclusion

A. We are commanded to Love one Another (not optional)

B. This command makes us responsible to each other:

1. To FORGIVE, To BEAR BURDENS, To RESTORE, To CARE FOR, To EXHORT & EDIFY, To PRAY FOR, To TEACH

C. IF we are not DOING these things, we do not love Jesus (John 14:23) If any man love me, he will keep my words… (1 John 5:2-3)  2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. --end--